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Plain & Fancy Farm Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides Amish Country Homestead Amish Country Tours Amish Experience Theater Amish View Inn & Suites Plain & Fancy Restaurant
Mt. Hope Wine Gallery
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Bird-in-Han
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HARVEST DRIVE Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies
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Bird-In-Hand Farmers Market Bird-In-Hand Family Inn & Restaurant
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Bird-In-Hand Bake Shop
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Variations of this sign appear throughout the town today. McNabb’s Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1851. By the following year, a three-story hotel was built to replace it. More recently, it was Bitzer’s Hotel before becoming the present Village Inn of Bird-inHand, a beautiful bed and breakfast property. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster
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The legend of the naming of Bird-in-Hand dates to the time when the Old Philadelphia Pike was being laid out. By 1734, surveyors at McNabb’s Hotel were discussing whether they should stay at their present location or return to Lancaster to spend the night. One of them said, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” The sign in front of the inn, which
King’s Kreamery
became known as the Bird-in-Hand Inn, is known to have once "portrayed a man with a bird in his hand and a bush nearby, in which two birds were perched."
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f the many unique village names that dot the Amish Country map, one of the more interesting is Bird-in-Hand. William Penn, an English Quaker, had founded the colony of Penn’s Woods, and settlers began arriving from Europe in the early 1700’s, moving westward from Philadelphia. The trip by stagecoach, or Conestoga wagon with freight and merchandise, lasted several days. Inns were built every few miles, identified with signs held by an iron pole or attached to the side of the building. The reason for the signs was so that they could be understood by all nationalities. Further, since many teamsters or wagoneers were poorly educated they could not read. Given orders to stop at a certain inn, they were able to do so by recognizing the artwork on the signboard.
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Welcome to the Village of Bird-in-Hand
To Gordonville Bookstore
County states that the existing brick building “may be one of the few 19th century inns in the context of a small town in Lancaster County, which survives with a high degree of architectural integrity.” It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When referring to their bird in hand symbol, some residents say that the bird nestled in the human hand indicates friendship, comfort, and hospitality, all of which you’ll discover in this perfectly delightful little village of shops, farmers markets and eateries.
Uplifting, Amish Country Entertainment The Bird-in-Hand Stage delights audiences with Broadway-style musicals from Amish Country and has become one of Lancaster County’s must-see stops for live performances. Tickets are now on sale for the following shows.
An Amish Love Story
A Breathtaking Experience for All Ages
Through July 14
Through October 22
For tickets, call (800) 790-4069 or visit Bird-in-Hand.com.
Bird -in -Hand Family Re st aurant 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand • (800) 790-4069 • Bird-in-Hand.com
20 • Amish Country News • June 2016 • www.amishnews.com
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