The Harmony Museum building sits on the square laid out by Frederick Rapp, son of the Harmony Society founder Father Georg Rapp. It is open for tours at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Many Harmony Museum exhibits are found in this building at the corner of Main and Mercer, built by the communal Harmony Society in 1809. Photo courtesy of Historic Harmony

Historic Harmony is a non-profit that operates the Harmony Museum. Our mission is three-fold: to restore, preserve, and educate.

We currently preserve seven buildings and nine sites of historical significance in and around Harmony, including the oldest Mennonite meetinghouse and one of the oldest barns west of the Allegheny Mountain.

Four of those nine sites are part of the Harmony Museum tour, which attracts visitors from across the country and around the world. Museum tours are 1 and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations are required for larger groups.

During the tour, you’ll learn about the Harmonists who founded Harmony, and you’ll see how early settlers lived and worked.

You’ll also learn about George Washington’s 1753 visit to the area. Washington was just 21 years old and on a diplomatic mission in search of French forts when he camped on the banks of Connoquenessing Creek near Harmony. Washington’s 1753 mission and the French forts he found, quickly lead to the outbreak of the French and Indian War.

The Harmony Museum is also known for the wide variety of events we sponsor, including demonstrations, concerts, a historic hike, home and garden tours, and an antique gun show. The biggest event of the year is the annual German Christmas Market: Harmony’s WeihnachtsMarkt. It attracts thousands to Harmony each November to enjoy German food, music and dancing, as well as the opportunity to buy unique items from skilled artisans.

The museum also co-sponsors Harmony’s German New Year’s Eve celebration, called Silvester, which happens on German time. The event features traditional German food, a 5k race and a Christmas tree toss, along with a ball drop and fireworks at 6 p.m., which is midnight in Germany.

The Harmony Museum is a membership organization, and we depend on member support and volunteers to maintain our buildings and pull off our many events. Learn more about Harmony Museum exhibits, properties, membership, events, and rental venues at Harmony Museum.org.

Rodney Gasch is the president and CEO of Historic Harmony Inc., a nonprofit that operates the Harmony Museum and preserves a total of nine historic sites in the area.