The Appalachian Trail Museum
Invites You to Help Dedicate
Five, Exciting New Exhibits!
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Invites You to Help Dedicate
Five, Exciting New Exhibits!
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Our Hall of Fame Festival on May 5th, 2019 is your Golden Opportunity to visit the Appalachian Trail Museum at beautiful Pine Grove Furnace State Park, located at 1120 Pine Grove Road, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners, PA 17324. If it’s been a while since your last visit, come see how the Museum has grown!
- Arrive at 10:00 AM for a Meet and Greet with coffee, tea, and juice.
- Enjoy our dedication program at 10:30 AM with expert speakers to introduce each exhibit.
- Stay for a picnic lunch and an afternoon filled with music and activities.
Our New Exhibits!
- "A Night on the Trail": A multi-media exhibit to give children a sense of what it’s like to spend a night on the Appalachian Trail.
- "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.
- “Walkin' Jim Stoltz"; An exhibit dedicated to the late Jim Stoltz, renowned long distance hiker, songwriter, artist, poet, photographer, author, entertainer, and environmental activist.
- "Hikanation": Celebrating the groundbreaking, 1980-81, Pacific-to-Atlantic Hike organized by the American Hiking Society.
- "Our National Scenic Trails": An exhibit celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the National Scenic Trails System established by Act of Congress in 1968.
Museum Research Library Open House
On Sunday, during the Hall of Fame Festival, the Museum's Research Library will hold an open house. This will be one of the very rare occasions when the public has an opportunity to view the Library, as it is normally open only to historical researchers. The founding librarian, Linda Patton, has prepared exhibits of rare books and other materials. Old periodicals with articles about the Appalachian Trail will be on display, including an issue of National Geographic owned by the first Appalachian Trail thruhiker, Earl Shaffer. Other displays will feature materials related to Myron Avery and "Walkin' Jim" Stoltz.The open house will start at approximately 1:00 p.m., after the noon picnic lunch.
On Sunday, during the Hall of Fame Festival, the Museum's Research Library will hold an open house. This will be one of the very rare occasions when the public has an opportunity to view the Library, as it is normally open only to historical researchers. The founding librarian, Linda Patton, has prepared exhibits of rare books and other materials. Old periodicals with articles about the Appalachian Trail will be on display, including an issue of National Geographic owned by the first Appalachian Trail thruhiker, Earl Shaffer. Other displays will feature materials related to Myron Avery and "Walkin' Jim" Stoltz.The open house will start at approximately 1:00 p.m., after the noon picnic lunch.
Additional Media Information and Background
- During the morning program on May 5th, 2019, guest speakers will introduce each of the new exhibits with personal reflections and, in some cases, song.
- There will be a picnic lunch to enjoy at noon. Some food will be provided, and attendees are invited to also bring food of their own and/or make a donation.
- After lunch, attendees will tour the new exhibits, and the morning speakers or Museum volunteers will be on hand to answer questions. At the open air Pavilion, music will be provided and there will be an “open mike” for everyone to share songs and experiences.
The Appalachian Trail Museum Society serves the Appalachian Trail community by telling the stories of the founding, construction, preservation, maintenance, protection, and enjoyment of the Trail since its creation.
The Appalachian Trail Museum, which opened in June, 2010, collects, preserves, and interprets materials relevant to these subjects. Its mission is to inform, educate and inspire.
The Museum’s exhibits and publications inform visitors about the Appalachian Trail and the National Scenic Trails System, educating them concerning the history of the Appalachian Trail’s development, the founders who made it possible, and the pioneering thru-hikers who brought it to the awareness of the general public.
Through its exhibits, special programs, and the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame, the Museum celebrates the experience and culture of wilderness hiking in all its physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aspects. In doing so it hopes to inspire current and future visitors to embrace the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of wilderness hiking.
The Appalachian Trail Museum’s Historic Location
The Appalachian Trail Museum is located in Pennsylvania's beautiful Michaux State Forest at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, PA. It is adjacent to the Appalachian Trail and close to the midpoint of this 2,190-mile-long trail that extends from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine.
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 of their journey by eating -- or attempting to eat -- a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting.
Next door to the Museum is the restored Ironmaster’s Mansion, built in 1829. The Mansion is a popular venue for weddings and houses a hostel for Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and section hikers. A short distance away, there are two beautiful lakes, Laurel Lake and Fuller Lake, with beaches and facilities for swimming and picnicking.
For more information about the Appalachian Trail Museum, contact Nate Shank, Museum Manager or Larry Luxenberg, President, at: [email protected]
The Appalachian Trail Museum
1120 Pine Grove Road
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Gardners, PA 17324-9078
Phone: 717-486-8126
email: [email protected]
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