The Keystone State, so nicknamed because it was geographically situated in the middle of the thirteen original colonies and played a crucial role in the founding of the United States, has remained at the heart of American history. Created partly as a safe haven for people from all walks of life, Pennsylvania is today the home of diverse cultures, religions, ethnic groups, social classes, and occupations. Many ideas, institutions, and interests that were first formed or tested in Pennsylvania spread across America and beyond, and continue to inform American culture, society, and politics. This book tells that story—and more. It recenters Pennsylvania in the American historical narrative.

Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth offers fresh perspectives on the Keystone State from an array of distinguished scholars who view the history of this Commonwealth critically and honestly, using the latest and best scholarship to give a modern account of Pennsylvania's past. They do so by emphasizing the evolution of Pennsylvania as a place and an idea. The book, the first comprehensive history of Pennsylvania in almost three decades, sets the Pennsylvania story in the larger context of national social, cultural, economic, and political development. Without sacrificing treatment of the influential leaders who made Pennsylvania history, the book focuses especially on the lives of everyday people over the centuries. It also magnifies historical events by examining the experiences of local communities throughout the state.

Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth is divided into two parts. Part I offers a narrative history of the Commonwealth, paying special attention to the peopling process (the movement of people into, around, and out from the state); the ways people defined and defended communities; the forms of economic production; the means of transportation and communication; the character, content, and consequences of people's values; and the political cultures that emerged from the kinds of society, economy, and culture each period formed and sustained. Part II offers a series of "Ways to Pennsylvania's Past"—nine concise guides designed to enable readers to discover Pennsylvania's heritage for themselves. Geography, architecture, archaeology, folklore and folklife, genealogy, photography, art, oral history, and literature are all discussed as methods of uncovering and understanding the past. Each chapter is especially attuned to Pennsylvania's place in the larger American context, and a Foreword, Introduction, and Epilogue to Part I explore general themes throughout the state's history. An important feature of the book is the large selection of illustrations—more than 400 prints, maps, photographs, and paintings carefully chosen from repositories across the state and beyond, to show how Pennsylvanians have lived, worked, and played through the centuries. This book is the result of a unique collaboration between Penn State Press and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Together they gathered scholars from all over the Commonwealth to envision a new history of the Keystone State and commit their resources to make imagining and writing a new history possible.

Here are some reviews for other books in this series

Reviews for "The Natural History of New York."

"A treasure chest of information … forward-looking parents ought to put it on their must-get list … easy-to-understand charts and tables and concise prose." – The Staten Island Advance

"Informative graphics, maps and charts load the pages … easy to read and visually appealing … a smart addition to classrooms and homes alike" – The Albany Times Union

Reviews for "The Natural History of Western Massachusetts"

"I finally came across the book I'd been imagining, lo these many years … easy to read and understand, for us slower kids in the class." – Tony Mateus, thepioneervalley.blogspot.com

"Filled with color photos on just about every page … enjoyable to read and education … presented in a style that's accessible to your readers." – The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Reviews for "The Natural History of Eastern Massachusetts."

"If you buy a copy for your kids, you'll have a hard time putting it down yourself." – The Quincy Patriot Ledger

"Chock full of gorgeous photographs … it's also lots of fun." – The North Andover Citizen

"A fascinating, richly illustrated guide … a delight for naturalists of all ages." – The New England Wild Flower Society online book guide

How much do you know about the state of Pennsylvania? There’s so much to learn about the Keystone State that even its residents don’t know. In this trivia book, you’ll learn more about Pennsylvania’s history, pop culture, inventions, sports, and more!  

In The Great Book of Pennsylvania, you’ll find the answers to the following questions:

• How did Pennsylvania get its name? 
• Why is it known as the “Keystone State”?
• Do you know how Hersheypark got started?
• Do you know which best-selling musician had her first concert at a fair in Pennsylvania?
• Which famous board game was invented by a Pennsylvanian using stolen ideas from other board games?
• Which famous fast food item started out in PA?
• Who was the Stroudsburg Rain Man?
• What places in Pennsylvania are said to be haunted?
• Where are you most likely to find Thomas Jefferson’s ghost?

And so much more!

This book is full of facts about Pennsylvania. Some of the facts you’ll learn in this book are surprising, some are sad, and others may give you the chills. But the one thing they have in common is they’re all interesting!

Whether you’re just learning about the Keystone State or you already think you’re an expert on the state, you’re bound to learn something you didn’t know in every chapter. Your friends will be amazed at your next trivia night.   

So, what are you waiting for? Get started to learn more about Pennsylvania!

• Used Book in Good Condition

• Schiffer Publishing

• Used Book in Good Condition

• Benjamin Franklin: A Captivating Guide to an American Polymath and a Founding Father of the United States of America
• George Washington: A Captivating Guide to an American Founding Father Who Served as the First President of the United States of America
• John Adams: A Captivating Guide to an American Founding Father Who Served as the Second President of the United States of America
• Thomas Jefferson: A Captivating Guide to an American Founding Father Who Was the Principal Author of the Declaration of Independence and the Third President of the United States
• John Jay: A Captivating Guide to an American Statesman, Patriot, Diplomat, Governor of New York, the First Chief Justice, and One of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America
• James Madison: A Captivating Guide to an American Founding Father Who Served as the Fourth President of the United States of America
• Alexander Hamilton: A Captivating Guide to an American Founding Father Who Wrote the Majority of The Federalist Papers
• James Monroe: A Captivating Guide to the Founding Father Who Served as the Fifth President of the United States