Appalachian Trail Museum facts for kids
The museum in 2019
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| Established | 2010 |
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| Location | Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania |
The Appalachian Trail Museum is a special place in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, near Gardners, Pennsylvania, United States. It celebrates the amazing people who have built, cared for, and hiked the famous Appalachian Trail. This includes legendary hikers and trail builders honored in the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame.
The museum was first thought of in 1998. It opened its doors in 2010. It is located in the Old Mill Building, which used to be a stone gristmill. This museum is the very first one in the United States dedicated to a hiking trail.
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Discover the Appalachian Trail Museum
The museum is open every year from early April until late October. You can find parking right next to the Furnace Stack Picnic Pavilion. The best part is, admission is free!
What You Can See Inside
Inside the museum, you can explore many cool things. You'll see a real trail shelter from 1959. This shelter was built by Earl Shaffer, who was the first person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. There's also old hiking gear and tools used to build the trail. You can see historic A.T. signs and special displays from the Smithsonian Institution. There's even a recreated office of Benton MacKaye, who first dreamed up the Appalachian Trail. The museum also has a large library for research.
The Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel
The museum also helps run the Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel. A hostel is a place where hikers can stay overnight. It's located very close to the museum. This spot is special because it's near the middle point of the entire Appalachian Trail.
Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame
The Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame was started by the museum in 2011. Each year, a special committee chooses people to join the Hall of Fame. These are people who have made a huge positive difference to the Appalachian Trail or its community. You can even suggest someone for the Hall of Fame online. New members are honored at a special banquet each year.
Honoring Trail Legends
The very first group of people inducted in 2011 included important figures like Myron Avery, Gene Espy, Ed Garvey, Benton MacKaye, Arthur Perkins, and Earl Shaffer. Since then, many other amazing individuals have been added to the Hall of Fame. These include famous hikers like Emma Rowena "Grandma" Gatewood and people who worked hard to protect and maintain the trail.
See also
- Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
