Historical Markers in
Berks County, Pennsylvania

4th & Pine circa 1800's American Legion Post 626 Veterans Memorial Anthony Sadowski Anthony Sadowski Anthracite Furnace Baumstown World War Memorial Ben Austrian Bethel A.M.E. Church Birdsboro Birdsboro World War I Memorial Boyertown Burial Casket Company Brick-End Decorated Barns Carl A. Spaatz Charcoal Kilns Charcoal Pit Charming Forge Christ Little Tulpehocken Church Cider Cider Making Col. Conrad Weiser Colebrookdale Furnace Colouring Easter Eggs Conrad Weiser Conrad Weiser Trading Post Cooling Shed Daniel Boone Daniel Boone Daniel Boone Homestead De Benneville House Dew of Heaven Doctor Jonathan Potts Dr. Bodo Otto Dr. Bodo Otto Duryea Drive Duryea Drive Dutch Folksong Tradition Exeter Friends Meeting Federal Inn First Reformed Church Fisher House Fort Henry Fort Henry Funeral Feasts Geiger's Mill George Hain Goshenhoppen Griener Dunnerschdag Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Headraces Henry A. Muhlenberg Hereford Furnace Hessian Camp Hiester Home Historic Hamburg Home and Grave of Conrad Weiser Home of Conrad Weiser, 1729-1760 Hopewell Village Hunter Liggett Ironmaster's Garden Is this Weiser's House? Jackson’s Lock and the Port of Reading James H. Maurer James Warren Jeremiah Sweinhart and Successors John A. Shulze Joseph Hiester Kutztown Airport Lerch Tavern Lincoln Homestead Livingood (Löwengut) Family Marion Township Veterans Memorial Martin Kaercher Jr. Mount Penn World War Memorial New Year's Day Lore Oley Moravians Outdoor Bake Oven Pennsylvania Dutch Ballads Pennsylvania Half-Timbering Penn's Common Pilger Ruh Quilting Lore Quilting Lore Revolutionary War Soldiers in Hain's Church Cemetery Rhoads Opera House Fire Richard L. Etchberger Ringgold Light Artillery Shartlesville Skew Bridge Skyline Boulevard Solomon Boscov St. Gabriels State Street Bridge Swedish Pioneers Thanksgiving & Harvest Home The Bush Meeting The Candlemaker The Conestoga Wagon The Douglass Family The E. & G. Brooke Iron Company World War II Memorial The Federal Inn The Mennonites The Moravians The Pagoda The Plain Dutch Thomas Mifflin Thomas Rutter Thompson Cabin Thompson's Rifle Battalion: Capt. George Nagel's Company Town Crier's House Trinity Lutheran Church Trinity Lutheran Church Original Cemetery Tulpehocken Path Tulpehocken Path Two Worlds - Dutch Country Union Canal Union Canal Veterans Memorial Volunteer Firemen Wallace Stevens War Memorial Wheelbarrow Matches Wilhelm and Elizabeth Hain Fischer William Bird, Esq. William McKinley William Penn William Strong Woman's Christian Temperance Union Drinking Fountain
Pennsylvania was home to the first all-volunteer firefighting company in America, which was established in Philadelphia in 1736.
Pennsylvania random facts
Berks County, Pennsylvania has a rich and diverse history dating back to the indigenous tribes that inhabited the region, namely the Lenape and the Susquehannocks. European settlement in the area began in the early 18th century when Dutch, Swedish, and English colonists arrived. The county was officially established in 1752 and named after Berkshire, England.

During the American Revolutionary War, Berks County played a significant role in the fight for independence. The city of Reading, located in Berks County, served as an important manufacturing and transportation hub, producing munitions and supplies for the war effort. The nearby Battle of Germantown in 1777 also had a significant impact on the region's history.

After the war, Berks County experienced a period of rapid industrialization. The iron and steel industries thrived, leading to the establishment of numerous foundries and factories. The construction of the Union Canal in the early 19th century further boosted economic development by improving transportation and trade connections.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Berks County became known for its textile mills and manufacturing industries, particularly in Reading. However, like many other industrial regions, the county faced economic decline and urban challenges in the latter half of the 20th century. Today, Berks County continues to be a vibrant community with a mix of industries, agriculture, and cultural attractions. Notable landmarks include the Reading Public Museum, Daniel Boone Homestead, and the Pagoda, an iconic symbol of Reading.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Berks County, Pennsylvania.

  • 1683: Lenape Native Americans inhabit the area now known as Berks County.
  • 1718: Swedish pioneers establish the first European settlement in Berks County.
  • 1752: Berks County is officially established, named after County Berkshire in England.
  • 1776: Berks County residents actively participate in the American Revolution.
  • 1796: Reading becomes the county seat of Berks County.
  • 1811: The first iron furnace is established in Berks County, marking the start of the county's booming iron industry.
  • 1833: The first railroad in Pennsylvania, the Mount Carbon Railroad, opens in Berks County.
  • 1843: Berks County incorporates its first borough, Reading, as a city.
  • 1866: The Reading Railroad Company is established, leading to further industrial growth in Berks County.
  • 1938: The Pagoda is built on Mount Penn in Reading as a tourist attraction.
  • 1952: The first section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike opens in Berks County, connecting the county with other major cities.
  • 1965: The Reading Railroad Company ceases operations, marking the decline of the county's once-thriving railroad industry.
  • 1980: The Berks County Heritage Center is established to preserve and showcase the county's history.
  • 1996: Berks County celebrates its 250th anniversary.