Penn Yan and Keuka Lake share a history that is rich in architecture, industry, and tradition.While "Penn Yan" may sound like an Anglicized Chinese dish, it most certainly isn't—the unique name was chosen because the first people to settle in the village in 1833 on the edge of New York's Keuka Lake were comprised of Yankees from New England and Pennsylvania. The town's name is just one of the many distinctive aspects of Penn Yan and Keuka Lake's intriguing past; the town has long had a commercial district, much of which occupies the historic district today. Still standing in the historic district are many of the elegant houses and business buildings that were constructed in the 19th century, reflecting the broad range of architecture used in the village's development over the decades.
