Open-air folklife museum

Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center

About 1.1 mi southwest

Kutztown University’s open-air folklife museum and research center, interpreting Pennsylvania German history, language, buildings, crafts, and living traditions.

The place

About Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center

The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center preserves the regional culture that surrounds an Allentown & Auburn train ride. Its open-air Sharadin Farmstead includes an 1814 stone farmhouse, an 1820s bank barn, an 1870s one-room schoolhouse, a log tin shop, summer kitchen, gardens, and other working landscapes.

The Center also maintains exhibitions, a research library and archives, conferences, lectures, Pennsylvania Dutch language programs, and a digital folklife portal. That mix makes it both a visitor site and an active academic center within Kutztown University.

Planning requires care because the operation has two visitor addresses. The newer Breidegam headquarters at 15155 Kutztown Road houses galleries and the library; the open-air Sharadin Farmstead is at 22 Luckenbill Road and tours must be scheduled in advance. Call before building a train-day itinerary around either site.

What stands out

Sharadin Farmstead

The historic complex includes a stone farmhouse, bank barn, one-room school, log structures, gardens, and a summer kitchen.

Living folk culture

Programs interpret Pennsylvania German language, crafts, architecture, foodways, art, belief, and seasonal traditions.

Library and exhibitions

The Breidegam headquarters provides research collections and thematic gallery exhibitions.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in an Allentown & Auburn Railroad trip

The Heritage Center is roughly 1.1 miles southwest of Kutztown Train Station. The ride shows Berks County countryside; the Center explains the Pennsylvania German architecture, language, craft, foodways, and agrarian traditions behind that landscape.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Two locationsHeadquarters, library, archives, and galleries are at 15155 Kutztown Road. Open-air museum tours use the Sharadin Farmstead at 22 Luckenbill Road.
  • Office hoursThe Center publishes Monday–Friday office hours of 10 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m.; those hours do not automatically mean a farmstead tour is available.
  • Farmstead toursTours of the open-air museum must be scheduled in advance. Call (610) 683-1589.
  • Research visitsResearch and information requests are also by appointment with a staff member.
  • ParkingThe Center directs Breidegam headquarters visitors to parking behind the building near the main entrance.
  • AccessibilityThe public pages do not provide one complete access guide across the modern headquarters and multiple historic farm buildings. Discuss the exact itinerary before traveling.
  • Time to allowAllow at least an hour for a focused headquarters visit or scheduled farm tour, and longer for research or a seasonal event.

Add a family attraction

Add Historic Crystal Cave

Tour an 1871 show cave about 3.5 miles from the train station.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

Can I walk into the farmstead whenever the office is open?

Do not assume so. The official page says tours of the Sharadin Farmstead must be scheduled in advance.

Why are there two addresses?

The Breidegam headquarters, galleries, library, and archives are at 15155 Kutztown Road. The open-air farmstead is at 22 Luckenbill Road.

How does this connect to the train ride?

The Center interprets the regional Pennsylvania German culture and agricultural landscape visible around Kutztown and along the branch.

Can I conduct family-history research?

Yes, but the Center says research and information requests require an appointment with staff.

Is the entire site wheelchair accessible?

The modern and historic areas differ, and the official pages do not publish a complete route. Call about the exact buildings, surfaces, entrances, and restroom needs.

How far is it from the station?

The farmstead/Center area is about 1.1 miles southwest of Kutztown Train Station.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-12. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.