Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
Pennsylvania German history, world-class collections, and genealogy research you won't find anywhere else — free and open to the public in Pennsburg, PA.
Explore the history, art, genealogy, and spirituality of the Perkiomen Valley in southeastern Pennsylvania.
A Story That Began in 1734 — and Is Still Being Told
In 1734, a group of religious refugees fled persecution in Silesia and arrived in Pennsylvania. They were Schwenkfelders — followers of the 16th-century reformer Caspar Schwenkfeld — and they built a community in the Perkiomen Valley that shaped this region for nearly three centuries.
The Heritage Center was founded in the 1880s by that same community, determined to preserve their written history before it was lost. What began as a church archive has grown into an internationally recognized research library and museum holding one of the world's largest collections of Pennsylvania German fraktur, alongside textiles, agricultural artifacts, Conestoga wagon history, and genealogical records for dozens of Pennsylvania German family lines.
If your family name is Kriebel, Hartranft, Heebner, Dresher, Schultz, Seipt, Wagner, or any of thirty other documented Schwenkfelder surnames — or if your ancestors were Pennsylvania German farmers, craftspeople, or churchgoers in the Perkiomen, Schuylkill, or Lehigh Valley — this is where that story lives.
Explore the Collections, Plan a Visit, or Trace Your Roots
Whether you're a first-time visitor, a researcher tracking down a family surname, or looking for a historic venue unlike anything else in the region, the Heritage Center has a door open for you.
Visit the Museum & Galleries
Tour permanent and rotating exhibitions on Fraktur, textiles, agricultural history, and the 1826 barn. Docent-led and self-guided options available.
Research Your Family History
The Schwenkfelder Library holds Pennsylvania German genealogy records, church documents, fraktur birth certificates, and Schwenkfelder family histories not indexed in any national genealogy database. If your family has roots in this region, the answers may already be on our shelves.
Join a Program or Event
Year-round programming for adults, children, school groups, and researchers — plus two signature annual events that draw visitors from across the region. With so many options, there's always a reason to come back!
250 Years of Schwenkfelder History in America
This year, we're marking a milestone: 250 years of United State history. Special programming, exhibits, and community events are underway throughout the anniversary period — documenting one of America's earliest stories of religious refuge, community survival, and cultural legacy. Whether your family is Schwenkfelder or simply Pennsylvania German, this history belongs to you.
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The 1826 Seipt Family Barn
The barn is a fully reconstructed Pennsylvania German agricultural barn, originally built in 1826, relocated and rebuilt on our property. We are proud to host guided tours of one of the most distinctive heritage venues in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Questions?
Pennsburg, PA sits at the center of a story about faith, migration, and community that defines early American life. The Heritage Center is where that story is preserved, researched, and told.
Do I need to be Schwenkfelder to visit or do research here?
Not at all! While the collections have deep roots in Schwenkfelder history, they document the broader Pennsylvania German community across three centuries.
Researchers, casual visitors, school groups, and anyone curious about regional history are welcome. General museum admission is always free and open to the public. Barn tours require advance reservation. Some programs and events may have registration fees; details are listed on each program page.
How do I research my Pennsylvania German ancestors at Schwenkfelder?
Our research library holds church records, fraktur birth certificates, family histories, and Schwenkfelder genealogical documents not available in national databases.
You can visit during library hours, schedule a research appointment, or contact us in advance to confirm whether your specific family names and counties are represented in our holdings.
What is the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center?
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is a nonprofit regional history museum, research library, and cultural programming center in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.
We hold internationally recognized collections of Pennsylvania German Fraktur, textiles, agricultural artifacts, and genealogical records, and serve visitors, researchers, school groups, and community members from across the four-county region and nationally.