Linden Hall
Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Oldest girls' resident school in the United States. Founded in 1746 by the Moravian Church. Originally a day school, it has since 1794 drawn boarding students from a wide area. The school was chartered under its present name in 1863.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Founded in 1746 by the Moravian Church in the tight-knit religious community of Lititz, Linden Hall is the oldest girls' resident school in the United States. The Moravians, German-speaking Protestants known for their devotion to education, believed girls deserved rigorous schooling at a time when few Americans agreed. What began as a day school grew after 1794 into a boarding academy drawing students from far and wide, and was chartered under its present name in 1863.
Why it matters
Linden Hall stands at the very beginning of American women's education, embodying the radical Moravian conviction that girls were worth teaching generations before it became common belief.
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Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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