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Harrisburg Travel Guide, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States of America, has always been a popular tourist haunt because of its scenic landscape. However, it needs to be stressed that Harrisburg has had a very strong presence in the country’s historic past and continues to have the same importance. vacationing in the city does not simply mean visiting some of the tourist attractions, instead you will have a lot to do: dig into the city’s past and analyze its role during the days of the American Civil War and Industrial Revolution, immerse yourself in the city’s electrifying night-life or simply cram yourself with yummy chocolates from the world-famous Hershey company. Your trip to Harrisburg will really be a memorable affair.

Statistics

Area: 29.6 sq km

Population: 48950

Language: English

Currency: USD

Architecture

The city of Harrisburg has some architectural marvels like the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Modeled on Vatican City’s St. Peter's Basilica, the building is adorned with exquisite sculptures and murals. The floor tiling tells the story of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Other prominent structures in the area include names like the Pennsylvania Palace, the Presbyterian Apartments, 333 Market Street, etc. Harrisburg also has about a dozen bridges - most of these stand over the Susquehanna River with quite a few of them running over a mile.

Infrastructure and Economy

Harrisburg staggered quite long and was one among the nation’s most distressed cities; but then the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania Canal projects brought about economic revival and the city flourished once again. Present-day Harrisburg has some key industries and well-organized public-utility services. The city’s facilities include a co-generation plant, a waste transfer/treatment station, water treatment plan, police and fire services, etc. The city has made remarkable progress in the fields of telecommunication and information technology.

Harrisburg has an equally strong transportation infrastructure. The city has its own airport, Harrisburg International Airport with services from various domestic and international airlines. Then, you have the intercity bus services to other US cities. The rail route is another option and you can avail the intercity passenger rail services. Buses are available for intra-city tours.

People and Culture

The people of Harrisburg have different ancestors but they still present a united front. Knowledgeable and cultured, the Harrisburgers are keen-followers of different art forms and so Jazz festivals and live concerts are held year-round. The city also happens to be the venue of popular events like the annual Auto Show and the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Despite the fact that these events cannot be categorized as cultural festivities, their huge popularity has given them a different connotation and you will be amazed at the enthusiasm of the Harrisburgers during these annual events. While the Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural exhibition in the US held in January every year, the Auto Show displays cars of different makes - both vintage and new.

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