Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in West Chester (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: American Helicopter Museum, First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, and Everhart Park. Also, be sure to include Warner Theater in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in West Chester (Pennsylvania).
Table of Contents
American Helicopter Museum
Museum in the Chester County, Pennsylvania. The American Helicopter Museum & Education Center is located at 1220 American Boulevard, West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. The transport museum focuses on the history, science and technology of rotary wing aviation. The collection contains over 40 civilian and military, autogyros, convertiplanes and helicopters, including some early generation models. The museum also has an extensive research library, the Renzo Pierpaoli Memorial Library, which contains documents, artifacts, films, and memoirs that museum members can use.
The museum strives to restore and display historic aircraft and chronicle the origin and development of rotary wing aircraft. The museum's exhibits chronicle the efforts of pioneers like Harold Frederick Pitcairn, Mr. W. Wallace Kellett of Kellett Autogiro, Arthur M. Young and Frank Piasecki, and today it continues to record the new and ever expanding role of the U.S. helicopter industry. The exhibits span the history of rotary wing aircraft from the earliest rotorcraft to the latest developments in tiltrotors, and AHMEC is one of only two museums in the world currently displaying a V-22 Osprey.[1]
Address: 1220 American Blvd, 19380 West Chester
First Presbyterian Church of West Chester
Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. First Presbyterian Church of West Chester is a historic Presbyterian church located at 130 W. Miner Street in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was designed in 1832 by Thomas U. Walter, who later became the fourth Architect of the Capitol. The church is a stuccoed stone building measuring 75 feet long and 45 feet wide in the Greek Revival style. Additions were built in 1860 and 1955. The front facade features a recessed porch flanked by two projections with pilasters.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[2]
Address: 130 W Miner St, 19382-3272 West Chester
Everhart Park
Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Everhart Park is a public park in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It was the Borough of West Chester's second public park, created in 1905. It is maintained by the West Chester Department of Parks and Recreation.[3]
Address: S Brandywine St, 19382 West Chester
Warner Theater
Theater in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Warner Theater, also known as The High Street Theater, was a historic movie theater located in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was designed by the noted Chicago theater design firm of Rapp and Rapp and built by Warner Brothers. It opened on November 14, 1930. It is a composite of one-, two-, and three-story buildings in the Art Deco style. It includes the theater, restaurant, and a series of seven small stores. The theater has a two-story foyer with a three-story tower that formerly supported the marquee. The auditorium measured 83 feet by 120 feet, and originally sat 1,650, 1,300 on the floor and 350 in the balcony. The auditorium was demolished in late 1986, and the remainder of the building has been renovated as the Hotel Warner.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is located in the West Chester Downtown Historic District.[4]
Address: 120 N High St, 19380 West Chester
Chester County Courthouse
Courthouse in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The Chester County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located in the county seat of West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1846 at a cost of $55,346 and was designed by Thomas U. Walter. Walter also designed the dome of the United States Capitol. An addition, designed by T. Roney Williamson and constructed from Indiana Limestone, was added in 1893. Another addition was added in 1966.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 1972, and located in the West Chester Downtown Historic District. It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in July 1958.[5]
Address: 10 North High Street, West Chester
William Brinton 1704 House
Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The William Brinton 1704 House is a historic house museum located 21 Oakland Road in Delaware County, Pennsylvania about five miles south of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Built in 1704, it is well-preserved example of an early Delaware Valley stone house, which served as a residence of one family for over 150 years. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967. It is open for tours on weekends between May and October, or by appointment.[6]
Address: 21 Oakland Rd, 19382-8351 West Chester
Baldwin's Book Barn
Baldwin's Book Barn is an independent bookstore in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1946 by William and Lilla Baldwin. The store is located in a five-story barn built in 1822.
In the November 8, 1998 edition of The Baltimore Sun, Terry Conway described the store as a "treasure for passionate book lovers".
In 2010 the store was put up for sale. $10,000 of rare books were stolen from the store in 2019.[7]
Chester County Historical Society
Bank in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Bank of Chester County is a historic two-story bank building located in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the first bank to be chartered in the county. Following the failure to renew the charter of the Bank of the United States in 1811, states received responsibility over the banking systems within their jurisdiction. Although an initial proposal was rejected by the state legislature in 1813, a 41-bank proposal was passed the following year. An early bank building was utilized in West Chester beginning in 1814 at the Record Office, though the bank was relocated in 1818 to a building across the street, present-day 13 High Street. Following a proposal for a new site in 1835, a bank, to be built at 17 High Street, designed by architect Thomas Ustick Walter. It was built in 1836 in the Greek Revival style at the cost of $33,000, and features a portico with four Doric order columns; the bank was subsequently altered in 1874, 1905, and 1928. The previous building has since been rented to numerous individuals, although it still houses outdated equipment no longer used by the bank. The current building is occupied by Wells Fargo.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, located in the West Chester Downtown Historic District.[8]
Address: 225 N High St, 19380-2658 West Chester
Farmers and Mechanics Building
Skyscraper. The Farmers and Mechanics Building is a historic "skyscraper" located in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was completed in 1908 and is a six-story skyscraper building, with a basement and penthouse in the Classical Revival style. The top floor once featured a Roof Garden. The exterior is faced in Indiana limestone and yellow hard face brick, with terra cotta decorative details. In 1918 when the Boy Scouts were founded in Chester County the Farmers and Mechanics Building became their headquarters.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It is located in the West Chester Downtown Historic District.[9]
Friends of Marshall Square Park
Park, Relax in park
Address: 200 E Marshall St., 19380 West Chester
Joseph Rothrock House
Joseph Rothrock House is a historic home located in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1858–59, and consists if a 2+1⁄2-story, three-bay main section with a 2+1⁄2-story gabled ell in the Gothic style. Later additions have been made to the ell. It is constructed of brick and features a full-width front verandah.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[10]