Penn Yan and Keuka Lake share a history that is rich in architecture, industry, and tradition. Penn Yan was established in 1833 as a village on the edge of New York's Keuka Lake; the unique name was chosen because the first people to settle in the village were comprised of Yankees from New England and Pennsylvania. The town's name is just on e 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 that were constructed in the nineteenth century, reflecting a time when Penn Yan experimented with several architectural styles. Mills, railroads, and steam boat businesses once thrived throughout the area.