BUTLER COUNTY, PA Museums, Historical Societies & Historic Sites Table of Contents Dig into the past in Butler County, Pa. *Numbers in parenthesis correspond to maps Dig into the past in Butler County, Pa. ..................................................... 3 Our small towns are packed with some big his- Butler tory! Did you know that the first U.S. President, Butler County Historical Society (1) .................................................. 4 George Washington, set foot here? Or that Maridon Museum (2) .............................................................................. 6 Butler is the birthplace of the “jeep?” Learn Downtown Butler Map .......................................................................... 7 about these and much more through Harmony, Zelienople & Evans City our museums and historic sites. Harmony National Historic Landmark District (3) ........................ 8 And it won’t boring! Experience Zelienople Historical Society (4).......................................................10 history first-hand through Lancaster Township History Center (5) ..........................................10 historic reenactments and Evans City Area Historical Society (6) .............................................11 encampments. Discover what Providence Plantation (7) ...................................................................11 class was like in a one room Washington’s Trail, Prospect & Slippery Rock schoolhouse. Celebrate Washington’s Trail (8) ..........................................................................12 German heritage through Old Stone House (9) .............................................................................13 special dinners and festivals. Historical Groups Experience life on the 18th 63rd Infantry ...........................................................................................14 century frontier. Butler Old Stone House Region AACA ...........................................15 Tri-State Hart-Par Oliver ......................................................................15 If you’re looking for an over- view, visit the numbered Saxonburg sites. Additional sites of in- Saxonburg Historical & Restoration Commission (10) ..............16 terest are complimentary, if Mars & Cranberry Township you want to dig a bit deeper. Mars Area History & Landmark Society, Inc. (11) ........................18 The state historical markers Cranberry Township Historical Society (12) .................................19 will give you even more info along the way. This key will give you an idea of what to expect at each location: H = Historical Marker P = Public Space M = Museum X = Private Property O = Outdoor Site Butler County General Richard Butler Dedicated: Friday, June 11, 1982 Dedicated: Tuesday, May 1, 1917 Marker Type: City Marker Type: Plaque Categories: George Washington, Categories: American Revolution, Government & Politics, Government Ethnic & Immigration, Military & Politics 19th Century, Religion GPS Coordinates: LNG: -79.89545, GPS Coordinates: LNG: -79.89545, LAT: 40.85857 LAT: 40.85857 Location: County Courthouse, Butler Location: County Courthouse, Main St. (Pa. 8), Butler Marker Text: In memory of General Richard Butler. Born in Ireland. One of Marker Text: Formed March 12, 1800, five brothers, soldiers distinguished for from Allegheny County. Named for bravery and devoted service. Captain Gen. Richard Butler, Revolutionary of- 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion 1776, ficer. A young George Washington had Colonel 9th Pennsylvania Regiment crossed this area, 1753. County seat 1777, Major General United States was established at Butler in 1803, and Levies 1791. the county was home of the Harmony Society, 1804-15. 2 - Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau - www.VisitButlerCounty.com www.VisitButlerCounty.com - Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau - 3 Butler Additional Historic Sites of Interest Butler County Courthouse: On Butler Historic District: Butler the National Register of Historic County was established in 1800 and Butler County Historical Society (1) Places, the county’s third court- land for the county seat was donated 123 West Diamond Street, Butler, PA 16001, 724-283-8116 house, S. Main at W. Diamond Sts., by the Cunningham brothers. In 1803 the town’s first lots were laid www.butlerhistory.com was designed by James P. Bailey, built 1885-86. Entrance now is out and sold by auction, and the first log houses built. Two centuries As the official through adjacent Government later, several blocks of business, Center, 124 W. Diamond, built historical residential and religious properties 1991. Main St. marker commemo- society of Butler in Butler’s central corridor are listed rates county’s 1800 founding, Gen. on the National Register of Historic County, the Richard Butler for which county was Places. P BCHS collects, named, George Washington’s 1753 mission to region, Harmony Society. Historic Lafayette Apartments: preserves, SE corner S. Main and W. Diamond Marker at Main St. doors memorial- and interprets Sts., on National Register of Historic izes Gen. Butler (1743-91), soldier, Places, built in 1903 as Butler County Butler Indian commissioner, judge, legisla- National Bank, later housed county County’s tor, killed by Indians at “St. Clair’s offices. Diamond St. entrance plaque historic Defeat.” Exhibits, murals in 2nd floor commemorates Mechling’s Inn, Kiester Commons and rotunda. P, H which hosted Marquis de Lafayette documents, Butler Eagle: 114 W. Diamond in 1825. Closed to public. X artifacts, and St., county’s only daily newspaper, sites for the founded 1869 as weekly, went daily educational 1902, merged following year with Invention of the Jeep benefit of Butler County Observer of Butler attorney and Harmony Mennonites Dedicated: Sunday, October 17, 1993 the public. descendant Levi Wise, who took Marker Type: Roadside The Society control; Wise family remains owner. Categories: Business & Industry, Military, Military Post-Civil War, Lowrie/Shaw House behind preserves Present headquarters built 1924, production center at 514 W. Wayne Transportation the courthouse GPS : LNG: -79.9116, LAT: 40.85713 and presents St. opened 2003. Tours by appoint- Location: Hansen Ave. in Butler the largest local collection of historical county ment. 724-282-1859. X Marker Text: In September 1940 a records, photographs, and artifacts, hosts special events, and Diamond Park: Main St. opposite team headed by Karl Probst delivered maintains a large selection of publications for sale covering all aspects Courthouse. Silent Defender monu- to the U.S. Army a prototype for the of Butler County’s history. This is a great place to visit to discover ment memorialized Civil War veter- World War II jeep. This small, four- ans, rededicated to all war veterans. more about Butler County’s rich heritage. wheel drive vehicle was produced by Others recognize veterans of World the American Bantam Car Co., located • A) Lowrie/Shaw House: Located directly behind the War II, Korean and Vietnam conflicts; one block east. Here, Bantam manu- fountain symbolizes American Courthouse. Built in 1828 by Butler’s only United States factured 2,675 jeeps. Although larger way of life preserved by veterans’ companies ultimately received the Senator, Walter Lowrie, as the family’s summer home. This sacrifices. Marker commemorates chief wartime orders, it was Bantam— historic house museum is on the National Register of Historic military jeep’s birthplace. P, H in cooperation with the Army—that originally created the jeep. Places and houses the offices of the BCHS and its reference library. Office open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 - 4:00. Check our website or call for parking and tour information. Butler-Made Autos: Russell-Sherman built in 1902. Huselton Automobile Co. made Huseltons and the Butler truck 1911-15 at N. Professional researcher/genealogist on staff. M Washington St. carriage house. Standard Motor Car Co. unit of Standard • B) Little Red School House: 200 East Jefferson Street. Built in Steel Car Co. made Standard Eight at Hansen Ave. plant 1914-1923. 1838 as Butler’s first public school, this living history museum American Austin built Austins there 1930-1935. American Bantam transports visitors back to the time of the early one-room made Bantams in same plant 1937-40, designed and built first military “jeep” but lost production in 1941 to Willys-Overland and Ford, made school house. This museum is part of Butler’s Historic District. trailers until 1956 closing. Markers on Hansen Ave. at Renaissance Dr. Open to school groups and tours by appointment. Also open and in Diamond Park opposite Courthouse during Butler’s Cruise-a-Palooza and Fall Festival. M commemorate jeep’s birthplace. H • C) Cooper Cabin Pioneer Homestead: 199 Cooper Road, In 2011, we put Butler on the map as being Cabot. Built in the early 1800s, this original county home- the birthplace of the Jeep with a record- stead was inhabited by Cooper family descendents until breaking Jeep parade and 1961. Nancy Cooper was born and lived in the cabin for one the first annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. Two original hundred years, from 1861 to 1961. The cabin’s furnishings Bantams have been pre- depict the 19th century pioneer lifestyle. The grounds include served by the Butler County a spring-house, tool shed, and spinning house. Visit our web- Historical Society. site for seasonal schedule or call to schedule group tours. 4 - Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau - www.VisitButlerCounty.com www.VisitButlerCounty.com