PA Museums

Exploring the Taber Museum in Williamsport

The Taber Museum tells the story of how people have lived and worked in Lycoming County from prehistoric times to the present day!

The history of Lycoming County is showcased in chronological order in the "A Walk Through Time" exhibit at the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — The history of Lycoming County is showcased in chronological order in the “A Walk Through Time” exhibit.

Using illustrations, dioramas, and local historical artifacts, the Taber Museum does a beautiful job of entertaining and educating at the same time, a tribute to the hard work and passion of the Lycoming County Historical Society.

Lumberjack statue outside the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — Lumberjack statue outside the Taber Museum.

The museum is broken down into a series of themed galleries, spread out across two floors, and I’ll briefly describe what you’ll see in each gallery when you visit.

Stairway to the lower level of the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — Stairway to the lower level of the Taber Museum.

The American Indian Gallery at the Taber Museum

Here you’ll learn about the Native Americans who were the first inhabitants of the Lycoming County area, and how they lived and evolved in the region over the course of 20,000 years.

The collection of local Native American artifacts, including many tools and weapons, is particularly impressive.

American Indian Tool Technology exhibit at the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — American Indian Tool Technology exhibit.

The Frontier Era Gallery at the Taber Museum

Here you’ll see how the first European settlers in the region would have lived and worked, through more dioramas and artifacts.

A recreated cabin from the 1700s inside the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — A recreated cabin from the 1700s inside the Taber Museum.

Locally-produced tools and weapons of this time period are on display, along with descriptions of how they made and by whom.

An exhibit about gunsmithing in the Lycoming County area at the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — An exhibit about gunsmithing in the Lycoming County area.

The 19th Century Gallery at the Taber Museum

In the 1800s, the lumber business made Williamsport a wealthy city, with more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the United States!

An exhibit about Williamsport's "Millionaires' Row" at the Taber Museum in Williamsport. — An exhibit about Williamsport’s “Millionaires’ Row”.

You can get a glimpse into how the residents of “Millionaires’ Row” lived in several recreated mansion rooms from that time period.

A recreation of an opulent parlor in a Millionaires' Row mansion. — A recreation of an opulent parlor in a Millionaires’ Row mansion.

Of course for every lumber baron, there were hundreds of working-class people doing the heavy lifting, and you’ll learn about how they lived as well.

A recreation of the Ralston General Store inside the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — A recreation of the Ralston General Store, where the not-so-rich-and-famous would have shopped.

There’s even a recreated 1800s one-room school diorama, to impress upon kids (and adults) today what school was like for kids over a hundred years ago.

A recreated one-room school inside the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — A recreated one-room school inside the Taber Museum.

The Military Gallery at the Taber Museum

The Military Gallery shows you how Lycoming County residents responded in times of war, from Revolutionary times up through the Global War on Terrorism.

Lycoming County's military history is showcased in the Voices from Home, Voices from the Field exhibit at the Taber Museum. — Lycoming County’s military history is showcased in the “Voices from Home, Voices from the Field” exhibit.

The roles of both soldiers and citizens on the home front are told through news clippings, artifacts, and dioramas.

The role residents of Lycoming County played in World Wars One and Two.

The Lumber Gallery at the Taber Museum

As mentioned earlier, Lycoming County and Williamsport in particular was the epicenter of the American lumber industry in the 1800s, and the Taber Museum has an excellent gallery dedicated to telling the story that industry and all the ancillary tools and technology that went along with it.

An exhibit about the lumbering heritage of Lycoming County at the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — An exhibit about the lumbering heritage of Lycoming County at the Taber Museum.

The Fine & Decorative Arts Gallery at the Taber Museum

Fine art and furniture owned by some of the areas most prominent residents through the “lumber boom” years is on display here.

A Tiffany glass depiction of Christ among the lilies is a particularly beautiful piece, donated by he St. Paul’s Lutheran congregation before their disbanding.

A majestic stained-glass depiction of Christ among the lilies on display at the Taber Museum was created by Tiffany Studios. — A majestic stained-glass depiction of Christ among the lilies was created by Tiffany Studios.

The Farming, Crafts & Industry Gallery at the Taber Museum

Here you’ll learn about farm implements, carpentry tools, grist mills, beer-making, and various other crafts and skills from the early 19th and 20th centuries.

The Hall of Farming, Crafts, and Industry is located on the lower level of the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — The Hall of Farming, Crafts, and Industry is located on the lower level of the Taber Museum.

From and era when you had to build what you couldn’t buy, you’ll see all sorts of ingenious contraptions created to solve everyday problems.

A recreated blacksmith shop at the Taber Museum's Farming, Crafts & Industry section. — A recreated blacksmith shop at the Taber Museum’s Farming, Crafts & Industry section.

The Shempp Model Train Collection at the Taber Museum

If you love trains, this exhibit will absolutely blow your mind!

The Shempp Model Train collection is on permanent display in the basement of the Thomas T. Taber Museum.

The Shempp Model Train exhibit is said to be the finest collection of model trains in the United States!

Assembled by Larue Shempp over a lifetime of collecting, this exhibit includes over 300 trains, with many rare and one-of-a-kind examples.

The Shempp Model Train Collection was assembled by Larue Shempp over a lifetime of collecting.

There are more than 2,000 pieces, 100 individual locomotives and 347 complete train sets in the collection.

There are more than 2,000 pieces, 100 individual locomotives and 347 complete train sets on display in the Shempp Model Train exhibit at the Taber Museum.

A pair of large layouts with numerous working model trains are on display as part of the exhibit.

The Shempp Model Train exhibit at the Taber Museum contains two complete layouts with operating model trains. — The Shempp Model Train exhibit contains two complete layouts with operating model trains.

I can’t emphasize it enough – if you love trains, or know someone that does, the Shempp Model Train Collection is worth the price of admission all by itself!

Many rare and prototype models are among the trains on display in the Shempp Model Train exhibit at the Taber Museum.

The Taber Museum: Where, When and How Much

The Taber Museum is located at 858 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, right on Millionaires’ Row (with plenty of free parking in back of the museum).

The Taber Museum is located in the heart of Millionaires Row in historic Williamsport Pennsylvania. — The Taber Museum is located in the heart of Millionaires Row in historic Williamsport.

Hours are: Tue – Fri: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm, Sat: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, and Sun. (May-Oct): 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

A dining room from the Greek Revival period recreated inside the Taber Museum in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — A dining room from the Greek Revival period recreated inside the museum

Admission prices are: Adults: $9.50, Seniors (ages 65+): $7.50, Children (ages 3-12): $6.00, and Children 2 and under: free.

A large recreation of a woodworking shop at the Taber Museum contains the hand tools of a 19th century artisan, skilled in the shaping and building of wooden objects. — A large recreation of a woodworking shop at the Taber Museum contains the hand tools of a 19th century craftsman, skilled in the shaping and building of wooden objects.

It’s a beautiful museum, staffed by friendly and knowledgeable people – I highly recommend visiting the Taber Museum if you’re in the Williamsport area!

Carl Stotz the Founder of Little League Baseball exhibit at the Taber Museum. — Williamsport is the birthplace of Little League Baseball.

Nearby Attractions

Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland near Williamsport is a zoo that specializes in exotic reptiles and amphibians from around the world!

A collage of photos from Clyde Peeling's Reptiland in Allenwood Pennsylvania. — Scenes from Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland near Williamsport.

The nearby Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven honors the legacy of the Piper Aircraft Corporation, and is sure to be a hit with kids and anyone who loves aviation history!

Exploring the Piper Aviation Museum in Clinton County Pennsylvania. — The Piper Aviation Museum.

The Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat cruise in Williamsport is a relaxing, hour-long sightseeing excursion up and down the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

Taking the Hiawatha Riverboat Cruise in Williamsport Pennsylvania. — The Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat Cruise in Williamsport.

The 5 Best Waterfall Hikes in Lycoming County introduces you to some magnificent natural attractions in the area.

A downstream view of the first waterfall on Miners Run in the Loyalsock State Forest. — A waterfall along Miners Run in Lycoming County.

Exploring Montgomery Pike Scenic Overlook in Lycoming County introduces you to a gorgeous roadside overlook and picnic spot located approximately 3.5 miles south of Williamsport along Route 15 in Lycoming County.

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