Elevated on a hill overlooking busy College Avenue, the Centre Furnace Mansion has witnessed a lot. Now serving as the Centre County Historical Society’s (CCHS) headquarters, the mansion offers a glimpse of what life was like when Happy Valley was just beginning to develop.

To visit the property today is to be transported to a simpler time and a slower pace. Ironmaster Moses Thompson and his family resided at the mansion from 1842-1891, and the CCHS has restored the property and furnished it to showcase the daily life of its most prominent inhabitants. The mansion is appointed with authentic furniture, wallpaper, and personal belongings reflective of the 19th-century. The basement of the mansion features changing exhibits, and outside, a 250-year-old sycamore tree is the centerpiece of the Victorian-style gardens that also replicate what the Thompson family would have had in their gardens.

The gardens and grounds are open to the public from dawn to dusk. The CCHS is available for research, and requests can be made by calling the office at (814) 234 – 4779. Mansion tours are offered 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday by appointment. To schedule a tour, email info@centrecountyhistory.org or call 814-234-4779. For more information, visit https://centrehistory.org/.