Heritage
First in America
Often billed as the first commercial pretzel bakery (needs verification)
Historic bakery · Tours
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
A historic Lititz bakery — often billed as America's first commercial pretzel bakery — with hands-on tours where you twist your own pretzel.
Tour
Hands-on
Learn the twist and shape your own soft pretzel
Good for
Families
Short and kid-friendly
Hours
Vary
Tour times, prices and closures vary (needs verification)
The place
The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery in Lititz & Ephrata is a historic bakery often billed as America's first commercial pretzel bakery (needs verification), leaning into that heritage with guided tours of the old building and its early ovens — a tidy slice of Pennsylvania Dutch Culture.
The signature part of the visit is hands-on: you learn the traditional twist and shape your own soft pretzel. It's short, family-friendly and a hit with kids, and combines well with the nearby Ephrata Cloister.
Good to know
- Twist your own pretzel on the tour
- Tour times and prices vary (needs verification)
- Lititz itself is worth a short stroll
Our notesA quick, fun stop
A short hands-on tour with real history behind it — easy to fold into a half-day north of Lancaster with the Ephrata Cloister.
Learn the twist, eat the proof.
§ 01From the wiki
What it is
The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery in Lititz & Ephrata is a historic bakery often billed as America's first commercial pretzel bakery (needs verification). It leans into that heritage with guided tours of the old building and its early ovens, telling the story of how the hard pretzel became a Pennsylvania staple — a tidy slice of Pennsylvania Dutch Culture.
The tour
The signature part of the visit is hands-on: you learn the traditional twist and shape your own soft pretzel during the tour. It's short, family-friendly, and a hit with kids. A shop sells pretzels and related goods.
Visiting tips
Tour times, prices, and any seasonal closures vary (needs verification — confirm before you go, and check whether tours run on the day you plan to visit). Lititz itself is a charming small town worth a short stroll while you're there.
It combines well with other Lititz & Ephrata stops like the Ephrata Cloister for a half-day north of Lancaster City. See Four-Night Itinerary for placement.