Ephrata Attractions 
Between Reading and Lancaster (12 miles / 19 km from the latter town) is Ephrata (pop. 12,000), where German Pietists established a community of monastic type in 1732. Eleven buildings of the Ephrata Cloister (632 West Main Street), erected between 1735 and 1749, have been preserved, and some of them are open to the public, including the Sisters' House, the Meetinghouse and the Householder's Residence.
Ephrata Cloister
The Ephrata Cloister, founded in 1732 by German settlers, was one of America's earliest communal societies. This group was a community of religious celibates who were well-known for their music, calligraphy and printing.
Ephrata Cloister
632 West Main Street
Ephrata, PA 17522-1717
United States
632 West Main Street
Ephrata, PA 17522-1717
United States
Phone 1 (717) 733-6600
Fax 1 (717) 733-4364
Hours
January 1 to February 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
March 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
May 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
November 1 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
