Setting the Scene

Welcome to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The capital of Pennsylvania since 1812, Harrisburg lies along the Susquehanna River, approximately 160 kilometres northwest of Philadelphia. It has been an important centre for transportation since the early days of riverboat traffic. When first formed, Harrisburg played a large part in the creation and expansion of the Pennsylvania canal system and then later on, the railroads, highways and airlines. Today, Harrisburg is a significant commercial and distribution centre of the East with its main businesses being candy (including the world known Hershey Chocolates Company), other food products and computer parts.

Cultural life in Harrisburg is flourishing with jazz concerts, performances by the internationally known local Symphony Orchestra, art and craft exhibitions (both mainstream and ‘grass roots') and a healthy level of community theatre. Not to be disregarded is the sports life of the city, which centres mainly around baseball and indoor soccer.

Modern Harrisburg is a city which comfortably combines the offerings of ‘old' and ‘new' America. Although it has progressed and moved with the times, the Harrisburg community has always maintained a strong connection to their roots and thus is essentially an overgrown town.