Before European colonizers arrived in the modern-day Erie area, Native American people were its only known human inhabitants. Erie's shoreline offers rich resources, which led to Native American people occupying the shoreline and bluffs in this area for thousands of years. The Sommerheim Park Archaeological District in Millcreek Township keeps artifacts dating back to 8,000 BCE as proof of this distant past. The Iroquoian-speaking Erie Nation inhabited the area but was defeated by the five nations of the Iroquois Confederacy in the 17th century during the Beaver Wars. As a result, modern-day Erie fell under Seneca's control, also known as the "keeper of the western door" of the Iroquois. European colonizers then arrived in the Erie area in 1753. The French constructed Fort Presque Isle near present-day Erie but abandoned it in 1760 during the French and Indian War. In 1790, after the French abandoned the fort, the British established a garrison in the exact location. The city of Erie takes its name from the Native American Erie people who inhabited the area until the mid-17th century. The land in the Erie area was largely disputed in the late 1700s. The Iroquois people claimed ownership but eventually relinquished their rights in 1789. They signed a deed, and the government paid them $3,200 for their land. The Seneca Nation also had claims to the ground and agreed to a settlement of $800 in 1791. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York relinquished their rights to the land in 1792, after which Erie became a part of Pennsylvania. Authorities then paid out $151,640.25 for this inclusion. Initial settlement began in 1795 when Lt. Colonel Seth Reed and his family moved to the Erie area. At this time, Erie was known as "Presque Isle." Erie was a major center for shipbuilding, fishing, and a railroad hub during the mid-19th century. The city's booming economy at the time provided bountiful opportunities to the locals. But a national standardized gauge was proposed, which put these job opportunities in danger. This proposal provoked the city's mayor and citizens to set fire to bridges, rip up railway tracks, and riot in protest. European immigrants later flocked to the Erie area during the 20th century because of the growth of the city's manufacturing base. But the city's economy took a knock in the late 20th century as industrial restructuring took place. Consequently, the city experienced a population decrease in the 1970s as the importance of manufacturing, steel and coal production, and commercial fishing decreased.

Erie, Pennsylvania, offers a range of activities and attractions, such as the following:

Presque Isle State Park. This park, which is the most visited in Pennsylvania, offers beaches to relax on or sparkling waters ideal for sports or swimming. The park is also an excellent environment for hiking and biking trails, a free pontoon boat ride, kayak rentals, and more!

Bicentennial Tower. This tower, which you will find between the Erie Maritime Museum and the waterfront Sheraton Erie Bayfront, was built in 1996 to celebrate the city's bicentennial.

Erie Zoo. This zoo is in the downtown area and was established in the late 1920s. It shelters over 400 animals like lions, tigers, orangutans, and rhinos.