PA Museums

Exploring the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County

This collage from the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, captures key aspects of the site. The top-left image shows the museum's entrance with a bright orange banner indicating it's open. The top-right image features a detailed diorama of a coal mining operation served by the East Broad Top Railroad, showcasing historical structures and railcars. The bottom-left image displays the weathered entrance to one of the coal mines that can be explored on guided walking tours behind the museum. The bottom-right image provides a view from a railbike excursion along the restored narrow-gauge track through the lush forest, giving visitors a unique way to experience the railroad's history.

If you’re looking for information about visiting the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, you’re in the right place!

The image shows the exterior of the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The two-story building has a rugged stone facade with a red metal roof. An orange flag near the entrance indicates that the museum is open. Benches sit along the front of the building, and the museum's historical connection to the East Broad Top Railroad is emphasized by the presence of old rail cars visible to the right of the building. The museum offers insight into the local coal mining and railroad history, providing visitors with walking tours of nearby mines and railbike excursions.

The Robertsdale Museum showcases the rich history of the East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company using exhibits, walking tours, and railbike rides.

An exhibit at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, showcasing the evolution of locomotive power on the East Broad Top Railroad. The display explains the role of the EBT’s first locomotive, No. 1, "Edward Roberts," which hauled construction and coal trains and served as a furnace shifter and for the president’s special trips. A historical photo of a locomotive with engineers standing beside it complements the text. Below, a diagram compares the silhouettes of early and later motive power, highlighting the size difference between EBT’s first locomotive and the larger Mikado engines. The exhibit provides insight into the development of locomotives as coal production increased.

Operated by volunteers from The Friends of the East Broad Top, this hidden gem preserves the stories of the railroad, the surrounding coal mines, and the lives of those who worked in these industries.

The image shows a row of original East Broad Top Railroad hopper cars on display outside the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. These rusted and weathered narrow gauge hopper cars, used to transport coal, stand on a section of the restored track, with a backdrop of trees and utility poles. The display emphasizes the historical significance of the railroad's role in the coal industry, a key focus of the museum's exhibits and tours, which also include walking tours of the coal mines and railbike excursions along the restored railway.

Directions | Hours | Admission Fees

The Robertsdale Museum is located at 570 South Main Street, Robertsdale, PA 16674.

The museum is open open Saturdays May through October from 10 AM to 5 PM.

The image shows the historic Robertsdale Station, part of the East Broad Top Railroad, located near the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The small stone building with a red metal roof has a sign above the door reading "Robertsdale." Railroad tracks run alongside the building, with an old hopper car visible in the background. This station, once a hub for coal transportation, now serves as a reminder of the region's industrial past and is a key feature of the museum's exhibits, walking tours of the coal mines, and railbike excursions.

Admission to the museum is free, as are the walking tours and railbike excursions, but I would STRONGLY encourage you to make a donation to help support the museum and the goal of the Friends of the East Broad Top to fully restore the East Broad Top Railroad.

The image shows the view from a railbike excursion along the East Broad Top Railroad tracks at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The railbike rider's foot is visible at the bottom of the frame, with the narrow gauge tracks stretching ahead through a dense, green forest. The path is surrounded by ferns, trees, and foliage, offering a serene and immersive experience in nature while pedaling along the historic railway. This excursion provides a unique way to explore the region’s railroad and coal mining history.

What You’ll See at the Robertsdale Museum

Inside the museum, visitors can explore a collection of artifacts and exhibits that showcase the East Broad Top Railroad’s legacy.

A view of an exhibit hall at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, featuring displays that detail the history of the East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company. The display board is filled with historical photographs, documents, and descriptive panels about the railroad’s role in transporting coal, the locomotives used, and the workers involved. To the right, glass display cases hold artifacts related to the railroad, and tools or equipment are visible on a slat wall. The room's wood-paneled walls and overhead lighting provide a warm and immersive atmosphere, inviting visitors to explore the region's industrial heritage.

Detailed dioramas highlight the operations of the railroad and its role in transporting coal from the nearby mines.

A detailed diorama on display at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, depicting the historic coal mining operations and the infrastructure associated with the East Broad Top Railroad. The model features coal hopper cars on narrow gauge tracks, a wooden trestle, mining buildings, and a coal-loading facility, all surrounded by a small, wooded landscape. This exhibit serves to illustrate the mining processes and the role of the railroad in transporting coal, offering visitors a visual representation of the region’s industrial past.

Photos and memorabilia bring the stories of the railroad’s employees and customers to life, offering a window into the culture of this historic era.

An exhibit at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, showcasing industries served by the East Broad Top Railroad. The display highlights the refractory brick industry in Mount Union, operated by companies like General Refractories and Harbison-Walker. Photos and text describe the production of high-temperature bricks for steel and iron industries, transported by the EBT. Another section covers the McKelvey Brothers' lumber operations and logging camps, with images of sawmills and logging railcars. The tanning industry is also detailed, with references to the Lees-McVitty tannery in Saltillo and the important role EBT played in transporting raw materials. Various historical photos and maps illustrate the industries' connection to the railroad.

The museum also displays equipment and tools used in coal mining, giving a hands-on sense of the industry’s labor-intensive nature.

This display at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, showcases artifacts related to coal mining. A sign explains that each miner would place a metal marker on a mine car to claim it, ensuring they were credited for the coal. The car had to weigh exactly one long ton (2,240 pounds) for the miner to be paid, and any excess coal wouldn't earn extra pay. The display includes a miner's numbered tag (#92), a rusted muleshoe used by animals in the mines, and other mining-related items, giving visitors insight into the daily working conditions and challenges faced by miners.

Walking Tour of the Coal Mine District

Beyond the museum walls, the walking tour of the Robertsdale coal mining district takes visitors into the heart of history.

The image shows the overgrown and partially collapsed entrance to the Number 5 mine, located behind the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The stone and concrete structure, which once served as a coal mine entrance, is surrounded by lush greenery as nature reclaims the area. Wooden beams supporting the entrance are still visible, though decayed, and the ground is covered with leaves and debris. This mine is a key part of the walking tours offered by the museum, providing visitors with a glimpse into the coal mining history of the East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company.

The guided tour highlights remnants of the former coal mines, including the entrances to some mines and the infrastructure that once supported this thriving industry.

The image shows the remains of a coal mine ventilation fan, surrounded by ferns and trees in a wooded area near the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The rusted metal blades of the fan sit between the crumbling concrete walls of what was once part of the mine's ventilation system. The overgrown vegetation highlights the abandonment and natural reclamation of this industrial relic, which is part of the walking tours offered by the museum, allowing visitors to explore the historic coal mines and the equipment used by the East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company.

With explanations of how the mines operated and the daily lives of the miners, the tour offers a deep connection to the area’s past.

The image shows the remnants of coal mining infrastructure located in the woods near the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The crumbling concrete foundation, partially overtaken by vegetation, is surrounded by trees and undergrowth. The ruins are a testament to the area's industrial past, offering a glimpse into the coal mining operations once supported by the East Broad Top Railroad. This site is part of the museum's walking tours, where visitors can explore the history of the coal mines and the railroad's role in the region's economic development.

The overgrown paths and abandoned structures serve as poignant reminders of the region’s industrial heritage.

The image shows the remains of an old railroad bridge over Trough Creek, located along the East Broad Top Railroad tracks near the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The narrow gauge rails cross a steel and stone bridge, spanning the calm, clear water below. Surrounded by dense trees and lush greenery, the setting offers a tranquil view of nature reclaiming a piece of the historic railroad infrastructure. This bridge is part of the railbike excursions offered by the museum, allowing visitors to experience the scenic beauty and historical significance of the region.

The Railbike Excursion

For a truly unique experience, the museum offers railbike excursions along a restored portion of the East Broad Top’s narrow gauge track.

The image shows the view from a railbike as it approaches the Robertsdale Station in Huntingdon County, PA. The rider's legs and the metal frame of the railbike are visible, with narrow gauge tracks stretching ahead. To the left, several historic hopper cars sit on a siding, a reminder of the East Broad Top Railroad’s coal-hauling past. In the distance, the Robertsdale Museum building is visible, framed by trees and parked cars. This railbike excursion offers visitors a unique way to explore the historic railroad, while learning about the local coal mining industry.

Pedaling along the historic rails, you pass through lush woodlands and alongside remnants of the railroad’s past.

The image captures the view from a railbike excursion at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, traveling along the narrow gauge tracks of the historic East Broad Top Railroad. The perspective shows the rider’s legs and the metal frame of the railbike, with lush green trees and vegetation lining both sides of the track. The ride provides a unique way to explore the area’s coal mining heritage, as participants pass by former mining sites while enjoying the peaceful, scenic forest surroundings.

The railbike adventure provides a peaceful and scenic way to immerse yourself in the history while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

A railbike rider's perspective as they travel along the narrow gauge track of the East Broad Top Railroad during an excursion offered by the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The railbike approaches a small wooden bridge, surrounded by dense forest and overgrown vegetation. The steel railbike frame and the rider’s boots are visible at the bottom of the image, emphasizing the immersive and hands-on nature of the railbike experience through this historic railway setting.

Covering more than a mile of track (a little over 2 miles out-and-back), it’s a memorable way to explore a piece of Pennsylvania’s railroading history.

The image shows two riders pedaling away from the Robertsdale Museum on a railbike along the narrow gauge tracks of the East Broad Top Railroad. The railbike follows the curving tracks through a grassy and slightly overgrown area, surrounded by trees in the distance. The riders sit side by side on the railbike, heading deeper into the wooded landscape, participating in one of the museum's unique railbike excursions. This experience offers visitors a hands-on way to explore the history and scenic beauty of the railroad and the region's coal mining heritage.

Final Thoughts

The Robertsdale Museum is a must-visit destination for those interested in the East Broad Top Railroad and the region’s coal mining heritage.

This exhibit at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, details the first railfan event on the East Broad Top Railroad, which took place on May 3, 1936, sponsored by the Lancaster Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The accompanying black-and-white photograph shows railfans gathered alongside a train as steam rises from the locomotive. The text explains that after this event, six more excursions followed, featuring photo stops and runbys, with some including lunches in Robertsdale. The final railfan excursion was held on June 24, 1951, due to management's concerns over issues with some of the participants' behavior.

While most of the physical artifacts related to the East Broad Top Railroad are housed at the station, shops, and roundhouse in Orbisonia, the Robertsdale Museum excels in illustrating how and why the railroad was built and operated, while also highlighting the coal mines and industries it served.

This museum exhibit at the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA, provides information about the East Broad Top Railroad's role in transporting mail starting in 1873. It explains that while the EBT never operated a Railway Post Office, mail was accompanied by a "route agent" and later carried in closed sacks by conductors or baggagemen. The mail was delivered to post offices along the line, including those at the EBT’s Orbisonia station and the RI&C’s Robertsdale company square. A black-and-white photo of a man standing next to a mail sack complements the display, illustrating the historical context of mail service on the EBT.

With its well-curated exhibits, engaging walking tours, and adventurous railbike rides, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The image captures the view from a railbike along the narrow gauge tracks of the East Broad Top Railroad, as the rider pedals through a clearing near the Robertsdale Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The rider's legs and the railbike frame are visible, with multiple sets of railroad tracks stretching ahead into the distance, surrounded by trees on both sides. This scenic railbike excursion offers visitors a chance to explore the historic railroad and coal mining landscape, while enjoying a peaceful ride through the natural surroundings.

For more information, please visit the Robertsdale Museum’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Nearby Attractions

The Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum in Robertsdale takes visitors on a deep dive into the coal mining and railroad history of the Broad Top region, which includes portions of Huntingdon, Bedford, and Fulton counties.

A collage of four images from the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum in Huntingdon County, PA. The top-left image shows the museum's exterior, housed in the former Reality Theatre, with the marquee and a mining cart displayed out front. The top-right image features shelves filled with coal mining artifacts, including lunch pails, lanterns, and miniature mining models. The bottom-left image highlights a diorama depicting miners and their mules alongside vintage mining tools and safety signage. The bottom-right image displays a railroad exhibit with maps, photographs, and memorabilia related to the Pennsylvania Railroad and the transportation of coal from the Broad Top region.

The East Broad Top Railroad is one of the nation’s oldest and best-preserved narrow-gauge railroads.

A photo collage of four scenes from the East Broad Top Railroad in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The top left image shows a steam locomotive at sunset, the top right features a conductor on the train's platform, the bottom left captures the train traversing a winter landscape, and the bottom right depicts passengers enjoying a ride on an open-air car through green woodlands.

The railroad offers steam-powered passenger excursions, shop tours, and visits to the “roundhouse”, where their fleet of six steam engines live.

The Rockhill Trolley Museum is literally right next to the East Broad Top Railroad, and gives visitors a chance to ride antique electric trolley cars through the scenic Blacklog Valley in Huntingdon County.

The Rockhill Trolley Museum offers visitors the chance to ride antique electric trolley cars through a scenic Huntingdon County valley. — The Rockhill Trolley Museum offers visitors the chance to

Trough Creek State Park in Huntingdon County is home to many beautiful natural attractions, including waterfalls, unusual rock formations, and scenic overlooks.

Exploring Trough Creek State Park in Huntingdon County PA

23 Must-See Attractions in Huntingdon County is your guide to even more great destinations near the Robertsdale Museum.

The best things to see and do in Huntingdon County PA.

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

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