PA Museums

Exploring the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County

Collage of four photos from the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring the exterior of the museum with a tank and mural, a naval exhibit with model ships and transport artifacts, a display of World War II-era military helmets and uniforms beneath historic posters and model planes, and a group of mannequins dressed in international military uniforms positioned around a detailed battlefield diorama.

If you’re looking for information about visiting the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, you’re in the right place!

Street view of the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, showing the original brick building with a bright blue awning and signage, alongside a modern tan-colored annex with American and military flags displayed outside, all set against a cloudy sky and wet pavement.

The Eldred WWII Museum is a 15,000 square-foot facility that honors the heroes of World War II through powerful exhibits, artifacts, and educational displays.

Wide view of multiple themed exhibits at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, including sections titled "U.S. Navy in Action," "D-Day: Omaha Beach," and "The Spy War," with mannequins, military artifacts, historic documents, and model ships on display beneath a large directional sign for the Robert A. Anderson Library.

Opened in 1996, it pays tribute not only the 16 million soldiers fighting to defend freedom and democracy, but also to the contributions of the 40 million Americans who worked on the homefront to support them.

Exhibit room at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring glass display cases filled with air raid warden helmets, gas masks, wartime literature, and military gear, with model airplanes suspended from the ceiling and a large wall of historical photos, maps, and informational panels in the background.

Directions | Hours | Admission Fees

The Eldred WWII Museum is located at 201 Main St, Eldred, PA 16731.

The museum is open March through November: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm | Sunday 1 pm – 4 pm | Closed Monday.

Glass-paneled door at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, displaying museum hours for each day of the week, contact phone number, and stickers for PCN, WWII veteran recognition, and TripAdvisor.

The museum is open December through February: Tuesday – Friday by appointment | Saturday 10 am – 4 pm | Closed Sunday – Monday.

Exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, showcasing an extensive collection of authentic World War II military uniforms worn by American service members, with rows of neatly displayed jackets, insignias, hats, and various service branches represented, beneath a sign honoring the 16 million U.S. military heroes who fought and won WWII.

Admission is on a donation basis.

Donation box at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, decorated in red, white, and blue with a sign explaining the museum's nonprofit status and need for public support, flanked by two World War II action figures and small American flags, surrounded by exhibit materials and framed historical photos.

Origins of the Eldred WWII Museum

The legacy of the National Munitions Company in Eldred played a vital role in the establishment of the Eldred WWII Museum in 1996.

Vintage World War II-era recruitment poster from the National Munitions Company displayed at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, urgently seeking 400 men and women to operate a new shell loading line with no experience necessary, emphasizing the importance of the work to the war effort and offering generous pay.

Originally opened in 1941 by George Roudebush, an American lawyer, with J.W. Whitmore, a Canadian, to produce munitions for British forces, the National Munitions Company later supported American troops and employed around 1,500 workers—95% of them women once the men went to war.

Exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, honoring the women who worked behind the front lines during World War II, featuring life-sized statues of female munitions workers assembling mortar shells, surrounded by wartime memorabilia, vintage photographs, and a large black-and-white mural of an actual production line.

Though the factory was dismantled after the war, its memory endured, inspiring George Roudebush’s son, Tim, to build a museum honoring its contributions and educating future generations about WWII.

Informational placard at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, describing the work of female production line workers at National Munitions Company Plant #1, who attached aerodynamic fins to British 3-inch trench mortar shells while wearing white cotton uniforms with rubber buttons to prevent sparks during explosive handling, with statuary by Virgil Villers of Ohio.

Choosing Eldred over a larger city, Tim ensured the town’s wartime legacy would be preserved where it all began.

Side exterior view of the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring a colorful mural of a red brick building with a painted tank bursting through it, an actual military tank on display in front, a blue awning with an "OPEN" flag, and a sidewalk leading to the museum's entrance on a cloudy day.

What You’ll See at the Museum

Visitors to the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, Pennsylvania, can explore three levels and over 15,000 square feet of immersive exhibit space.

Exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, showcasing a detailed model of a World War II-era aircraft carrier in a glass display case, surrounded by artifacts, photographs, and information panels related to training, shipping, and transportation during the war.

One of the museum’s standout areas is Mitchell Paige Hall, named after Medal of Honor recipient USMC Colonel Mitchell Paige, showcasing many of Paige’s personal items, including his dress whites and the Medal of Honor he earned for heroic actions in the Pacific.

Mitchell Paige Hall at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring a red wall with the hall’s name in bold letters, a portrait of Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Mitchell Paige, a display of framed wartime photographs along a brick ramp, and several large American flags adorning the opposite wall.

Another must-see is the museum’s library, which houses more than 10,000 books, newspapers, magazines, memoirs, and documents—making it one of the most extensive World War II collections in the country.

Interior view of the research library at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring rows of bookshelves filled with military history books, a large wooden table with chairs for study, a mannequin dressed in a World War II uniform, and a memorial honor roll display in the background.

The museum also features a powerful Holocaust Room dedicated to honoring the victims and survivors of the Nazi regime’s “Final Solution.”

Entrance to the Holocaust Memorial exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum.

Throughout the building, the European and Pacific theaters of war are brought to life through detailed displays and interpretive signage.

Exhibit room at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring World War II artifacts including military uniforms, weapons, posters, and photographs, with a red wall displaying black-and-white combat images and a Japanese flag, and an adjacent section showcasing American flags and a Marine Corps uniform behind glass.

Visitors will see thousands of artifacts, including authentic weaponry, field gear, military uniforms, and equipment.

World War II medical exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring a restored military ambulance with a red cross symbol, mannequins dressed as medics and nurses, a displayed British hospital gown, and a red wall adorned with vintage military uniforms, rifles, and busts of soldiers in various headgear.

These items are frequently rotated, ensuring a fresh experience with each visit.

A close-up of a display case at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring various World War I and II artifacts including medals, colorful service ribbons, vintage postcards labeled "Verdun" and "Soissons," a rifle stock, binoculars, and a German Iron Cross.

A highlight for many is the life-size submarine control room display, which includes an operational World War II periscope.

Exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring an authentic World War II submarine periscope surrounded by naval uniforms, memorabilia, and historic artifacts, with display cases showcasing U.S. Navy items and an American flag hanging on a bright red wall in the background.

Additional exhibits feature large-scale models, propaganda posters, medals, and personal letters.

Naval-themed exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring a large mural of a World War II submarine, framed photos and posters related to submarine service, display cases filled with memorabilia, and detailed ship models showcasing naval history.

Mannequins dressed in historically accurate uniforms represent various Allied and Axis forces.

Mannequins dressed in authentic World War II military uniforms from various Allied nations on display at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, with a large diorama of a battlefield scene and walls lined with historic photographs and insignia.

Vehicles on display include jeeps, motorcycles, and an ambulance used during the war.

World War II-era German military motorcycle with a sidecar on display at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, equipped with fuel canisters, rope, and tools, set against a backdrop of vintage American flags, a model airplane, and a wall-mounted collection of miniature aircraft.

With its wide-ranging exhibits and deep attention to detail, the Eldred WWII Museum provides a powerful tribute to the sacrifices and stories of the Greatest Generation.

World War II exhibit at the Eldred WWII Museum in McKean County, PA, featuring display cases filled with military uniforms, helmets, and equipment from both Axis and Allied forces, with wall-mounted maps, historical photos, model airplanes, and propaganda posters including an image of Winston Churchill and a tribute to the Battle of Britain.

The Stuart Tank Museum in Columbia County is dedicated to telling the story of Berwick’s pivotal role in World War 2, when over 15,000 Stuart tanks were built in the town between 1941-1944.

A collage of five photos showcasing the Stuart Tank Museum in Berwick, Pennsylvania, featuring an interior view with a Stuart tank and military mannequins, the museum's exterior with an 'OPEN' flag, a historical marker detailing the factory's production during WWII, and additional displays including a black and white photo of a Stuart tank and a variety of military memorabilia.

The WWII American Experience Museum in Gettysburg is dedicated to educating the public about the sacrifices made by Americans during the largest conflict of the 20th century, both on the battlefield and the homefront.

A collage of four photos taken at the WWII American Experience Museum in Gettysburg, PA, showcases various exhibits. The top left image features an M18 Hellcat tank destroyer with historical photographs and a display case containing a uniform and medals. The top right image displays a "Follow Me" Jeep painted in yellow and black checkers, surrounded by other military vehicles and artifacts with American and Japanese flags in the background. The bottom left image highlights the 10th Mountain Division exhibit, featuring a mannequin dressed in winter uniform and detailed informational panels. The bottom right image shows an outdoor sign announcing the museum's opening, with an image of the museum building and a clear, sunny sky in the background. These images collectively emphasize the museum's dedication to educating the public about American sacrifices during WWII and honoring those who served.

PA’s Best Military-Themed Attractions is a guide to some of Pennsylvania’s most-interesting battlefields, forts, and military museums.

A collage of 4 photos featuring images from some of Pennsylvania's best military-themed attractions.

Nearby Attractions

The Penn Brad Oil Museum in McKean County retraces the history of the Bradford Oil Field, the world’s first billion dollar oilfield, where over 90,000 wells were drilled.

Collage of four photos taken at the Penn Brad Oil Museum in McKean County, Pennsylvania, capturing highlights from the museum and its exhibits: the top left image shows the museum’s rustic wooden exterior with a tall oil derrick and American flag; the top right image features a historic nitroglycerine wagon used for transporting explosives in the oil fields, displayed inside a wooden barn with vintage oil company signs; the bottom left image shows an indoor exhibit with a steam-powered fire engine and gasoline pump surrounded by oil industry memorabilia; and the bottom right image displays shelves filled with colorful vintage oil cans and containers from brands like Kendall, Pennzoil, Wolf’s Head, and Quaker State, reflecting the history of oil production in the Bradford Oil Field.

The Zippo/Case Museum in McKean County is dedicated to telling the story of Zippo lighters and Case knives, two iconic products made in Bradford.

The Zippo/Case Museum in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

The Marilla Bridges Trail in McKean County is a gorgeous 1-mile loop trail around the Marilla Reservoir near Bradford.

The Eric Benjamin Covered Bridge along the Marilla Bridges Trail in McKean County.

Find even more great spots to explore all across Pennsylvania with the interactive PA Bucket List Travel Map!

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