To truly discover Lancaster is to uncover its history. To truly discover who we are, we must understand our origins.

A destination marketing organization, Discover Lancaster has come up with a unique way to explore a shared past and celebrate our nation's 250th birthday.

"We want to expand people's horizons," said Joel Cliff, who's been Discover Lancaster's director of communications for 18 years. "The passport helps to expand people's horizons. We want people to realize there are a lot of different angles to our heritage. The passports have locations throughout the county. They might be places people may not have heard of or explored before."

This passport to which Cliff is referring isn't used as identification for foreign travel. Instead, it is a passport to local Lancaster County history.

Discover Lancaster's passport is a free commemorative booklet that can be picked up at the organization's headquarters at 501 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, or any of the 23 local historic sites that are part of the tour celebrating America 250. When passport holders visit the participating Lancaster County locations, they will receive a custom-made collectible stamp that can be pasted into their passport booklets.

The free passports also feature deals and coupons that can be redeemed at the 23 historic locations and at other points of interest around Lancaster County. The promotion is good from now until the end of the year.

"Physically, the passport is made of heavy material," said Cliff, a resident of Manheim Township. "It's something that's going to be a keepsake if someone is inclined. It's a neat way to commemorate how you celebrated this special year."

Included among the participating locations are Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, Historic Rock Ford, the Strasburg Rail Road, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Lancaster Central Market, National Watch and Clock Museum, Susquehanna National Heritage Area, LancasterHistory Museum and Research Center, the Fulton Theatre, the Demuth Museum of Art, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Ephrata Cloister, the Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy, and the Christiana Historical Society.

"We've got a heapin' helping of history here," said Cliff. "Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities. It's one of the very few United States capitals, even though it was only for one day. A lot of people forget that around the 1700s, Lancaster was the western frontier. I'd say we're pretty historic in a lot of ways. I think on the historic landscape of central Pennsylvania, Lancaster more than holds its own. If the passport helps people explore some of the history, we think that's a good thing for the local economy.

"There are so many great historical stories we wanted to share with locals and visitors," Cliff continued. "The history and heritage aspect we offer is certainly significant. We're well-known for the Amish community. History and heritage are often referenced by our visitors as reasons for coming here. With the country's 250th birthday, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to highlight that."

An advocate for tourism, Discover Lancaster was formed from the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Business Bureau in 2015. Discover Lancaster, which receives 80 percent of its funding from Lancaster County's hotel tax, employs 14 full-time staff members and eight part-time travel consultants.

"Tourism represents a sizeable part of our overall economy," said Cliff. "It helps provide jobs, tax revenues and economic growth. Locals can enjoy some of these experiences right in their own backyards. There are benefits to having a robust tourism industry. All in all, the passport is really cool. It's a great way to spend time."

For additional information, go to http://www.discoverlancaster.com.