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Pennsylvania State History

PUK StatePage Pennsylvania WEB BG
PUK StatePage Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State Facts

Learn more about the state of Pennsylvania with PragerU Kids! This page offers fun, useful facts for students working on state history assignments, and provides educators with our full catalogue of Pennsylvania-related materials for classroom use.

  • PUK StatePage Pennsylvania state animal deer

    In colonial Pennsylvania, white-tailed deer hides were so valuable they were used as currency—giving rise to the term “a buck” for a dollar.

  • PUK StatePage Pennsylvania state capital harrisburg

    While many think Pittsburgh or Philadelphia is the state capital, it's actually Harrisburg, chosen for its central location along the Susquehanna River.

  • PUK StatePage PA Artboard 6 copy

    Mountain Laurel contains a natural toxin so potent that early settlers nicknamed it “lambkill” because grazing livestock had to be kept away from its deadly blooms.

  • PUK StatePage PA Artboard 6 copy 3

    The ruffed grouse performs a unique "drumming" display by beating its wings so fast it sounds like a lawn mower starting up in the forest.

  • PUK StatePage PA Artboard 6 copy 5

    Pennsylvania's motto nods to its fierce independence—it was the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

  • PUK StatePage PA Artboard 6 copy 2

    Pennsylvania gets its nickname for being a central colony of the original 13 and holding the young American republic together like the keystone in an arch.



Pennsylvania State Timeline

Explore key events in Pennsylvania history.

  1. PUK StatePage Pennsylvania 1681

    The Province of Pennsylvania, or Pennsylvania Colony, was founded by William Penn in 1681, when King Charles II of England granted him a land charter as repayment of a debt owed to Penn’s father. Penn, a Quaker, envisioned the colony as a haven for religious freedom, peace, and democratic governance—earning it the nickname "The Holy Experiment."


Learn More about Pennsylvania

Notable Landmarks of Pennsylvania

Explore notable landmarks in Pennsylvania.

  1. PUK StatePage PA Artboard 12 copy 3

    The Liberty Bell, located in Philadelphia, was originally cast in 1752 to hang in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) and call lawmakers to meetings. Its inscription—"Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land"—comes from the Bible and symbolizes freedom for all. Although it cracked in the 1800s, it became a powerful symbol of American independence and was later embraced by abolitionists fighting to end slavery. Today, visitors can see it at the Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historical Park.

For Educators

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