Old Economy Village - (724) 266-4500

I once visited Old Economy and had a blast a few years back. I decided to take my sister and nephew last weekend only to be disappointed. First the directions on their website are horrible. I am from the Pittsburgh area and for some odd reason they decide to give you a long trip through the crumbling communities of Baden, Ambridge, and Freedom. I would suggest visitors use a gps or google maps. Once you get a few blocks away from the Old Economy visitors center you may even check to see if your doors are locked (yes its quite scary). . After entering the visitors center we were greeted by a nice lady who asked how we could be helped and we noted we wanted to tour the village. It was then 245pm on Saturday. She told us that the tour just left and that there were designated times to go on tours. The three oclock tour just happened to be the last tour of the day (even though it was a quarter till...) and that we could still tour on our own but were limited to the blue highlighted sections on the map (which she handed us). Wow we could tour the pump house, garden, and tool shed on our own?!! The lady did note that the other areas were locked and we would have to come back to take a tour but we could look around the visitors center/gift shop for free. Keep in mind that there are no tour times listed on their site. This trip would have been better if I would have called ahead for tour times which I suggest all visitors do.

On Sunday, March 8th from Noon to 4:30 p.m., Old Economy Village will celebrate Pennsylvania?s Charter Day. The celebration commemorates King Charles II?s grant of land to William Penn, in 1683, which became the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In honor of this occasion, all of the sites on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission?s Trail of History ?, including Old Economy Village, will be open free of charge. Old Economy Village is a National Historic Landmark site which preserves the history of the Harmony Society. These German Separatists lived communally and became one of America?s most successful utopian societies in the nineteenth century. Visitors on Charter Day may visit the six-acre site and its original buildings, including the Feast Hall and 1827 Natural History Museum; the houses occupied by the Rapp family, the founders of the Society; and the Store. Rapp House tours will be given on the hour beginning at 1PM. The blacksmith will be working throughout the afternoon in his shop. The Village?s new Visitor Center contains a permanent exhibit on the Harmony Society with many original artifacts. An orientation film, which complements the exhibit, will be shown throughout the afternoon. The Village?s new Museum Store, operated by the Friends of Old Economy Village, will be open on the 8th, offering a variety of books on historical subjects, along with historic toys, and other items of historical interest.

Old Economy is a restored village once occupied by the Harmonists, a group of Western PA settlers. The village is a little like Williamsburg VA only much smaller. The tour guides are very knowledgable and make history come alive. This is a great place for a kids' field trip, as there are lots of fun educational aspects of the tour.

Old Economy Village is a wonderful daytime retreat for families, but not for very young children. The kids should be old enough to pay attention to the tour guide.