Advocate for the preservation, restoration, and stewardship of Harrisburg’s architectural heritage.
"Advocating historic preservation and smart growth since 1973!"
12/23/2025
Although Harrisburg became Pennsylvania’s state capital in 1810 and had a Capitol building by 1822, an official Governor’s Residence was not established until 1858. Early governors lived in private homes, mainly along Front Street. The first Executive Mansion, at 111 S. Second Street, housed only Governors William F. Packer and Andrew G. Curtin. In 1864, the state acquired a townhouse at Front and Barbara Streets, later expanded in 1867 and unified in the late 1880s with an ornate Queen Anne–style façade known as "Keystone Hall." This mansion served Pennsylvania’s governors until its demolition in 1960, clearing the way for the current Governor’s Residence at Front and Maclay Streets.
12/15/2025
The Historic Harrisburg Association has been a cheerleader and advocate for the Broad Street Market for more than 50 years. We were saddened to learn that a portion of its brick wall collapsed this morning. Another setback is the last thing the Market needs. However, we are confident that it can be restored, as we have seen with other high-profile landmarks, such as the historic portion of Strawberry Square at 3rd and Market Streets, whose brick walls were restored in the 1990s. Fortunately, Alexander Construction Management and the architect, Murphy & Dittenhafer, have outstanding historic preservation expertise. We remain confident that, despite this latest setback, this will still be an award-winning restoration project. The Broad Street Market and Harrisburg deserve nothing less.
12/13/2025
The Reily Hose Company No. 10, seen here in a 1914 Wilson Studio photograph, was housed in this beautiful 1899 Victorian firehouse built on land donated by the late George W. Reily. At the time of the photograph, the hook-and-ladder truck assigned to the station (pictured at right) was considered vital by officials due to the rapid growth of this part of the city. Now fully restored and home to the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, the station will be open on Sunday and included in our 52nd Candlelight House Tour! We recommend parking here and stopping inside before walking around Engleton and Old Uptown. And if you're curious about local history, Dave Houseal's immersive books, which bring the lore of the Harrisburg fire service to life, are a must read!
12/11/2025
The Burchfield's residence, a 2025 HHA Preservation Award winner, will be featured Sunday on our 52nd Annual Candlelight House Tour! Seen here in a video filmed by local outfit Cowboy Bear Ninja, the Burchfields took a shell of a historic Engleton house and thoughtfully restored it into a stunning home. The full episode is a part of Magnolia Network's "In With the Old" TV series, which can be streamed on HBO Max. Be sure to watch the full episode and come admire this beautifully restored property on this year’s tour!
This is "In With the Old: The Heart of Harrisburg" by Cowboy Bear Ninja on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
12/10/2025
HHA is pleased to announce that today we received notice that the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence will be OPEN this year for the 52nd Annual Candlelight House Tour! Historically, the Governor’s Residence has always been included on the tour, but after the arson attack last April, the subsequent reconstruction left uncertainty as to its inclusion for this year’s tour. The Department of General Services has worked around the clock since April to restore the Residence to its original condition so that it can continue to welcome visitors from the Harrisburg community and serve as a safe place for governors and their families to live.
12/09/2025
The 2025 Candlelight House Tour Guide Book have arrived! You can pick up or buy your tour guide books at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, 1230 N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg (directly across from the Broad Street Market and the Midtown Scholar) during our normal business hours this week:
Wednesday, December 10th from 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday, December 11th from 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Friday, December 12th from 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday, December 13th, CLOSED
Sunday, December 14th from 12:00PM - 3:00PM
Thank you for joining us on the 52nd Annual Candlelight House Tour this year, and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
12/02/2025
This year’s Candlelight House Tour features homes and venues within the Old Uptown Historic District, Academy Manor, and Engleton neighborhoods. HHA President Jeb Stuart sat down to discuss some of the history of the area with Candlelight House Tour committee leader Carolyn Franz.
12/02/2025
This year's Candlelight House Tour features homes and venues within the Old Uptown Historic District, Academy Manor, and Engleton neighborhoods. HHA President Jeb Stuart sat down to discuss some of the history of the area with Candlelight House Tour committee leader Carolyn Franz.
12/01/2025
We are less than 2 weeks away from the 52nd Annual Candlelight House Tour! This year, we are featuring Engleton (in Old Uptown) and Academy Manor. While the Governor's Residence will not be on the tour, we are thrilled to announce that will not only be a stop, but will be serving hot chocolate and cookies for tourgoers! ☕️🍪
On this day, 60 years ago in Harrisburg, by the Act of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Temple University became a state-related institution in the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, alongside the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State University, and Lincoln University.
11/27/2025
As the season of gratitude arrives, we extend our sincere thanks to our members, sponsors, and friends. Your dedication to preservation and history inspires us every day. We’re proud to be your partner in preservation throughout the Capital Region, which drives lasting and meaningful impact.
11/25/2025
🕯 Rekindled🕯
While .hbg may be cooking up something delicious at 606 S. 2nd now, when the building was on the Candlelight House Tour in 1977, it was still the Hope Fire Company!
Built in 1871 in the Italianate style, it was the second home of the Hope Fire Company, who were organized in 1814 as an all-volunteer unit. The building continued to be an active fire station until the late 1970s until it (and several other small fire stations) were sold by the city.
Have an interest in the history of firefighting in Pennsylvania? Visit the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, which is housed in the old Reily Hose Company Station at 1820 N. 4th St.
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Contact The Business
Send a message to Historic Harrisburg Association:
The Historic Harrisburg Association (HHA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and educational organization that advocates for the restoration, preservation, and proper stewardship of historic neighborhoods and landmarks throughout the Capital Region to enable current and future generations to retain and celebrate Harrisburg’s rich history. HHA collaborates with civic organizations, neighborhood groups, and government agencies to fulfill its mission to “promote historic preservation, urban revitalization, and smart growth.” HHA achieves its mission through:
1. Advocacy
HHA engages constituencies to advocate for the importance of historic preservation as a key mechanism for urban revitalization, economic development, neighborhood improvement, and tourism enhancement.
2. Education
HHA offers multi-faceted education and outreach programs that include free and low-cost lectures, seminars, workshops, guided walking tours and informational exhibits.
3. Preservation
HHA works closely with the City of Harrisburg and its citizens, property owners, and neighborhood groups to ensure that Harrisburg’s historic districts and architectural landmarks are preserved in keeping with Federal and municipal guidelines.
4. Service
HHA operates the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center to support the needs of the Association and the surrounding community, serving as a central location to coordinate and deliver mission-oriented services.
