Spend the Day Exploring History and Nature at Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum
Experience a captivating Happy Valley adventure that transports you back in time. Immerse yourself in centuries of rich history, stroll through a Shakespearean garden, and cross a scenic new footbridge to spot over 50 native bird species. Discover the Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum for an unforgettable outing.
Guided Tours Await
Opening May 1, the Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel safely welcome visitors for an in-depth look at Boalsburg's past and the 200-year legacy of eight generations of the Boal family. Explore their historic home, chapel, expansive outdoor attractions, 12 formal gardens under development, and over three miles of trails.
For safety, tours are limited to family or friend groups with advance reservations required. Upon arrival, enjoy a two-hour guided tour of the estate. This year, discover spectacular new exhibits on the second floor. As museum director Bob notes, “As great as the first floor is, the new exhibits on the second floor are spectacular.”
Since opening in 1952, the museum has showcased hundreds of thousands of original artifacts, many now on display for the first time.
New in 2021:
A fashion exhibit highlighting Boal family clothing from the Gilded Age 1890s to the Roaring '20s, including Parisian fashions, military uniforms, and antique Louis Vuitton trunks.
A military display featuring the Boal armory, original Great War posters, and battlefield maps. (Two Boals served in WWI: Colonel Boal, friend of Teddy Roosevelt, for the U.S.; his son in the French cavalry from 1914.)
A transportation museum with riding attire, saddles, and 12 original Boal carriages, buckboards, and stagecoaches—many built in Boalsburg, a hub on King’s Highway.
Explore the Trails
Despite losing 98% of seasonal revenue during the pandemic, grants and dedicated volunteers transformed the grounds. Wander three miles of trails across the 48-acre estate, crossing a new 46-foot footbridge to Blue Spring Park. “The bridge is done now,” says Bob, “And people just love it. We’ve removed invasive species, revealing vistas of wild ducks downstream.” A Boy Scout-built bird observation deck helps identify over 50 common estate species.
Tour the Gardens and Brush Up on Shakespeare
Volunteers enhanced the 12 formal gardens during shutdown, including a reflective water garden near the chapel and a sensory garden engaging sight, sound, smell, and touch. The nearly complete Shakespeare garden around the historic Boal Barn Theatre features over 60 plants referenced in his plays, plus a secret garden.
By August, watch the transformation of a historic greenhouse from Rockview Prison into a tropical rainforest and butterfly habitat—a multi-year project unfolding before your eyes.
Fall and winter events like the Renaissance Faire, Kriskindl Market, Candlelight Tours, and Holiday Formal Tea are planned to resume. “We can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” says Bob.
Reserve now for a day of history, nature, and sunshine at Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel.
Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel | 163 Boal Estate Drive, Boalsburg PA 16827 | office@boalmuseum.com | 814-876-0129
