Blue Rock Heritage Center, 2251 River Road, Washington Boro, was founded in 2001 to offer visitors a view into the rich history of the area, as well as to provide easy access to the Susquehanna River. The organization houses a multitude of artifacts that have been found locally; some are as ancient as 12,000 years old.

The center was founded by a group of local residents who recognized the amount of history contained within Washington Boro and wanted to share it with others. The founding members renovated an old mill to house the Heritage Center. The mill contains a variety of displays, including rock carvings, items traded among Native tribes, stone tools and two petroglyphs, which were excavated from the river when Safe Harbor Dam was built. All of the artifacts on display date back to some of the earliest Native American communities up until the contact period, when Europeans first traveled to America.

"It's important to look at all of the pieces. They tell the story of the Native Americans and how they lived," said Charlie Douts, president and charter member of Blue Rock Heritage Center. Located on the property is a three sisters garden, which was commonly used by Native Americans. This type of garden contains maize, beans and squash planted together. Native communities also heavily relied on the Susquehanna River and its adjacent resources, such as migratory birds and fish.

"(Washington Boro) is a unique place; one of the largest concentrations of Native Americans in Pennsylvania was right here," Douts said. "It's quite common for people to find artifacts in fields and gardens due to how prevalent the communities were."

In 2018, Blue Rock Heritage Center began renovating the Witmer Barn. The barn, which was constructed in 1856, is located near the mill where the center currently stores its displays and hosts events. The end goal of the renovation is for the center to move its collection and hold meetings in the Witmer Barn.

Blue Rock Heritage Center is entirely operated by volunteers, and it is open to the public on one Sunday every month. The center also regularly organizes special events, such as an annual open house and Heritage Day at Washington Boro Park in October. Each event features demonstrations and guest speakers who provide information on Native American culture. Blue Rock also accepts appointments for group tours.

For more information, visit http://www.bluerockheritage.org.