Franklin Tour

Self-guided Walking Tour of Historic Liberty & 13th Street

Franklin has developed a complex architectural heritage that is very evident and well documented. This fascinating period of cultural history occurred here in one of the most noted historic settlements in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The City's strategic location was the leading cause for this early activity. The first sixty-four years (1741-1805) was centered upon frontier trade and military enterprise involving French and English colonial interests and subsequent American permanent settlement.

A major portion of Franklin's architecture was erected during the late 19th and early 20th century. The rapid economic sophistication of the town caused a total transformation of its commercial, residential, industrial and institutional buildings. All of the period's architectural styles can be seen in some form in downtown Franklin - Gothic Revival, Victorian, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Italianate Stick and Romanesque. Highly varied, many of these buildings are associated with the region's most prominent and sometimes colorful people.

Funding for this project is provided through the Venango Center for Creative Development, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and private donations.

Contributing expertise in this endeavor are: The Venango County Historical Society; Historic Franklin Preservation Association; Franklin Public Library; Humanities Scholar, Bruce Clayton, Professor of History Emeritus, Sarasota, FL; Architectural Scholar, Thomas Jones, Historic Preservation Planner, Easton, PA; local historians, Dennis Armstrong, Carolee Michener and Sylvia Coast.