Harrisburg Historic District

Harrisburg's historic district covers about twenty blocks of the city's oldest residential core, with roughly 500 structures, many of them brick or stone and dating from the late 18th to late 19th century. Federal-era houses stand alongside Victorian row houses, producing a streetscape of mixed architectural styles. Harris Park, a wooded area of several acres overlooking the Susquehanna River, unifies the district and contains the grave of John Harris, the original settler at the site, for whom the city is named. The district reflects Harrisburg's growth after it became the state capital in 1812, when politicians, lawyers, judges, bankers and manufacturers built homes here. The Cameron mansion, an outstanding example of later Victorian architecture, was home to Simon Cameron, a Civil War Secretary of War and U.S. Senator. The park is regarded as one of the oldest public parks in the country.