Hershey Story Museum

Hershey Story Museum The Hershey Story Museum interprets the life of Milton S. Hershey, the development of the The Hershey Company, and the social and industrial context of confectionery production in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Located near the Hershey Theatre and the former Hersheypark trolley lines, the museum connects narratives of philanthropy, manufacturing, and community planning. Its collections, exhibits, and programs address intersections with figures, institutions, and movements such as Milton Hershey School, the Lactation Research era of food science, and broader trends in American industrialization and Progressive Era philanthropy.

History

The museum opened in 2009 following initiatives by the Milton Hershey School and the Harrisburg-based preservation community to consolidate archival materials, artifacts, and oral histories related to Milton S. Hershey and the Hershey Company. Its founding reflected collaborations among the Hershey Trust Company, local historians from Derry Township, curators from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and exhibits specialists with experience at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, The Henry Ford, and the Brandywine River Museum of Art. Early acquisitions included corporate archives transferred from the Hershey Chocolate Corporation and personal papers from descendants associated with the Milton Hershey School. The museum’s provenance work engaged conservators trained at Winterthur Museum, archivists from Drexel University, and material culture scholars influenced by studies of the Gilded Age and Progressivism. Over time, the museum expanded with temporary exhibitions curated in partnership with the Library of Congress, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and regional collections from the Pennsylvania State Archives.

Exhibits and Collections

Permanent galleries focus on the biography of Milton S. Hershey, the corporate history of The Hershey Company, and the social infrastructure of Hershey, Pennsylvania. Objects include machinery linked to confectionery processes developed during the Industrial Revolution, patents registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and marketing materials comparable to campaigns by Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods Group, and Nestlé. The collection contains personal effects associated with Milton S. Hershey and artifacts from the Milton Hershey School, as well as original packaging that chronicles design aesthetics alongside works by graphic designers influenced by the Bauhaus and Art Deco movements. Temporary exhibits have examined topics in nutrition research tied to institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, and University of Pennsylvania food science programs, and highlighted collaborations with the Hershey Community Archives and corporate collections from Mars, Incorporated.

Interactive exhibits use interpretive frameworks developed by professionals from the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Science-Technology Centers. These include recreated manufacturing spaces inspired by historic plants like the original Hershey chocolate factory and hands-on displays modeled after exhibit practices at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Exploratorium. The museum’s collections management integrates standards from the International Council of Museums and the Society of American Archivists.

Education and Programs

Educational programming serves audiences ranging from local schools such as Derry Township School District to university partners including Penn State University, Lebanon Valley College, and Harrisburg University. Curriculum units align with state standards and draw upon pedagogical models used by the Smithsonian Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Programs include school field trips, teacher workshops, and summer camps co-developed with the Milton Hershey School faculty and researchers from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Public lectures have featured scholars from Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University discussing topics from industrial philanthropy to food technology. Community outreach extends to collaborations with the United Way of Dauphin County, local veterans’ groups affiliated with the American Legion, and cultural institutions like the Hershey Symphony Orchestra and Hershey Gardens.

Architecture and Facilities

The museum occupies a site within walking distance of landmarks such as the Hotel Hershey and the Hersheypark Stadium. Its interior architecture was designed by firms experienced in museum planning and conservation, drawing upon precedent projects at Carnegie Museum of Art and The National WWII Museum. Galleries feature climate-controlled storage spaces meeting standards advocated by the American Institute for Conservation and workspaces for curatorial research akin to facilities at the Morgan Library & Museum. Accessibility features follow guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act and best practices promoted by the National Park Service for historic districts. The facility includes an education suite, a conservation lab, and spaces adaptable for temporary exhibitions produced in partnership with institutions such as the National Gallery of Art.

Visitor Information

Visitors can access the museum near regional transportation hubs including Harrisburg International Airport and rail connections to Philadelphia and New York City. The museum offers timed-entry tickets, guided tours, and special programming during regional events like the Pennsylvania Farm Show and ChocolateTown Winterfest. Onsite amenities include a museum store stocked with items related to Milton S. Hershey, publications by scholars from Rutgers University Press and University of Pennsylvania Press, and memberships coordinated with the Association of Children’s Museums. Visitor services align with hospitality partners such as Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company and the Greater Harrisburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Category:Museums in Pennsylvania