A forum and a park

Trip Start Jan 01, 1975

Trip End Jan 01, 2010

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Flag of United States Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Sunday, November 7, 1993

I visited Harrisburg by myself in November 1993 on my long State Capitals trip. It was after Lansing and before Trenton, as I recall! Spent a HARD DAY driving across the state to get there. The sun was in my eyes, blinding me at that end-of-day angle. I couldn't read the road signs and got edged into the wrong lane by a big truck hogging the road; almost had a case of road rage; thought I was in the wrong place and stopped at a donut shop to ask which way I should go to get to the capitol. I was just a mile away! By then it was closed so I only got a peep inside but the area was beautiful, there on the river. A feel-good place.

On to Lancaster to spend the night and eat Pennsylvania Dutch food. Back through again in April 1998 on the way to New York to march in the Easter Parade. I didn't stop, just drove through and then headed for Hershey. Spent that night in Easton, PA (almost Easter!) home of Crayola Crayons. I love Pennsylvania but the roads are awful. You can tell the minute you cross the state line.

Facts:
Pennsylvania was the SECOND state.
Date: December 12, 1787
State nickname: Keystone State
Key Words: Finest, Dutch, Chocolate, Forum, St Peters

Harrisburg was settled in 1718 when John Harris opened a trading post on the Susquehanna River. It became the capital in 1812.

Many people say the present capitol is the finest in the nation. It was dedicated in 1906 and has a beautiful riverside park, museum, and Forum. Its style is called "Italian Renaissance" and it has 651 rooms and a 272-foot dome, imitating St Peter's in Rome.

Harrisburg is in "Pennsylvania Dutch" country. There are many farms and big red barns around the town. Hershey -- where all that candy is made -- is a few miles away and has a "chocolate" amusement park. Gettysburg National Military Park is not far away.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Population 48,540
Elevation 360
Eastern time zone