Pennsylvania was the second state on my cross-country Lincoln Highway road trip. One of the best things about following the Lincoln Highway is that it takes you off the interstate and through small towns and historic communities you’d otherwise miss.
Along the Pennsylvania stretch, I found 5 historic properties that are worth adding to your route, plus a bonus stop at the end that’s especially interesting for architecture fans.
The Eastwood Inn
Dessert and spirits served at the Eastwood Inn
(Jen Ruiz)
The Eastwood Inn is located in Ligonier and is a steakhouse and speakeasy. That was the building’s original purpose, catering to Pittsburgh’s rich and famous and linking via secret tunnel to the cafe below as an easy escape route.
Today, owners Drue Spallholz and his wife, Erica Nuckles, have retained as much of the original architecture, including a unique arched wooden door and intricate tile design work in the foyer.
They’ve also maintained it as an homage to the original female operator, Sophie Greshok, with her picture on the inlaid wooden bar. Directly across you’ll find a vintage, 1950s-era mechanical cigarette vending machine.
Downstairs is the Getaway Cafe, a daytime counterpart to the historic evening chophouse, serving coffee and breakfast and lunch items. Stop by day or night to experience what the Eastwood Inn has to offer.
Battlefield Bed and Breakfast Inn
Room at the Battlefield Bed & Breakfast Inn
(Jen Ruiz)
The Battlefield Bed and Breakfast Inn is a family-owned, women-run property with a strong abolitionist history. It’s located on 30 acres of the Gettysburg battlefield, hence the name, and is even featured on haunted tours of the region.
The property embraces its history, with named rooms honoring important figures and stories connected to the Civil War, abolitionism, and the Underground Railroad. There’s even a shadow of a soldier painted at the foot of the steps, a nod to the property’s haunted reputation.
The original 1809 farmhouse was expanded to include a solarium, which is breathtaking and a popular site for weddings and events. The property also preserved its original 1820s barn, which served as a Civil War field hospital, and transformed part of it into a guestroom. There are two rescue horses on site, and the sunset here is stunning.
Every morning, you start your day with a ranger-style history presentation at 8 a.m. led by local historians and other Civil War experts. Then you’re served a delicious breakfast made from scratch.
As a bonus, it’s extremely pet friendly, with a fenced-in one-acre dog park, 30 acres of walking trails, and thoughtful touches like complimentary dog treats and towels.
Lincoln Motor Court
Kyle and Avery in front of the Lincoln Motor Court
(Jen Ruiz)
When the Lincoln Highway was in its prime, motor courts developed along the route to accommodate travelers. Unlike a traditional hotel, motor courts were collections of individual cabins or rooms arranged around a shared drive, allowing travelers to park right outside their accommodations.
The Lincoln Motor Court is the only surviving tourist cabin court on the Lincoln Highway that’s still open to overnight guests.
I stopped by to meet the new owners, Kyle and Avery, and got a tour of the different buildings and cabins. The property has 12 individual cottages, each with its own personality. There’s even a honeymoon cabin, and the bathrooms have their own retro color schemes, with original tile in monochrome colors like yellow, pink, and green.
What makes the new chapter particularly special is that it’s returning to the family. Avery’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas Mitchell, played a role in establishing the motor court in the 1940s, and Avery grew up around the property.
The new owners took over in March 2026 with the goal of preserving the roadside Americana and character that made the Lincoln Motor Court so special in the first place.
The Eisenhower National Historic Site
Sitting in rocking chairs on the grounds of the Eisenhower National Historic Site
(Jen Ruiz)
The Eisenhower National Historic Site was the only home Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower ever owned together. They purchased the Gettysburg farm in 1950 and eventually made it their permanent home after leaving the White House.
You can tour the home, which has been preserved with many of the furnishings and personal belongings they used while living there. The tours are ranger-led and seasonal, with a shuttle available to transport visitors from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.
The grounds are peaceful and vast, covering more than 180 acres. They’re open daily, and you can walk around the premises even if your visit doesn’t align with the tour times.
Fallingwater
Entrance to Fallingwater
(Jen Ruiz)
Fallingwater is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous commissions, famously built directly over a waterfall so that nature becomes part of the home itself. It was designed as a weekend retreat for the Kaufmann family, with separate spaces for parents Edgar and Liliane Kaufmann and their son, Edgar Jr.
The house seamlessly integrates the surrounding landscape, from the sound of the waterfall running beneath it to the terraces that extend into the forest. Tours are available by reservation and photography is allowed, but video recording is not permitted.
You can’t spend the night at Fallingwater, but you can sleep in a Frank Lloyd Wright house just 25 minutes away at Polymath Park. The property has four architecturally significant homes available for overnight stays, including two designed by Wright himself.