SOURCE: Various
Have you ever thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail – or even a short segment? Hiking a part of the trail could be a great daytrip outing, or even an overnight hiking/camping outing. Right here in our general readership area, there are numerous entry points to the Trail and that’s why we are presenting the Appalachian Trail and its Museum as this issue’s “Short Getaway.”
In terms of how the trail tracks through Pennsylvania, if you approach it from the south the Appalachian Trail enters Pennsylvania near Pen Mar way out in Franklin County. It then proceeds generally northward for about 85 miles and crosses the Susquehanna River north of Harrisburg. From there it heads east towards our area and New Jersey, leaving Pennsylvania near Delaware Water Gap.
Appalachian Trail Museum
Hiking even part of the trail would be an incredible experience, but if the actual hiking is beyond your skill or interest, you might consider exploring the amazing history of the Appalachian Trail at the Appalachian Trail Museum, located about a two-hour drive from our area to the west.
The museum is located right here in Pennsylvania very near the mid-point of the entire trail. Known as the Museum in the Old Mill, the Appalachian Trail Museum is the only museum in the country dedicated to hiking. It portrays and preserves the history and the physical, emotional and spiritual human experiences of the Appalachian Trail.
Learning Exhibits
Exhibits are devoted to early founders of the trail – Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery, as well as some of the early Pioneer thru-hikers such as Earl Shaffer (the last remaining shelter he built is on display) and Grandma Gatewood. The museum also features changing exhibits, a thru-hiker photo display of over 10,000 Trail hikers, a hiker’s lounge, and an indoor/outdoor story-telling center to encourage visitors to share hiking experiences.
The ground floor of the building has been transformed into a children’s area. It features a cement floor painted with a children’s version of the Trail and beautiful panels for children to follow along the route to educate them about each state and the Trail itself. Two exhibits at the museum are:
• “Blazing the Trail in Maine”: Featuring photos showing how the Appalachian Trail was established in Maine and featuring the folding kayak (Folbot) used by Appalachian Trail pioneer, Myron Avery.
• “Hikanation”: Celebrating the groundbreaking, 1980-81, Pacific-to-Atlantic Hike organized by the American Hiking Society.
The Museum Location
The Appalachian Trail Museum is located inside a 200-year-old grist mill in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, near Gardners, Pennsylvania. The Museum is conveniently located near the midway point of the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail, situated next to two popular Trail hiking stops, the Pine Grove General Store, where it is tradition to stop and eat a half gallon of ice cream, and the Ironmaster’s Mansion where you can sleep overnight in dormitory-style accommodations.
Parking is limited at the museum itself. If you can’t find a free space, park near the Pine Grove General Store or at the large gravel lot near the Pine Grove Iron Furnace. Admission is free.
The physical address of the museum is 1120 Pine Grove Road in Gardners, Pennsylvania. For more information and museum hours, visit atmuseum.org or call 717-486-8126. You can also visit the Trail’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AppTrailMuseum/
