History
A RICH HISTORY
Settled by Welsh Quakers in the 17th century, the Main Line takes pride in a regional lineage that goes back to William Penn, founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Only a few miles from Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation, our area contains an abundance of historical sites and battlefields, including the 700-acre Valley Forge National Historic Park.
In 1852 the Pennsylvania Railroad established a “main line” to connect Philadelphia with Pittsburgh. When the railroad was completed, many executives working in Philadelphia were encouraged to build large summer homes along the line, away from the dust and heat of the city. Railroad executives, inspired by the poetic names of Welsh towns, renamed most of the stops on the Main Line to make the area even more attractive as a summer resort for wealthy Philadelphians. The railroad quickly became the lifeline of the community, businesses prospered and summer estates turned into year-round homes.
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