Ephrata in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Ephrata Cloister

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 8, 2008

1. Ephrata Cloister Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Surviving restored buildings of the Seventh Day Baptist community founded by Conrad Beissel. Original buildings erected between 1735 and 1749.

Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Erected 1948.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1735.

Location. 40° 11.066′ N, 76° 11.186′ W. Marker is in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. Marker is on West Main Street (U.S. 322) east of Reading Road (Pennsylvania Route 272), on the right when traveling east. Marker is at the Cloister entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 632 West Main Street, Ephrata PA 17522, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ephrata's Women Composers (within shouting distance of this marker); The Kedar (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Home of Conrad Beissel

Visitor Center Building. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 8, 2008

2. Visitor Center Building.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(about 500 feet away); Brothers' House Complex (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Ephrata Cloister (about 600 feet away); Mount Zion Buildings (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle of Brandywine Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ephrata War Memorial Field Complex (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ephrata.

Also see . . .
1. Ephrata Cloister website. (Submitted on June 9, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
2. Conrad Beissel and his Communal Experiment by Ronald J. Gordon. (Submitted on June 9, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Ephrata Cloister Entrance Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 8, 2008

3. Ephrata Cloister Entrance Sign

A National Historic Landmark

One of the original buildings. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 8, 2008

4. One of the original buildings.

Ephrata Cloister Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 8, 2008

5. Ephrata Cloister Cemetery

National Historic Landmark plaque at the entrance to the grounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2019

6. National Historic Landmark plaque at the entrance to the grounds

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,309 times since then and 9 times this year. Last updated on September 23, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 9, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 6. submitted on July 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.