Feature Points
• VINTAGE PRINT REPRODUCTION: Historic reproduction of 1938 Visit Historic Ephrata Pennsylvania Poster. Printed on archival-grade paper that resists fading and discoloration for over 100 years. Perfect for home, office, or gallery display.
• PREMIUM GALLERY PAPER: Heavyweight fine art paper with non-reflective matte finish eliminates glare while delivering museum-grade appearance and lasting durability.
• PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED: Each image is digitally restored by our art specialists to remove age-related deterioration while preserving authentic historical details and character.
• BORDERLESS DESIGN: Artwork prints edge-to-edge for a seamless, gallery-ready appearance. Ships protected in rigid tube packaging to prevent damage and ensure perfect condition upon arrival.
• MADE IN USA: Our multi-step restoration process and quality control ensure each print meets professional standards. Every reproduction is individually inspected before shipping.
Additional Information
Created during the transformative years of the Works Progress Administration between 1936 and 1940, this exceptional travel poster by renowned Pennsylvania artist Katherine Milhous showcases the historic Ephrata Cloister through her distinctive folk art aesthetic. Milhous, who supervised the Federal Art Project in Philadelphia and later won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for children's illustration, incorporated the rich visual traditions of Pennsylvania Dutch, Amish, and Mennonite communities into this celebrated design. Produced as part of the WPA's ambitious campaign to promote domestic tourism during the Depression, the poster captures the enduring appeal of one of America's earliest religious communal societies, established in 1732 by German Pietist Conrad Beissel.
The Ephrata Cloister represented one of the most remarkable religious experiments in colonial America, where celibate Brothers and Sisters lived in austere wooden buildings, creating illuminated manuscripts, composing mystical music, and operating one of the colonies' earliest printing presses. It was during the 1930s that this National Historic Landmark gained renewed attention as Americans, struggling through economic hardship, sought inspiration from earlier communitarian movements and simpler ways of life. Milhous's poster emerged alongside broader New Deal efforts to document and preserve American folk traditions, as photographers like Walker Evans and writers from the Federal Writers' Project captured disappearing rural customs across Pennsylvania.
This remarkable piece stands as a window into both colonial religious history and Depression-era cultural preservation, bridging three centuries of Pennsylvania's distinctive heritage. The poster's celebration of pre-Revolutionary customs and architecture continues to transport viewers to this pivotal site of American religious freedom and communal experimentation, making it an extraordinary addition to any collection honoring this unique piece of American spiritual and artistic history.
