Rock Ford Plantation This mansion was the home of an Irish born, but American revolutionary, General Edward Hand. General Hand came to America as a surgeon's assistant in the 18th Royal Irish Regiment. He received medical training from Trinity College in Dublin. Upon retiring in 1774, he stayed in the colonies to practice medicine.

In 1775, he joined the Continental Army as Lieutenant Colonel of the first Battalion of Pennsylvania Riflemen. He became Adjutant General to Washington in 1781. After the war, he returned home to Lancaster and remained active in local politics. In 1794, he moved to Rock Ford and lived there until he died in 1802.

Historic Rock Ford Plantation was built in 1794. The mansion contains furnishings and artifacts from the time period. Many of the objects displayed in the house were found through archaeological digs conducted on the property.

When Edward Hand died in 1802, his son remained in the house. He committed suicide there a few years later. After being sold from the Hand estate in 1810, the property was operated as a tenant farm into the 20th century. It was during this time that the rumors of haunting started. After the suicide, the house quickly gained a reputation for being haunted. No one would live there. Even destitute immigrants turned down free lodging there.

During the second half of this century, the house was turned into the Kauffman Museum of Pennsylvania Folk Arts and Crafts.