Looking for ways to beat the winter blues? Look no further than the educational museums throughout South Central Pennsylvania. Use this handy guide to help navigate the many varied museums and escape cabin fever. Children will be excited to visit these museums, with programs and events specifically tailored to educating and entertaining them in their diverse interests. There are many different subjects for these museums, such as nature, science, history, the military, and art. Check out the websites for more details on upcoming events and exhibitions and start planning your year of discovery.
1. North Museum of Nature and Science
The North Museum of Nature and Science is a wonder-filled place for children to be inspired by the natural world. The museum educates its visitors on how science connects with nature and displays the growth of science throughout history. The North Museum hosts a collection of over 360,000 objects ranging from archaeology to zoology, plus daily planetarium shows, live animals, and hands-on activities for kids to interact with.
400 College Ave., Lancaster, PA / 717-358-3941 / northmuseum.org
2. The Oakes Museum of Natural Science
The Oakes Museum of Natural Science at Messiah College features more than 40,000 different specimens for curious nature lovers to explore. With 10,000 square feet of space, the museum hosts a Smithsonian quality level of African and North American mammals, birds, eggs, fish, seashells, minerals, insects, deer, and fossils. There are exhibits that range from African predators and grazing animals to a Susquehanna Backyard, which explores the animals found in our rural, urban, and suburban backyards. Visit the museum on February 4, for a Science Class on Water Fowl for children grades K-4.
One College Ave., Suite 3029, Mechanicsburg, PA /717-691-6082 / messiah.edu/Oakes
3. Hands on House
Hands on House Children’s Museum is a haven for budding brains. Its mission is to provide a place for children and parents to connect with each other and be a part of learning experiences through play. The museum’s belief is that children learn more effectively if they are having fun at the same time. Created for ages 2 to 10, Hands on House is an innovative, community-driven, and caring place for children to grow up and learn while enjoying themselves and creating lasting memories with their parents.
721 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, PA / 717-569-5437 / handsonhouse.org
4. Demuth Museum
The Demuth Museum, a hidden gem in historic downtown Lancaster, is dedicated to showing appreciation for the artwork of renowned artist Charles Demuth, who lived at the location in the late 19th century. The museum and former home was built in the late 18th century and showcases the small second floor studio where Demuth painted most of his finished artwork.
120 East King St., Lancaster, PA / 717-299-9940 / demuth.org
5. Phillips Museum of Art
The Phillips Museum of Art located at Franklin and Marshall College is a place where the creative processes can flourish and the history and diversity of art can be appreciated at the same time. The museum achieves its goals of contributing to the cultural life of the diverse Lancaster community and region through its multiple galleries, each displaying different forms of artwork, such as photography, film, multimedia art, and three-dimensional pieces.
628 College Ave., Lancaster, PA / 717-358-3849 / fandm.edu/phillips-museum
6. Lancaster Museum of Art
For more than 50 years the Lancaster Museum of Art has provided a place where art around Lancaster can be shared, appreciated, and respected. The museum offers a 4,000-square-foot facility that hosts different exhibitions of regional, national, and international artists. Different forms of media are promoted, such as artist lectures, panel discussions, and educational workshops for adults and children. The Lancaster County Community Foundation names the museum as one of the seven Keystone Art Organizations in the City of Lancaster.
135 North Lime St., Lancaster, PA / 717-394-3497 / lmapa.org
7. Susquehanna Art Museum
The Susquehanna Art Museum at the Marty and Tom Philips Family Art Center located within Capital City’s emerging midtown neighborhood brings diverse exhibitions to the area. The museum offers educational programs for people with all types of interests and works hard to create, lead, and explore together with its visitors. On Sunday, February 17, featured artist Danielle Klebes will host a gallery tour and artist talk to further exemplify the museum’s mission of experiencing creativity and exploring meaning through visual art.
1401 North 3rd St., Harrisburg, PA / 717-233-8668 / susquehannaartmuseum.org
8. National Military Park Museum
The National Military Park Museum in Gettysburg is a history hub. Explore the Civil War battlefields of Gettysburg before entering the indoor museum, which provides multiple programs for gaining rich knowledge of the history of the United States military. Beginning in the New Year on January 5, free winter weekend programs will be available to visitors and will include history lectures, a battlefield book series, and reading adventures for children and families.
1195 Baltimore Pike Suite 100,Gettysburg, PA / 717-334-1124 / nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
9. U.S Army Heritage and Education Center
The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center connects contemporary and historical materials related to the military in ways that educate its visitors and honor the soldiers of America. Through its exhibits and interpretation, the museum strives to educate the public about the history of the U.S. military. Save the date to join the museum May 18 and 19, 2019, for Army Heritage Days, where nearly every era of U.S. Army history is examined.
950 Soldiers Dr., Carlisle, PA / 717-245-3972 / ahec.armywarcollege.edu
10. Pennsylvania Military Museum
The Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg has a deep history in honoring the soldiers of the United States Army, and specifically the Commonwealth. A complete makeover design began in 2003, when the front entrance was updated to showcase a ribbon design created by Purdy O’Gwynn Barnhart Architects, Inc., winning an award from the American Institute of Architects. Known as the Wall of Honor, the wall is decorated with several military ribbons that come together in unison to honor the veterans of the U.S. Army.
51 Boal Ave., Boalsburg, PA / 814-466-6263 / pamilmuseum.org
11. The State Museum of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s State Museum is full of different exhibits that cover the rich history of Pennsylvania. This museum offers a collection of diverse displays: Civil War history, nature exhibits, Native American history, a planetarium, antique cars and planes, and much more. There is no limit to the history and knowledge that can be observed and gained at the Pennsylvania State Museum. Visit the museum on March 9 for National History Day.
300 North St., Harrisburg, PA / 717-787-4980 / statemuseumpa.org
12. National Watch and Clock Museum
The National Watch and Clock Museum is recognized as the largest and most comprehensive horological collection in North America. The museum is a watch collector’s dream space, as the collection covers a wide variety of clocks, watches, and tools. The museum is home to watches from Germany, France, the Netherlands, China, Japan, and Russia. The collection is set up chronologically, taking visitors on a tour through the entire history of timekeeping technology.
514 Poplar St., Columbia, PA / 717-684-8261 / nawcc.org/index.php
13. York County History Center
The York County History Center works to inspire the exploration of York County’s deep history, culture, and development. The Center’s collections contain more than 90,000 artifacts over a rich 300-year history of York County. The artifacts are used alongside exhibits and galleries to display the different businesses and communities that have thrived and built York County through the years. Join the York County History Center on January 6, as the South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society presents a Tour of Christmas Putz at First Moravian Church by Terry Downs.
250 East Market St., York, PA / 717-848-1587 / yorkhistorycenter.org
14. AACA Museum
The AACA Museum in Hershey is a “cruise through time,” with a wide array of automobiles, buses, and motorcycles on display. The museum is filled with memorabilia that provides a timeline of the history and evolution of transportation. The galleries are full of interactive displays including a family favorite hands-on model train room. Save the date June 7-9 for The Elegance at Hershey event, which begins with a vintage hill climb exhibition in the European tradition and ends with a garden party featuring the world’s finest collector cars at the Hotel Hershey.
161 Museum Dr., Hershey, PA / 717-566-7100 / aacamuseum.org
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15. Simeone Museum
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum shares a wide collection of racing sports cars all in “The Spirit of Competition,” celebrating the history and evolution of the sports car. The Foundation, assembled more than 50 years ago by Dr. Frederick Simeone, contains over 65 magnificent sports cars from companies such as Ferrari, Bentley, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Corvette, and many more. The first exhibition will be “The Best of Britain,” focusing on the best of Bentley, which kicks off on February 16, and goes until March 3.
6825 Norwitch Dr., Philadelphia, PA / 215-365-7233 / simeonemuseum.org
16. Ned Smith Center of Nature and Art
The Ned Smith Center of Nature and Art strives to merge the love of art and nature to create a celebratory appreciation of both. At this museum, art and the natural world are placed side by side and appreciated as one. Visitors with different passions find a place where they can appreciate art, nature, science, the environment, and more with three gallery spaces, an outdoor play space, and a 12-mile hiking trail. Join Grammy-nominated artist Ray Owen at the Center on February 23 at 11 a.m. for a fun-filled kids’ show.
176 Water Company Road, Millersburg, PA / 717-692-3699 / nedsmithcenter.org
17. Richard Nixon Park Nature Center
Richard Nixon Park houses a 14,000-square-foot nature center surrounded by 187 acres of meadow, woodland, and aquatic habitats with a vast range of plant and animal life. The original Nature Center was created in 1978 and features a working honey bee hive, an amphibians of Pennsylvania display, a children’s touch room, and much more. In 1992, a new addition showcased a worldwide collection of specimens including displays featuring the arctic, African savannah, and the Northwest territories of the United States, donated by William Koller. Join the center for one of its Maple Sugaring Days on February 23 or March 2.
5922 Nixon Dr., York, PA / 717-428-1961 / yorkcountypa.gov
18. Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail Museum, where the culture of hiking is appreciated and shared, is dedicated to the preservation of the Appalachian Trail and achieves this through its many exhibitions, programs, and volunteer staff. The museum collects artifacts found that relate to the human experience with the Appalachian Trail and provides the information for researchers looking to understand the Trail’s history.
1120 Pine Grove Road, Gardners, PA / 717-486-8126 / atmuseum.org
19. Lancaster County Parks Environmental Center
Naturalists lead programs throughout the year focused on biology, ecology, and geology for all ages, plus programs to get outdoors and explore all year round. Take a group hike on National Winter Trails Day January 5 or join the Full Moon Owl Prowl January 20. Popular programs like Munchkin Science and Fun and Fascination teach kids from ages 3 to 10 about nature and science. Don’t miss Shuts Environmental Library next door, a niche resource to find nature-focused books for all ages.
3 Nature’s Way, Lancaster, PA / 717-295-2055 / co.lancaster.pa.us/252/Environmental-Education
