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Adams County Historical Society
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PA Museums and Historical Societies
Early History of the Apple Industry in Adams County
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Our Story
Opened in 1990, the museum is housed in a restored pre-Civil War
bank barn and is owned and operated by the Biglerville Historical and
Preservation Society. The museum mission is to preserve and exhibit
the history and attendant artifacts pertaining to the Apple and Tree
Fruit Industry's history and contributions to the development and
growth of Adams County. Exhibits include early picking, packing, and
shipping of fruit, pest management, commercial fruit processing
equipment, early orchard photographs and a recreated 1880's farm
kitchen and a General Store. The museum also features collections of
farming implements, apple peelers and fruit labels and much more apple
memorabilia.
The museum is open May through October of each year, Saturdays
from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. and Sundays from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. Group tours
may be scheduled by appointment during the week and on weekends. The
museum also has a first floor meeting room with audio/visual equipment,
kitchen, lavatories, and a separate outside enclosed pavilion with
electrical outlets. Both can be rented for a reasonable fee for
reunions, group meetings, etc. The museum and the pavilion are accessible for the handicapped. Groups often rent the pavilion for cookouts,
and some have their meals catered for their events. The museum also
has a Gift Store, with most items having an agricultural or
orchard related theme.
The Biglerville Historical and Preservation Society was formed in
1981. Its goals were to create a museum facility to honor, archive, promote and
display material, memorabilia, and equipment of the Apple and Fruit
Industry in Adams County. A local business man and farmer, Mr. Clair
Ditzler, a founding member of the society, subsequently donated to the
society a number of acres of his farm as well as his barn to house the
future museum. Later, he headed the effort to upgrade and modernize
the barn to house the museum. The National Apple Museum subsequently
was opened to the public in 1990.
The museum is located on Rte 394/West Hanover St. in Biglerville.
It is easy to get to by taking Pa. Rte 34 north from Gettysburg, or
the same route south from Interstate 81 at Carlisle, Pa. as well as the
Pa. Turnpike at the U.S. Rte 15 south exit, east of Carlisle. Exit
from U.S. 15 south to west Pa. 394 and stay on that road. The museum
is about a quarter mile west of the junction of Routes 34 and 394 in
Biglerville.
Hours:
May through October: |
Saturday: 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. |
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Sunday: 1 to 4 P.M. |
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Guided Tours:
To arrange for guided tours for groups throughout the year -weekdays only- please call 717-677-4556.
Requests need to be made at least one week prior to the desired date.
A tour guide is on duty on the weekends (May through October) for casual admissions.

Admissions:
Adults: $3.00 Seniors (60 yrs & up): $2.00
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Children (6-16 years): $1.50 |
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Gift Shop:
Open on weekends (May through October) and for scheduled tours (Monday through Friday) throughout the year.
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