RT Historic Ephrata Cloister

Preserved religious community featuring historic buildings, original meetinghouses, museum exhibits, and cultural landscapes that interpret the unique spiritual, artistic, and communal traditions of an eighteenth-century settlement.

General Information

Hours:

Tuesday to Saturday: 9:30am to 4pm
Sunday: 12pm to 4pm
Closed Monday

Fees:

Adults: $12
Seniors: $10
Students: $10
Children ages 5–17: $5
Children under 5: Free

Pet Policy:

Leashed pets are permitted on outdoor grounds but are not allowed inside historic buildings and museum spaces

Closest cities with hotels:

Lancaster, Pennsylvania (approximately 15 mi)

Seasons:

Spring through fall offer the most active programming and pleasant weather for exploring the grounds, though the site welcomes visitors year-round

Location:

https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=632+West+Main+Street+Ephrata+PA+17522632 West Main Street, Ephrata, PA 17522

Website:

https://ephratacloister.org/ephratacloister.org

How to Get There

From Lancaster (15 mi): Take US-222 north toward Ephrata, continue to West Main Street, and follow signs to the historic site at 632 West Main Street.

Overview

Historic Ephrata Cloister preserves a communal religious society founded in 1732 by the German mystic Conrad Beissel. Members lived in distinctive wooden medieval-style buildings, developed a renowned choral music tradition, produced illuminated manuscripts, and ran one of colonial America's important printing presses. Guided tours and exhibits explain daily life, worship, and the Cloister's influence on Pennsylvania culture, on peaceful historic grounds.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the https://ephratacloister.org/Historic Ephrata Cloister, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.