In the nineteenth century, the Sure & Swift coach line carved out a path between the country's two most prominent cities: New York and Philadelphia. During this three-day trek, Buckingham, Lahaska, and particularly New Hope became essential and historic hosts to weary travelers. The area flourished, developing many artist colonies and becoming a
mecca for those seeking religious, cultural, and personal freedom. From Buckingham, where George Washington and General Greene hatched the plan for Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River, to Lahaska, where the Quakers worked for peace during both the Revolutionary War and Civil War, and finally New Hope, where an artist community developed into the renowned Bucks County School of Impressionism, these towns hold an esteemed place in American history.