Manheim’s history can be traced through specific places and traditions: the town was founded by Henry William Stiegel and brothers Charles and Alexander Stedman; glassmaking began a few years later. A 19th-century train station, a collection of local antiquities, and the annual Festival of the Red Rose add to these historical themes. For your planning, it is especially useful to consider the differences between enduring heritage, an event on a set annual schedule, and a market offering in the surrounding area.
Manheim and Its Glassmaking Tradition
Manheim was founded in 1762 by Henry William Stiegel and brothers Charles and Alexander Stedman. The local glassworks began production in late 1764. It later became known as the American Flint Glass Manufactory; production continued during the Revolutionary period. These dates give the history of glassmaking a clear timeline: the founding of the town and the start of glassmaking were close together, but they are separate milestones.
Stiegel is also connected with a later local tradition. In 1772, he deeded a plot of land to Manheim’s Lutheran congregation for the construction of a church. Since 1892, the congregation has paid a red rose annually to one of Stiegel’s heirs. At the Festival of the Red Rose, a red rose is presented to a descendant of Henry William Stiegel as legal payment. The festival thus links a recurring event with a story that began with a specific transfer of land.
The Train Station and Local History
The 1881 Manheim Railroad Station stands at the intersection of Railroad Street and South Charlotte Street. The one-and-a-half-story station is built with a wood frame and classified as Eastern Stick style. Its year of construction, materials, and style describe different aspects of the building: its historical period, construction method, and architectural design. The Manheim Historical Society serves as a “time capsule” of railroad and transportation history at the station.
The Manheim Historical Society also owns the Manheim Heritage Center in Manheim Borough and the Town Clock in Mini Park, also in Manheim Borough. These places are part of the local historical collection. For orientation, the Manheim Railroad Station is particularly easy to locate: its intersection at Railroad Street and South Charlotte Street can be pinpointed when planning your visit.
Collection and Visit Planning
Since 2001, the Historic Manheim Preservation Foundation has been located on Manheim’s original historic town square. Its facilities include exhibition rooms, a library, and a garden. The Foundation displays the Keiffer Collection, featuring Stiegel glass, furniture, other antiques, and ephemera. In addition to glassmaking, the collection highlights objects and materials that touch on different aspects of local history.
Important for your visit: The main exhibition room is currently accessible only by appointment. If you plan to visit the exhibition, arrange your appointment in advance.
The Festival and Market Days
The Festival of the Red Rose is celebrated by Zion Lutheran Church every year on the second Sunday in June. This fixed Sunday makes the festival a specific seasonal landmark if you want to tie your stay to the rose tradition. The annual payment of the rose to a descendant of Stiegel and the story of the 1772 deed give the festival a historical context that goes beyond its name.
In the area around Manheim, Root’s Old Mill Flea Market has more than 175 vendors on Tuesdays year-round. An outdoor flea market is held on Saturdays from April through November. The two market days therefore differ both in frequency and in season: the Tuesday market operates year-round, while the Saturday market is seasonal. If you plan to visit a market, choose the appropriate day of the week and check the date in advance.
When deciding on a trip, you can weigh these themes separately: glassmaking and railroad history, the rose tradition tied to a June date, or the market in the surrounding area. If the Foundation’s exhibition is important to you, arranging an appointment in advance should be part of your planning.
Discover more destinations: Elizabethtown, Reinholds, Mt Joy, Lancaster, Gordonville, Ronks, Denver, Smoketown.
Return to the main travel overview: Lancaster.
