State Museum of Pennsylvania facts for kids
The State Museum of Pennsylvania at 300 North Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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| Former name | William Penn Memorial Museum |
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| Established | March 28, 1905 |
| Location | 300 North St, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US |
| Type | History museum |
| Collections | Pennsylvania cultural and natural history |
| Collection size | 3 million |
| Public transit access | N 3rd St & North St, CAT |
| Nearest parking | Metered parking |
| Association of Science-Technology Centers | |
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The State Museum of Pennsylvania is a cool place in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's a history museum that helps us learn about Pennsylvania's past and culture. The museum is run by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and is part of the big Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex.
Contents
Museum History: How It Started
The State Museum of Pennsylvania began on March 28, 1905. That's when Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker signed a law to create it. He wanted a place to keep important items. These items would show the plants, animals, minerals, rocks, old artifacts, art, and history of Pennsylvania.
Early Days and Growth
Later in 1905, Governor Pennypacker gave the museum $20,000 to get started. This was a lot of money back then! On March 1, 1907, the museum's staff and its growing collection moved into the Executive Office Building.
In 1945, the museum became part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Then, in 1964, it moved to its current building. This building is next to the Pennsylvania State Capitol. It's a round building with exhibits on four floors. The museum offices are on the top two floors. In 2014, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special historical place.
Explore Museum Exhibits
The museum has lots of cool things to see! In the main hall, you'll find a huge statue of William Penn. He was the person who started the Province of Pennsylvania way back in 1681. This was during the time when the British were setting up colonies in America.
What You Can See and Do
The museum has a special room called a planetarium. Here, you can watch amazing shows about space and stars. There are also four floors full of exhibits. These exhibits cover Pennsylvania's history from super old times (prehistoric) all the way up to today.
About 315,000 people visit the museum every year! You can see many items from the American Civil War. There are also exhibits about how technology and industry grew in Pennsylvania. You'll find artwork, paintings, and even dioramas (3D scenes). These help tell the stories of the past.
Museum Collections and Types of Exhibits
The museum has over three million objects in its collections. That's a lot of history! The exhibits are divided into three main types:
- Permanent exhibits: These are always there for you to see.
- Changing exhibits: These are special shows that come and go, so there's always something new.
- Online exhibits: You can even explore some exhibits from home on the internet!
Images for kids
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The State Museum of Pennsylvania at 300 North Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
See also
In Spanish: Museo Estatal de Pensilvania para niños
