Columbia Borough is celebrating their 300 anniversary as an important transportation crossroads of Pennsylvania. It was originally names Wright’s Ferry for the important crossing here of the Susquehanna River. Before bridges carried wagons and train and finally automobiles here, the location was known to the people who were named by explorer John Smith.
If you arrive early for the conference, check out the Thunder on the River Car Show on Saturday, June 20, 2026. They close down the main streets to allow people to view hundreds of antique autos. If you’re not on the Tuesday, June 23, 2026, bus tour to Columbia and Lancaster, then you definitely want to check out the Turkey Hill Experience or the National Clock and Watch Museum in town. Columbia streets are filled with antique shops and two of our favorite local restaurants, Hinkles and Griddle’s Malt Shop.
The Columbia Crossings River Trails Center is the place to expand your knowledge of the Susquehanna River and gateway to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. If you are sticking around after the conference, you don’t want to miss Riverfest PA, June 26-28. This year they plan to light fires on all the original covered bridge stone piers across the Susquehanna to commemorate the burning of the bridge that halted the advance of the Confederates before they went to Gettysburg.
Lincoln Highway fans also will want to stop by the only state historical marker here and the nearby original 1928 concrete Lincoln Highway marker. In between these two markers are unique Lincoln Highway ceramic tiles that are in the sidewalk to guide visitors to the markers. The Columbia Historic Preservation Society even have these tiles for purchase if you’d like to take one home. Columbia celebrates its Lincoln Highway history every day.
Of course, the Lincoln Highway gem is the Columbia Wrightsville Veterans Memorial Bridge that connects York and Lancaster Counties over the river since 1930. Before this, cars had to pay the Pennsylvania Railroad a hefty toll to use their bridge. You’re welcome to drive across the bridge for the remarkable view and to admire the engineering but our bus tours may not due to current weight restrictions as PennDOT prepares for a restoration of this iconic Lincoln Highway treasure.
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