The Red Rose City of Lancaster, in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country, enjoys a long and rich history. In 1777, the city was briefly the capital of the American colonies and also served as Pennsylvania's capital from 1799 to 1812. Today, Lancaster is known as the home of the Amish, a religious group that eschews the hustle and bustle of modernity in favor of seclusion and simple living. Hearty Amish cooking and traditional crafts are popular with tourists, and the surrounding countryside is an antique-lover's paradise.