The Lebanon County Historical Society is located at 924 Cumberland Street, Lebanon, Membership is open to all Lebanon County residents. The museum, featuring local history, is open to the public Sunday through Friday from 1:00 PM 4:30 PM and Monday 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (closed Saturday). Arrangements for conducted group tours may be made at other hours by appointment.

The Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County has restored the Log House which dates from 1740 to 1750 at 1126 Chestnut Street, Lebanon. There is also the Meier Homestead (1750) in Myerstown. The public is invited to visit these restorations.

The Schaefferstown Library and Exhibit Hall, open to the public in summer and autumn, contains exhibits which feature the history and material culture of the town and its surrounding area. Here scholars and visitors may learn about the folklore and culture of the Pennsylvania Germans through the Thomas R. Brendle folklore collection and other collections of folk culture materials.

MUSIC

The Lebanon Community Concert Association sponsors a series of three or four concerts annually. These concerts feature internationally famous artists. They are presented at the Lebanon High School.

Lebanon Valley College offers fine musical programs to residents of the county. There are performances by their symphony orchestra, concert choir and symphonic band, faculty recitals, an annual Christmas service, an annual band clinic, an organ-choral lectureship and stage musicals. Student recitals are open to the public.

Musical groups which give area residents an opportunity to participate as well as spectate are various marching and concert bands, the Lebanon Chapter of SPEBSOSA, Inc., known as the Barbershoppers, Harmonia Club, a member of the National Federation of Music clubs.

RELIGION

There are over 164 separate congregations representing all major religious groups. The Jewish Community, members of Beth Israel Congregation, has a synagogue and community center in Lebanon. Protestant congregations include Baptist, Episcopalian, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian, Reformed, Seventh Day Adventists and Untied Methodist denominations. There are also fifteen independent Christian churches. Mennonite and Amish sects are represented here. The Roman Catholic Deanery consists of three parishes in Lebanon and one each in Annville, Cornwall, Jonestown, Myerstown and Palmyra. The Serbian Orthodox congregation has a parish in Lebanon.

THEATRE

The Lebanon Community Theater, Inc. offers live entertainment at their theater, located at East Maple Street and Theater Road. Several productions are presented each season, including performances for children and service groups. Membership and participation are open to all.

Gretna Theater offers professional summer theater in the Gretna Playhouse. For more information, contact the theater at 964-3322.

Wig and Buckle Society, the dramatic club of the Lebanon Valley College, offers several plays each year which are open to the public.

Timbers Dinner Theater, privately owned. Call 964-3601 for more information.

Lantern Lodge, privately owned. Call 866-6536 for more information.

RECREATION

Lebanon has facilities and opportunities for many recreational activities. A partial listing follows with asterisks after those that are promoted or sponsored by the City of Lebanon's recreation department (Room 110, Municipal Building). Some of the boroughs and townships have their own parks and recreation departments.

Swatara State Park -- Swatara State Park is located in Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties, 14 miles north of Lebanon and 3 miles west of Pine Grove. The park is easily accessible from I-81 at Exit 30, Lickdale, Route 72 north and Exit 31, Pennsylvania Route 443 west.

The park consists of 3,330 acres of rolling fields and woodlands situated along Interstate 81 between the Second and Blue Mountains, eight miles of the Swatara Creek wind through the park and is one of the main focal points.

Swatara State Park was acquired with capital development funds. A 775-acre reservoir and recreation area including boating, picnicking, hiking and swimming is planned for the future.