Appalachian Trail Museum - News

George Masa Film Screening on November 22 at 7 pm

11/7/2025

The 2025 AT Hall of Fame Banquet Committee is excited to announce that the Shepherdstown Opera House will present a special sneak peek screening of the documentary A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story on Saturday, November 22 at 7 PM. George Masa (A.T. Hall of Fame, 2018) was a Japanese immigrant and photographer whose work helped in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Admission for the screening is pay what you can. You can make a donation to the Opera House with a credit card when you secure your film tickets or with cash at the door. Follow THIS LINK to secure your tickets. The Shepherdstown Opera House is located at 131 W. German Street, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. Call this number for more information: 304-876-3704

This Sneak Peek screening is presented courtesy of the filmmaker Paul Bonesteel, in cooperation with the Appalachian Trail Museum, and made possible with a grant from the Jefferson Arts Council. A Q&A with Bonesteel will follow the film. Bonesteel is based in Asheville, North Carolina, and known for creating documentaries that explore American history and culture.

A.T. Hall Of Fame Day Will Feature A Full Slate Of Activities

10/26/2025

Bavarian Inn, Shepherdstown, WV

Our 2025 Hall of Fame Banquet will be here soon. We have planned a full day of activities. Our 2025 venue is the Bavarian Inn, located at 164 Shepherd Grade Road, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. We are thrilled to have a Banquet again after a five year absence.

The day will begin with interviews of the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees and representatives. Our 2025 Class is Richard B. Anderson of Camden, Maine; the late Walter Greene of New York City, New York, the late Marion Park of Washington, DC, and Ronald Tipton of Rockville, Maryland. Find out more about these trail icons HERE.

Randy "Windtalker" Motz

A reception will follow at 11 am, featuring the music of Randy "Windtalker" Motz.

Next will be the banquet luncheon, at noon. The Hall of Fame induction will be at 1 pm. The MC will be Dave Startzell, past CEO of Appalachian Trail Conservancy. At 2:30 pm, we will have a panel discussion on the 100 year celebration of Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Dave Startzell, retired CEO of ATC and 2025 Induction MC

Tickets for the 2025 Hall of Fame Banquet are on sale now through November 13 and seating is limited. Follow THIS LINK to get your tickets.

PCN Visits the A.T. Museum

10/2/2025

The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) recently visited the Appalachian Trail Museum. Host Carson Devitt interviewed Museum volunteer Jim Foster and learned about the history of America's most popular long distance hiking trail. She also stopped by the Pine Grove Furnace store, home of the Half Gallon Challenge, and talked to a hiker attempting a thru-hike.

HERE is a link to the video on PCN's YouTube page. It will debut on the PCN cable channel on October 14 and will air from time to time after that.

Gene Espy 1927-2025

8/28/2025

Eugene Espy, known by everyone as Gene, passed away at age 98 recently. Gene was the second person to thru-hike the A.T., in 1951. In 2011, Gene was the only living member of the Charter Class of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame.

Here’s what we said about Gene when he was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2011:
Our next honoree became, in 1951, the second person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. His well known book, “The Trail of My Life” has inspired many to follow in his footsteps. He has lived a life full of adventures including hiking, bicycling, spelunking, boating and motorcycling. From an early age, this Eagle Scout, Georgia Tech graduate, and U.S. Air Force aerospace engineer explored the world around him just for fun. The highlight of all his adventures was his AT thru-hike. He is a well-known speaker who enjoys telling about his AT hike and many other experiences. His now vintage hiking equipment is on display in the visitors center at Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia near the approach trail to Springer Mountain. We are thrilled that one member of our Charter Class, Mr. Gene Espy, is alive to personally receive the honor of a place in the Charter Class of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame.
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Gene was a great friend of the Museum. We were graced by his presence twice at our Hall of Fame Banquet, once when he was inducted in 2011 and again in 2016.
Here is Gene’s obituary.
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Eugene Marion Espy of Atlanta, Georgia, formerly of Macon, Georgia, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on August 22, 2025.
Gene was born on April 14, 1927, in Cordele, Georgia, the son of the late Alto Lee Espy and Iona Peterman Espy. His extraordinary life began with an idyllic childhood that endowed him with a zest for living and learning.
Gene became Cordele’s first Eagle Scout in 1943 and stayed involved in Boy Scouts through troop leadership and mentorship. He graduated in 1944 as the Valedictorian and Senior Class President from Cordele High School. Gene left the Georgia Institute of Technology to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Navy. Returning after World War II, he played clarinet in its marching band and joined the Alpha Tao Omega fraternity. Gene became “a helluva engineer” as he graduated in 1950 with a B.S. in Industrial Management. His support of Georgia Tech and its football team remained strong along with his love of Sousa marching band music.
Ever curious, Gene embraced all the adventures that the outdoors offered as he explored his hometown and the world beyond. As a boy, he rode his bicycle out to Lake Blackshear to fish. He built beautiful wooden powerboats, taught himself and others to water ski using his homemade skis, and explored caves and waters all over the Southeast. An excellent sailor, Gene sailed 300 miles solo down the Ocmulgee River to the Intracoastal Waterway. He told captivating stories of his 740-mile solo bicycle trip at age sixteen and hitch-hiking in college. Gene even rode his beloved motorcycle up Stone Mountain just for the thrill.
At age 24, Gene became recognized as the second thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail and secured his place as one of its legendary pioneers. A winter mountain hike in college had inspired Gene to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail and “see God through nature.” Gene succeeded in his 123-day thru-hike of 2050 miles on September 30, 1951, by reaching Mt. Katahdin where he knelt down and thanked God. He returned over the years to section hike and support other hikers. Gene delighted in visiting the Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor Center to meet hikers, tell stories, and see his 1951 hiking equipment on display.
In 2011, Gene was honored as one of six inductees into the charter class of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame. Honoring the sixtieth anniversary of his summit on Mt. Katahdin, his city of Macon, Georgia, declared it as Gene Espy Day. Although he wrote his autobiography, “The Trail of My Life,” and often gave speeches and interviews, Gene always expressed interest in others’ outdoor adventures and encouraged people to "keep going one step at a time” through life’s challenges. Gene’s impact as an enthusiastic ambassador for the Appalachian Trail will continue.

As an engineer, Gene was well-recognized for his problem-solving and time management ideas. While his early career included overseeing the building of shrimp trawlers and the manufacture of clothing, he spent thirty years as an aeronautical engineer at Robins Air Force Base.
A true gentleman known for his kindness, generosity, and wry sense of humor, Gene actively helped his community. As a long-time member of Highland Hills Baptist Church, he faithfully served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and much more. Gene was a member of the Macon Exchange Club, the Macon Lions Club, the Macon Touchdown Club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, ALDHA, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, and the Georgia Wilderness Society, which established The Gene Espy Award.
Gene was predeceased by his parents and his brother, John Lee Espy. He is survived by his devoted wife of 71 years, Eugenia, his daughters Ellen Holliday and Jane Gilsinger (Jim), his granddaughters Courtney Holliday (Brandon Abernathy) and Amanda Gilsinger, and numerous nieces and nephews. His exemplary love of God and family guided his life. Gene will be greatly missed, but will live on in so many hearts and hikes.
The family will greet friends on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 10-11 AM at Highland Hills Baptist Church, 1370 Briarcliff Road, Macon, Georgia. A memorial service will follow at 11 AM with a reception afterwards. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Appalachian Trail Museum, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, or Highland Hills Baptist Church.
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Follow THIS LINK to view Gene’s obituary and to share a memory.

2025 A.T. Hall of Fame Banquet To Feature Randy "Windtalker" Motz's Music

7/20/2025

The Appalachian Trail Museum's 2025 Hall of Fame Banquet will feature Randy "Windtalker" Motz. A 2006 AT thru-hiker and award-winning composer and recording artist, Windtalker returns to the Banquet to perform his unmistakable and soul-stirring style of Native American-style flute music during the reception from 11:00 am to noon. Recordings of Windtalker's music will be available.

The 2025 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Bavarian Inn Resort & Brewing Company, located at 164 Shepherd Grade Road, Shepherdstown, WV. Following the reception will be a luncheon at noon and then the Hall of Fame Induction. The M.C. for the 2025 Banquet will be David N. Startzell. Dave retired in 2012 after more than 25 years as executive director of Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Follow this link to purchase tickets using our partner Ticket Taylor:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/appalachiantrailmuseuminc/1659247

Tickets may also be purchased at the Museum using check or cash.

The 2025 Banquet will honor the 2025 Class of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame. The 2025 Hall of Fame Class is Richard B. Anderson of Camden, Maine; the late Walter Greene of New York City, New York, the late Marion Park of Washington, DC, and Ronald Tipton of Rockville, Maryland. More information on the 2025 Class is available at our website,
https://www.appalachiantrail.museum

About the Appalachian Trail Museum

The Appalachian Trail Museum serves the A.T. community by telling the stories of the founding, construction, preservation, maintenance, protection, and enjoyment of the Trail since its creation a century ago. The Museum opened on June 5, 2010, as a tribute to the thousands of men, women and families who have hiked and maintained the approximately 2,190-mile-long hiking trail that passes through fourteen states from Maine to Georgia. Located right on the A.T. within Pine Grove Furnace State Park near Gardners, Pennsylvania, the museum is eight miles south of I-81 between Carlisle, Gettysburg and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The Museum is a 501-C-3 not-for-profit organization. Additional information is available at http://www.appalachiantrail.museum

CONTACT

Jim Foster
Appalachian Trail Museum
717-649-5505
[email protected]

Appalachian Trail Museum Presents A.T. Arts & Culture Festival, Sunday, June 29

6/10/2025

The Appalachian Trail Museum will hold its first A.T. Arts & Culture Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, at the A.T. Museum in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners, Pa.

The festival is a chance to celebrate the A.T. community’s talents, creativity and ties and will bring together authors, historians, storytellers, journalists, musicians and videographers.

The event will offer a chance to meet with A.T. authors individually and purchase their books, hear about the experiences of A.T. hikers such as Earl Shaffer, the first thru-hiker, and see some of the most respected A.T. historians. One of the authors has written a children’s book about Earl Shaffer and his biographer will also be a presenter. Among the historians is the Museum’s Gwen Loose, who has written about women pioneers of the A.T.
The event will also feature a barbecue lunch and will be located in the park’s Furnace Stack Picnic Pavilion down the hill from the Museum. Parking is available next to the pavilion. The Museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free but donations are welcome for the lunch.

BMECC Picnic Celebrates The Appalachian Trail’s First Century

6/9/2025

The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club held its annual picnic on June 8, 2025. The theme this year was “Happy 100th Birthday To The Appalachian Trail”. The festivities were led by BMECC’s Program Committee Co-Chair Karen Sciole. They began with a picnic accompanied by music followed by a presentation on “100 Years of The A.T. by Jim Foster of the A.T. Museum and Keystone Trail Association. Several members dressed in period costumes of a century ago, as well as two women dressed as Grandma Gatewood.

The picnic was held at BMECC’s Rentschler Arboretum in Bernville, PA. Founded in 1916, BMECC is the oldest A.T. maintaining club based in Pennsylvania. Led by BMECC founder Dr. Harry Rentschler, BMECC built 102 miles of the A.T. between the Susquehanna and Lehigh Rivers. Although portions of this section have since been delegated to other maintaining clubs, BMECC still maintains 65 miles of the Trail, the most of any club in the Keystone State. Dr. Rentschler was inducted into the A.T. Hall of Fame in 2023.

A.T. Museum & ATC Present "How Did The A.T. Change Your Life"

4/6/2025

The A.T. Museum is excited to partner with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for a program and cookout at Brickyard Pavilion at Pine Grove Furnace State Park on May 24th at 1 pm. This event will be hosted by authors and adventurers Heather Anderson and Christine Reed. Come share your stories about how the Appalachian Trail changed your life. Camping will also be available in the Organized Group Tent camping area. Follow THIS LINK to register.

Notice of Museum Annual Membership Meeting

4/2/2025

The Appalachian Trail Museum, Inc. will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The meeting information appears below. All Museum Members in good standing are invited to attend and will have a vote. The public is also invited to attend.

At the Membership Meeting, the Officer and non-officer Director positions shown below will be elected. The Board of Directors has nominated the following persons to these positions:
For a two-year term:

President: Larry Luxenberg
Vice President: Gwen Loose
Non-Officer Directors: (Incumbents) Jennifer Boag, Jim Foster, Ryan Seltzer, Ed Shoenberger.
(New Director) Mills Kelly

Museum members in good standing may submit alternate nominations for these positions by no later than Tuesday, April 16. Nominations should be submitted by email to [email protected].

Zoom Meeting Information
Topic: A.T. Museum Annual Meeting
Time: Apr 30, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82780697396?pwd=TelEHBA6AP0Ql3gRcUuJeivOlrBuJb.1

2025 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

3/30/2025

The fifteenth class of Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame honorees has been announced by the Appalachian Trail Museum’s Hall of Fame selection committee.
The 2025 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame class honorees are Richard B. Anderson of Camden, Maine; the late Walter Greene of New York City, New York, the late Marion Park of Washington, DC, and Ronald Tipton of Rockville, Maryland.

Most everyone knows that the Appalachian Trail ends in the north at Mount Katahdin in Maine. In 1993, Richard B. Anderson, a biologist and then Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, envisioned an extension of the A.T. across the US-Canadian border, providing opportunities for hikers to walk the Appalachian Range from Georgia to Cap Gaspé, Québec, where the range tumbles into the sea. In the decades since, the trail has grown to include sections in over a dozen countries, routed along the geological remnants of the Central Pangean Mountains, including the Appalachians in North America, Europe’s Caledonian Mountains, and the Atlas Mountains in Africa. As of 2023, the IAT links 6,000 miles of trail ringing the Atlantic Ocean.

Dick was guided by the work of Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, Dave Startzell, Dave Field and many others throughout the development of the IAT. Dick has built relationships to sustain the IAT that emulate the vision and practice of the A.T. community.

Walter Greene was a Broadway actor living in New York City in the late 1920s. But he had a vacation home in tiny Willimantic, Maine. He learned of Benton MacKaye’s dream of a trail along the Appalachians. More than anyone else, he was responsible for scouting and laying out the initial route of the A.T. from Katahdin south for 120 miles. After meeting Myron Avery by chance in 1930, he joined the famous Avery/Schairer/Philbrick/Jackson expedition in 1933 that blazed the Trail from Katahdin to the West Branch of the Pleasant River and then led the group from there to Blanchard. In 1935 Greene accomplished a great deal through interaction with the Civilian Conservation Corps crews who were building much of the new A.T. and also the critical cable bridge across the West Branch of the Penobscot River.
Greene is not well known today because he was hospitalized in 1936 with a serious illness. He never set foot on the A.T. again and passed away in 1941.

Picture a group of men in suits, just off work from their mostly government day jobs, sitting around a wood-paneled study, talking Trail. Sitting on the floor taking notes is Marion Park, who joined the Potomac A.T. Club in 1933 and helped edit its early newsletter and then in 1941 became Secretary of the Appalachian Trail Conference, serving in that position until 1955. In those days that meant keeping records of all the ATC (and cross-over PATC) meetings and often going out in the field with speed-hiker Myron Avery, taking notes as he measured and noted deficiencies at the same time. The accuracy of those notes endures and was essential to the organization’s governance, guidebooks, and maps in its first three decades.

Every organization needs a Marion Park at its center to keep it grounded, documenting decisions and plans. In addition to all this, Marion and Jean Stephenson maintained a side trail to the A.T. from the Meadow Spring and Buck Hollow trails in Shenandoah National Park, and Marion was Treasurer of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club from 1937 to 1957.

Ronald Tipton has been deeply involved with the Appalachian Trail for nearly 50 years. He joined the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club in 1974 and maintained a section of the A.T. for more than 20 years. In the mid-1970’s, as a staff member of the House Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee, he worked with the House National Park Subcommittee to help draft and promote the 1978 amendments to the National Trails System Act. Soon afterward, during his A.T. thru-hike, Ron prepared a report highlighting high priority sections of the Trail corridor to be acquired and protected. He was then hired to be the National Parks Program Director for The Wilderness Society, working with closely with Dave Startzell and other Trail advocates to secure a significant increase in annual appropriations for the A.T. land acquisition program. In 1983 Ron was one of the founding members of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) and has been an active member ever since.
The capstone of Ron's professional career came in 2013 when he was recruited to become President & CEO of the ATC, and served in that capacity until he retired at the end of 2017. His accomplishments as the leader of ATC included creating a new initiative for preserving the larger landscape surrounding the Trail and significant increases in ATC's funding and staff.

The 2025 Hall of Fame Class will be honored at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Bavarian Inn Resort in Shepherdstown, WV. Follow THIS LINK for more information. The Banquet will be one of a full schedule of events during the Hall of Fame Weekend.