Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Bush Meeting

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

1. The Bush Meeting Marker

Inscription.

Shortly after the American Revolution revivalism struck the American frontier & kindled a new, totally American institution, the camp meeting. Born on the Southern frontier, the camp meeting soon invaded the Pa. Dutch Country where it was known as the bush meeting. Bush, to the Pa. Dutch, is wooded land. A small grove was cleared, a preaching stand or bush arbor was erected, & rows of benches were placed around it. Since participants camped in the surrounding woods the bush meeting provided both a religious inspiration & social gathering.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 40° 31.086′ N, 75° 46.983′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It can be reached from North Whiteoak Street. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street, Kutztown PA 19530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and

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specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thanksgiving & Harvest Home (here, next to this marker); Cider (here, next to this marker); The Plain Dutch (a few steps from this marker); New Year's Day Lore (a few steps from this marker); The Candlemaker (a few steps from this marker); Funeral Feasts (a few steps from this marker); Dutch Folksong Tradition (a few steps from this marker); Dew of Heaven (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.

Regarding The Bush Meeting. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call

Also see . . .
1. Camp Meeting. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 9, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Pennsylvania German Society.

The Bush Meeting Marker and Other Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

2. The Bush Meeting Marker and Other Markers

Website homepage (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

3. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania website entry (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 356 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.