illcreek
MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP NEWS
America EST. 1776
In 2026, America celebrates its 250th anniversary, and right here in Erie County, that milestone carries a weight that few places in the country can match. Long before the Declaration of Independence was signed, this region was already shaping the story of a nation. And at the heart of it all was the land that would become Millcreek Township.
Millcreek Township: A History Rooted Here
Evidence of Native American presence in Millcreek dates to approximately 3700 BC. The Sommerheim Park Archaeological District has yielded artifacts from the Archaic and Woodland periods, some of the oldest known in the region. 1
Millcreek is one of Erie County ' s original 16 townships, formally established in 1800. Its name comes from Mill Creek, a stream running from the township into Presque Isle Bay. The first mill in all of Erie County was built at its mouth, and by 1835 four gristmills and thirteen sawmills operated along its
2 banks.
During the War of 1812, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry used the protected waters of Presque Isle Bay to build six of his nine warships. The Nicholson House and Inn, built in 1836 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still stands as a reminder of the community that grew from those early roads
3 and waterways.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
May 16 Memorial Flag Placements All Day | Statewide June 6 America250PA Commonwealth Concert Series 6 p. m. to 11 p. m. | Erie Insurance Arena Featuring The Fray July 4 Millcreek 4th of July Parade Sirens at 9:45 a. m. | W. 12th & Marshall to the American Legion
July 4 America250PA Reception 5 p. m. to 11 p. m. | Philadelphia Visitor Center Ticketed event. Visit America250PA. org for details
July 20 Final PA Day All Day | Statewide
In 1753, a young British Colonial Army officer named George Washington traveled through this region on a 1,000-mile mission to Fort LeBoeuf in present-day Waterford. Visitors can still walk Washington ' s Trail today. General Anthony Wayne established Fort Presque Isle in 1795, cementing Erie County ' s role in the young nation ' s story.
Whether you line the parade route on the Fourth, attend a concert at the Erie Insurance Arena, or simply gather with neighbors to celebrate, every moment this year contributes to something larger. From 1776 to today, our story continues. And in 2026, Millcreek is proud to be part of it.
REFERENCES ¹ Johnson, William C. National Register of Historic Places Inventory / Nomination: Sommerheim Park Archaeological District. National Park Service, June 29, 1981, p. 2. ² Bates, Samuel P., et al. History of Erie County, Pennsylvania. Warner, Beers & Co., 1884. ³ Nicholson House and Inn. National Register of Historic Places listing, 1985. Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office.
MILLCREEK ❘ SUMMER 2026 11