The village was established in the 1700's, and
served as a rest stop for travelers heading west. It was during this time that Bird-in-Hand
earned its unique name. The legend of this village's name dates back to 1734 when two men
surveying the Colonial highway between Philadelphia and Lancaster
found themselves at a Tavern/Inn by a Conestoga wagon stop, the sign showed a
man with a bird perched in his hand – and it continues today.
A book produced for Bird-in-Hand’s 250 th anniversary in 1984 had this to say about the
history of the town's name: The pike
was being laid out in order to connect Lancaster with a direct route to
Philadelphia. A discussion took place
between two road surveyors as to whether they should stop at their present
location or go on to Lancaster to spend the night. One of them said, “a bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush”, which meant… it is better to hold onto something one has
than to risk losing it by trying to get something better. The other surveyor followed this bit of
advice and both remained at what became known as
the Bird-in-Hand Inn.
Inns were identified by painted signs, since pictures could be
understood by all travelers, no matter their nationality or education
level. The 18th Century Inn
sign, that inspired this town’s name, literally depicted a man with a bird in his
hand.
Today, Bird-in-Hand remains a meeting place for farmers and
locals, where they are joined by visitors passing through the area to
experience the village’s rich traditions.
The village offers the flavors of Pennsylvania Dutch culture and history
via its restaurants, bakeries, quaint local shops and an old-fashioned farmers’
market packed with fresh foods, handmade crafts, and homegrown produce. In fact, this market resulted in Bird-in-Hand
being designated a “market town.”
Original available. Reproductions and note cards are also available.
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