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“Dedicated To The Most Popular Hiking Trail In America”
Appropriately, the Museum is housed in a building that is itself a historical artifact, a structure built more than two hundred years ago as a grist mill. It stands across the road from the Pine Grove general store, a site famed in hiker lore. It is here that thru-hikers traditionally stop to celebrate reaching the midpoint by eating -- or attempting to eat -- a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. The Museum has had visitors from throughout the United States and 18 other countries since it opened in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in June 2010. Nearby is the Ironmasters Mansion which is open due to the help of the Central PA Conservancy (CPC) and over 4,800 hours of volunteer help. The Old Mill is owned by the State Park, but has had limited use in recent years. Following the negotiation of a lease agreement that allowed the building's use for museum purposes, extensive renovations were undertaken -- mostly with the use of volunteer labor. The result is that the main floor is now up to code requirements and is in use as the Appalachian Trail Museum. Plans are in the works for future renovations, as funds become available, that will make space available on another floor. Current exhibits include a trail shelter that was built by hiker legend Earl Shaffer. The shelter, which has been replaced with a more modern one, was painstakingly disassembled at its former site on Peters Mountain in Pennsylvania and reassembled in the new Museum. In addition, there are artifacts that belonged to other hiking pioneers such as Grandma Gatewood, Gene Espy, and Ed Garvey. In the Museum computers display the more than 12,000 photos that have been taken of thru-hikers as they reached Harpers Ferry on their journeys either north or south. There is also a children's discovery area and hiker welcoming areas both inside and outside.
Small but interesting museum that covers the high points of the trail's development. As well, has some exhibits about famous hikers. Wish there were more artifacts and equipment and hiking gear. Read more
Seriously, if you love hiking and the outdoors then the Appalachian Trail Museum should be on your bucket list. Thanks to technology you can tour the museum from your home, but the experience of... Read more
It is a very small museum but full of information about the Appalachian trail excellent source for hikers! Also bickers! And sorry no Wifi available around this area Read more
Appalachian Trail Museum
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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