Things to do with the Kids when visiting Happy Valley: Museums
There is plenty to do in Happy Valley, and that is true for children as well as adults. If you have a few 10 and under in your tribe and you are visiting the Happy Valley region, make sure you spend a day or two accommodating their needs. There are a lot of options to make their Happy Valley experience as enjoyable and memorable as yours!
This is one of three articles highlighting the Museums, Activities and Stores in the Happy Valley region that children might be interested in.
The Happy Valley region has many museums that children will be interested in. Below is just a sample of what the county has to offer!
1224 N Atherton St
State College, PA 16803
discoveryspace.org
Admission: Adult - $7, Children - $8
Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania is an exciting, growing science center of interactive exhibits and hands-on programs designed to provide valuable informal science education, especially in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), in a fun learning environment.
With support from local government, community organizations, businesses, and individual contributors, Discovery Space has become THE place in central Pennsylvania for fun science experiences.
1 Beaver Stadium
University Park, PA 16802
gopsusports.com/museum
Admission: By donation
Penn State has a lot of museums, but the biggest one is the All-Sports Museum. If your children are into any type of sports, this museum will blow them away! Located at the southwest corner of Beaver Stadium opposite the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC), they will encounter the athletic history and heritage of one of the greatest universities in the nation. The Museum is an interactive, two-level, 10,000 sq. ft. testament to the world-class success and tradition of Penn State student-athletes - both on the field and in the classroom.
Earth and Mineral Science Museum
6 Deike Building
University Park, PA 16802
museum.ems.psu.edu
Admission: Free
If you have kids who are interested in rocks or mining, then the Earth and Mineral Science (EMS) Museum is for them. It is one of the primary venues for communicating EMS science to the public. Exhibits reflect current research across the College's five departments as well as the history of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State. Exhibits feature objects from the museum collections and the Steidle Collection of Industrial Art. The exhibition gallery includes displays of fluorescent minerals, flexible sandstone, fossils of every sort, sculptures, paintings, meteorites, meteor-wrongs, mine safety lamps, cartographic tools, and a historic geological relief map of Pennsylvania (among other things).
Frost Entomological Museum
160 Curtin Rd.
State College, PA 16802
ento.psu.edu/about/facilities/frost
Admission: Free
If the family is into creepy and crawly things, then the Frost Entomological Museum will be a blast for them! The museum offers opportunities to explore the diversity of insects, how they impact our lives, and how Penn State researchers are working to understand these impacts. Exhibits showcase specimens, entomological gear, historical artifacts, and photos.
Pasto Agricultural Museum
2710 W Pine Grove Rd
Gate K
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA 16865
agsci.psu.edu/pasto
Admission: Free
If you have an inspiring farmer in your family, come experience the work of everyday rural life through the 1930s at the Pesto Agricultural Museum. See historic tools that were revolutionary in their time, from an ancient Mesopotamian sickle to woodworking implements, and ice harvesting equipment. Learn how food and fiber systems have changed over time and explore how eighteenth- and nineteenth-century farmers tackled challenges and how these practices impact farming today.
The Pasto Agricultural Museum offers youth and families hands-on programs to learn ways of life from the past and exciting advances in the sciences of food and the natural environment. Community events showcase some of the newest, most advanced agricultural technologies and discoveries and draw attendees from every corner of the state.
304 East Main Street
Boalsburg, PA 16827
boalsburgheritagemuseum.org
Admission: By Donation
Do you think the kids would like to know how life was in the 1800s? The Boalsburg Heritage Museum is housed in the 1825-built Sarah Sweet house in Boalsburg. The museum is pleased to share with visitors the history of beautiful Central Pennsylvania and particularly the village of Boalsburg that reflects an earlier, simpler life. To that end, the home is open to the public regularly from April through early December. Visitors can view historical artifacts and more, with free admission to the Boalsburg Heritage Museum any Sunday between 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. or by appointment.
163 Boal Estate Rd.
Boalsburg, PA 16827
www.boalmuseum.com
Admission: Adults - $15, Children - $8
Where is the largest Christopher Columbus Museum in the United States? Right here in Centre County at the Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum. Located in beautiful Central Pennsylvania, the Boal Estate has been in the Boal family home for over 200 years and tells the story of America as seen through eight generations of one family. The Mansion has the original furnishings, artwork, and artifacts from around the globe belonging to the original family members. The fourth generation, Colonel Theodore Davis Boal went to Europe in the 1890s and married Mathilde de Lagarde, who inherited the Columbus Chapel and brought it to Boalsburg, PA in 1909. The estate also features the Boal Amphitheater, which hosts various theater acts, concerts, and craft fairs, along with beautiful lawns and gardens to host weddings and special events. Come and visit this amazing hidden gem of history!
Edward Stoddard, HappyValley.com
51 Boal Avenue
Boalsburg, PA 16827
www.pamilmuseum.org
Admission: Adults - $6, Children - $4
NOTE: The Pennsylvania Military Museum BUILDING is currently closed for renovations. The grounds are free, open, and accessible to the public.
Need some time to have the kids run around? Why not take them to the grounds of the PA Military Museum in Boalsburg? They will see tanks and other military vehicles scattered around the property, and that part is free to the public! If you want, take them inside to see a community gathering place welcoming audiences of all abilities and backgrounds to gather and explore the story of the Commonwealth’s men and women serving in the Armed Forces, civilian activities on the home front, and Pennsylvania’s contributions to military innovation. If you have a growing military buff, this is the place to take them!
650 Bigler Rd.
University Park, PA 16802
palmermuseum.psu.edu
Admission: By donation
The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is the largest art museum collection between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and the most significant academic art museum in the state of Pennsylvania. A key element of Penn State’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and public service, the Museum is a vital and accessible cultural resource for Penn State’s students, faculty, and scholars, as well as for all visitors to and from the entire central Pennsylvania region.
Now, with all art museums, there might be some pieces not suitable for a younger audience. It might be a good idea to check out the museum yourself before bringing little ones.
Photos taken by Jeremy Bittermann/JSBA
133 North Allegheny Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
www.bellefontemuseum.org
Admission: Free
A much smaller but a bit more kid-friendly museum is located in Bellefonte, PA. The Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County is located in the Linn House. The house, built in 1810 of Trenton Limestone, is listed in the National American Buildings Survey and on the National Historic Registry. The historic home was the residence to many individuals and families who contributed to the growth of Bellefonte, Centre County and Pennsylvania.
The Museum provides enrichment to the Centre County community through free art shows, classes and cultural exhibits. Highlights for children include:
- Special Exhibitions Gallery including works from China, Vietnam, East Africa, Haiti, Japan, South America.
- Underground Railroad exhibit - A Journey to Freedom commemorating a painful time in art and words, this new permanent exhibit remembers the role of our region in the operations of the Underground Railroad
- The Makery at the Museum, a dedicated, delightful art studio on the second floor of the Bellefonte Art Museum. Families can enjoy free self-led art activities during the Museum's public hours.
By no means is the above list of things to do with kids complete. There are new stores, activities and events popping up every day in Centre County. Make sure you visit each organization's website for the most up-to-date information and The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau's website to find new businesses! And make sure when you visit, you have fun!
Remember, you and your kids can put the Happy in Happy Valley!
