Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Doylestown, PA
Year Listed: 2001
A small town with a 250-year history, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, rivals many large cities such as nearby Philadelphia with its world-class cultural facilities, elegant Victorian architecture, and historic attractions. Its commitment to the arts is exceeded only by its engrained preservation ethic. Born of a grant purchased from the Free Society of Traders in 1724, Doylestown was a country hamlet whose growth paralleled that of the land destined to become the United States. Because of its location, the town played a key role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War, and in the early 1900s, became the seat of the Bucks County government.
Doylestown's cultural identity was established between 1908 and 1916, when Henry Chapman Mercer, a ceramist and architect, constructed three notable buildings that would constitute the "Mercer Mile." The structures would form the foundation of the town's distinctive visual heritage and become National Historic Landmarks. The Mercer Museum showcases American crafters in its five stories. The Fonthill Museum, part of the National Trust's Historic Artists Homes and Studios program, is a 44-room concrete castle adorned with handcrafted tiles. The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is now a living history museum. In addition, the James A. Michener Museum offers an internationally recognized art collection as well as a wing for local artists.
Downtown Doylestown invites walking, with sidewalks lined with brick pavers and reproduction Victorian streetlamps. Unique specialty shops offer antiques, crafts, and jewelry, alongside cafes, restaurants, and national retailers offering the latest clothing and furniture styles. Its cultural facilities include a newly renovated art deco theater, a Community Conservatory of Music, and cozy clubs for comedy, music, and theater performances. The town's seven municipal parks cover 80 acres and include fishing ponds, fitness courses, and nature trails through a natural forest. Doylestown's annual Oktoberfest is the town's largest organized event, with all proceeds dedicated to ongoing improvements and development of the park system.
