The Historical Society

Muncy Historical Society and Museum of History, a not-for-profit, all volunteer organization founded in 1936, focuses on preservation and conservation of the rich history and heritage of Muncy and surrounding communities – its people, businesses, education, arts, traditions and folklore – by sponsoring educational programs and activities, through research and publication of our history, and interpretation of the museum’s collection for the community, including schools, colleges, community groups and professional historians.

In recent years the Society has strengthened its commitment to these objectives:

• By revitalizing the Historical Society: Injecting a new sense of volunteerism within the community and the historical society, establishing scheduled museum hours and sponsoring special exhibits each year, displaying items borrowed from private collections and family heirlooms along with museum accessions;

• By acquiring an 11-acre parcel within the original 50-acre tract of this small town, and developing it into a historic trail with exhibits and signage describing the life and labor along the Muncy Canal;

• By hosting a Public Archaeology Dig at the site of the Muncy Canal and involving the community in a project designed to enhance cultural preservation.

• By developing a book of vintage “Muncy” postcards with historian Robin Van Auken that explores Muncy’s heritage. Follow this link to buy this book;

• By reclaiming the Old Walton Graveyard and the Old Hill Burying Ground – rehabilitating the burial sites of the town’s founders and early pioneers;

• By re instituting of the Historic Homes Tour of the Muncy area and the Antiques Show and Sale, both major fundraiser events for the Society which allow us to preserve and conserve “pieces of our area’s past”;

• By restoring the “Eight Square School,” built on the site of the oldest public school in Lycoming County (Project a recipient of the prestigious Pennsylvania Preservation 2001 Initiative Award);

• By its living history programs for home-schooled young people, scout troops, adult education classes, East Lycoming and Muncy School District Elementary, Junior High and Senior High students;

• By being a major sponsor to the production of “The Last Raft,” a one-hour “living history” documentary film that explores the raft’s tragic journey and crash in March 1938, using rare photos, new and archival footage, artifacts and news coverage. Karen L. Frock of Creekside Creative Media is the researcher, writer and producer of “The Last Raft” documentary;

• Through its Civil War Soldiers’ Monument Project which included publication of David L. Richards’ “Priceless Treasures,” the biographies of the 71 Civil War casualties whose names are inscribed on the monument; the redesign of the monument site to accommodate the names of an additional 64 casualties overlooked when the monument was dedicated in 1869 (Project received 2004 Honorable Mention Award from PA Federation of Museums & Historical Organizations and 2004 Certificate of Commendation from the American Association of State and Local History);

• By publishing the Society’s nationally-recognized Now and Then, a magazine of history, biography and genealogy, published three times per year, 28 – 36 pages per issue;

• Through its PA Canal Packet Boat Project, from salvaging the cabin to reconstructing an authentic 1860s packet/passenger cabin as the Society’s traveling educational exhibit (Project received 2004 Honorable Mention Award from PA Federation of Museums & Historical Organizations and 2004 Certificate of Commendation from the American Association of State and Local History);

• By establishing a “local history” presence at the Lycoming County Fair, encouraging the participation of other non-for-profit historically-oriented societies from Lycoming, Northumberland and Sullivan counties.

The MHSMH has a solid record of community activism, establishing working partnership and meeting its preservation objectives. Our reputation and commitment to preserve pieces of our historically-rich community has created confidence in our ability to deliver quality results with integrity and quality. Our current major project is Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail, an 11-acre property adjacent to the Susquehanna River. Read more about this project and the visitors who have helped at the Public Archaeology Dig. This popular program was highlighted by Conde Nast’s publication Cookie Magazine as one of the top destinations for family vacations.

Read about Muncy Heritage Park & Nature Trail.
The Master Plan, created by SEDA-COG is found here >>>

The museum and research library are located at 40 N. Main Street, Muncy, Pennsylvania. In 1936 Mrs. Forrest Clapp donated her husband’s family homestead, the Thomas Clapp House, to the town of Muncy for the purpose of housing the Muncy Historical Society & Museum of History. The oldest 2 ½ story section was built in 1812 and features the original fireplace and squirrel-tail beehive oven. The back staircase leads to the second floor bedroom which features pieces of locally-made furniture and the Society’s fraktur collection.

The museum collection includes a WPA-commissioned replica of Fort Muncy and military gallery, Native American artifacts, diverse and impressive artwork, a working barn loom and William Lowmiller’s jacquard attachment and a sampling of his woven coverlets.

The Society operates the “Eight Square,” a fully restored one room schoolhouse, built in 1872, on the site of Lycoming County’s first public school. This frame structure replaced the original 8-sided log structure built in 1796. Volunteers conduct one-room living history programs by appointment. The annual Strawberry Festival and Old Fashioned School Social is held at this site in Moreland Township, approximately 3 miles east of Clarkstown, left onto Church Road from Route 442.

Muncy Historical Society’s Pennsylvania Canal Packet Boat is the reconstruction of an authentic 1860s packet/passenger cabin that has become the Society’s traveling educational exhibit. The project received 2004 Honorable Mention Award from PA Federation of Museums & Historical Organizations and 2004 Certificate of Commendation from the American Association of State and Local History.