Lititz was first settled by Pennsylvania Germans in the 1720s, however, the Moravians actually established the town. Like many religious groups who sought the freedom to worship provided in Pennsylvania, the Moravians established a church settlement in 1749, which later became the town of Lititz. The Moravians named the town Lititz in honor of a town and castle in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic that once had protected Moravians in 1456.

For almost 100 years, Lititz was a completely self-contained religious community controlled by a group of strict church elders that ruled every aspect of everyday life. A set of town regulations was developed to keep residents "free from all dangerous and worldly connections, and live a peaceful and quiet lif in Godlinesss and Honesty." Only those who signed these regulations were allowed to inhabit the town.

The Moravians were great believers in the power of education for both girls and boys and established the Linden Hall School for Girls in 1746. That same year they also established the Brethren School for Boys. Linden Hall still serves as the oldest girls' boarding school in America today. Linden Hall admitted non-Moravian students as early as 1794, long before Lititz opened its doors to outsiders.

By the 1850s, the church could no longer enforce its town regulations and Lititz opened its doors to outsiders starting in 1856. Moravian residents continued to live and work in Lititz, but it would be 20 years before a non-Moravian church was built in the town.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Lititz served as a summer resort town where people came to enjoy the medicinal properties of the Lititz Springs, the largest limestone spring in Pennsylvania. The Reading and Columbia Railroad built a station at Lititz Springs Park. Travelers came to picnic in the park and stayed at nearby hotels to take in the "healing" power of the natural waters. Today, Lititz Park is a 7 acre park built around the spring's source. Paved walkways, flowing streams and numerous picnic and playground areas dot the landscape.

Interesting Facts About Lititz

George Washington commandeered the Brethren House for a military hospital during the Revolutionary War.

California pioneer John Sutter, owner of Sutter's Mill the site of the first gold discover in 1848, made his home in Lititz in 1871 and died there in 1880. He is buried in the Moravian Cemetary. The General Sutter Inn, a popular establishment for lodging and dining was founded in 1764 and eventually named in Sutter's honor.

Lititz Springs Park is the site of the oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration in the nation. The first planned celebration of Independence Day came in 1818. 400 candles were used to illuminate the park for the celebration in 1843. Today over 7,000 candles light up Lititz Park at its yearly Independence Day celebration.

Lititz is Home to Many Historic Sites Including:

-Sturgis Pretzel House -Wilbur Chocolate Factory -Lititz Moravian Church Archives -Heritage Map Museum -The General Sutter Inn