Time Travel: Six Must-Visit WashCo Museums

Named after prominent 19^th century physician and abolitionist Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne, the LeMoyne House is a preserved piece of the Underground Railroad and National Historic Landmark. Built in 1812, the Gothic Revival stone home was a safe stop on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom for slaves journeying through Washington County toward Canada and freedom.

The LeMoyne House is also the home of the first crematory in the western hemisphere; as a practicing physician, LeMoyne was a fierce advocate for what he saw as a vital solution to preventing widespread disease even during a time when the practice was seen as morally unjust.

The LeMoyne House just underwent an extensive remodel in 2024, so visitors can now book a guided tour of the newly refurbished space to experience history up close.

This rocky overhang in Avella contains evidence of human inhabitation in Washington County dating back 19,000 years – the oldest site of human habitation in North America.

Step back in time at Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village to experience what life was like for our ancestors in some of America’s first settlements. In addition to the Rockshelter, the site is also home to a 16^th-century Eastern Woodland Indian Village, 18^th-century log cabin, frontier trading post and 19^th-century Historic Village, as well as a brand-new Visitor’s Center that will open alongside the museum in May 2025. 

Completed in 1788, this striking stone home reflected the social standing of its owner, attorney and businessman David Bradford.

Bradford and his family lived in the home from 1788 to 1794, after which they were driven out of the home due to Bradford’s involvement in the Whiskey Rebellion. After the family fled to St. Francisville, Louisiana, the home was extensively damaged over the course of several years but was restored to its original state by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1959.

The Bradford House Museum and furnishings now reflect the year and characteristics of the time it was built. Visitors can walk through and experience the life of David Bradford and his family along with the home's history during the Whiskey Rebellion era.

In 1791, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton proposed an excise tax on whiskey produced in the United States to pay off debt from the Revolutionary War and to create a source of revenue for the newly independent nation. Farmers, particularly in Western Pennsylvania, believed this tax to be wrongly targeting those who relied on sales of liquor, which was easier to ship and more profitable than the rye, corn and wheat they farmed.

With many farmers' livelihoods at stake, they revolted against this nationwide tax in a movement later dubbed the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791-1794. In response, the federal government deployed the militia to Western Pennsylvania to squash the rebellion.

Walk through the Whiskey Rebellion Education & Visitor Center to further explore the Whiskey Rebellion and its profound impact on both American History and the lives of those in Washington County.

Did you know that Pittsburgh native Fred Rogers coined the word trolley? It was not until his TV show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” debuted that the term “street car” changed to “trolley.”

First opened in 1954, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is home to about 50 historic streetcars that have been meticulously restored to their original state. With its recent move to the all-new Welcome and Education Center at 1 Electric Way, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum now has double the space to show off decades of trolley history.

Throughout the day, guests can take a ride into the past on one of the historic trolleys available for rides and even to the Washington County Agricultural Fair and the Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Festival each year.

Originally located in the Southside of Pittsburgh in 1865, the Duncan & Miller Glass Company became famous nationwide for its glassware for all occasions, such as dinnerware, lamps, vases, bowls and crystalware. Duncan & Miller glass also gained notoriety for the extensive skill and man hours required to make its pieces.

After its relocation to Washington following a factory fire in Pittsburgh, the company transformed its work to keep up with demand. Oil lamps were made in the 1950s, when many still did not have electricity, and clay pigeons and ashtrays were made during World War II.

 It was not until 1993 that the Duncan & Miller Glass Museum opened in Washington with the help of countless volunteers and donors. In April 2019 the newly relocated museum opened with hundreds of handmade pieces that illustrate the company's rich history and dedication to quality on display. With so many eras to explore through colorful glass, the Duncan & Miller Glass Museum is something to enjoy regardless of age.