Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission

State Museum of Pennsylvania

The State Museum of Pennsylvania collects, preserves, and interprets the cultural and natural history of the commonwealth.

Visit the State Museum

About

Since its creation in 1905, the State Museum of Pennsylvania has collected, preserved, researched, and interpreted the cultural and natural history of the state. Over the years, the museum has greatly expanded its collections and modernized its public offerings to serve the needs of succeeding generations of Pennsylvanians.

Originally located next to the Capitol, the museum moved to its current location in 1964. It became a bureau of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1945.

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Visitor information
Artifacts
Videos
Resources

Visitor information

The State Museum is closed for renovations. You can learn more about the project and its anticipated timeline.

Location

300 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120

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Artifacts

You can explore featured artifacts from the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

Silk Flag, First Pennsylvania Regiment, c. 1776-1783

The flag belonged to the First Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line between 1776 and 1783.

38-Star American Flag

This flag was patented in 1870, even though the 38-star flag was not formally adopted until July 4, 1877. American flag makers routinely took out patents on new flag designs, often years before the federal government formally adopted a new flag to reflect the current number of states.

Civil War Kepi of George Linn

Private George W. Linn joined the 107th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry late in the war, February 14, 1865. His cap was pierced by a bullet during the siege of Petersburg but Linn was still wearing it when General Lee surrendered at the end of the war.

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Videos

Before you visit, you can learn more about the State Museum of Pennsylvania and its collections by viewing our PA History 2 Go videos.

A Guide to the State Museum of Pennsylvania

Learn about the history and exhibits of the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

Natural History at the State Museum of Pennsylvania

A look at Pennsylvania Natural History exhibits at the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

The Art of Memorial Hall at the State Museum of Pennsylvania

Learn about the three artists, Janet deCoux, Vincent Margliotti, and Charles Rudy, who were chosen to celebrate Pennsylvania's heritage while being accessible to modern audiences.

Archaeology at the Sheep Rock Shelter

Sheep Rock Shelter is located in Huntington County, Pennsylvania. Discovered in 1957, this dry rock overhang enabled the preservation of organic material, something almost never found in the wet, humid climate of Pennsylvania.