National Watch and Clock Museum

The Most Comprehensive Horological Collection in North America!

The National Watch and Clock Museum is a great place to come and learn about time. We took a trip there with a local homeschool group and we loved it. As soon as we arrived they even had us punch a time-card on an old-fashioned time clock.

We then watched a short film about the origins of timekeeping. It showed how earlier people kept time. It was very interesting and informative. Then we began a scavenger hunt. They gave us a list of items to search for around the museum. As we went on our way we stopped in a little room that was set up like an old clock shop. It was really neat!

It is a lot bigger inside then it appears from the outside. We had fun searching in and out of all the rooms looking for clues to find our next great treasure.

Chase was amazed at how big some of the clocks were. We have a picture of him in front of one of the big ones. It's not the clearest picture, but you get the idea.

Can you believe they have over 12,000 pieces in their collection?! That is impressive since they first opened in 1977 with under 1,000!

After the treasure hunt we began working on all the fun activities that they had set up for the kids. Chase even got to make his own clock! There was an additional fee for that but it was worth it to see him having fun putting together and painting it.

Don't forget to pick up a souvenir for yourself or a friend. They have a small gift shop that offers books, toys, and misc novelty items related to time and history.

Contact info for the National Watch and Clock museum:

The Address is:
514 Poplar St.
Columbia, PA 17512
717-684-8261

National Watch and Clock Museum website

Admission:
$9.00 for Adults
$8.00 for seniors
$5.00 for children 16 and under
Under 5 years old is free
*Military discount

Directions: From Lancaster head 30 W and get off at the Columbia/Marietta exit. Follow signs from the exit ramp turn left onto 3rd Street/Route 441 South; go 3 blocks and turn left onto Poplar Street; go 2 blocks and turn right onto 5th Street and left into the parking lot.

All and all it was a fun time and I look forward to going back to the museum again soon!

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