Happy Valley Pivot: Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel Expand Arts, Gardens, and Exhibits for 2021
Expanding Arts, Gardens, and Exhibits for 2021
Last year at this time, Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel buzzed with holiday festivities, including candlelight tours, Gregorian chants, a Christkindl market, and British tea. This year is markedly different. "We're closed," says Bob Cameron, the museum's director. Yet, they've turned challenges into opportunities. "In many ways, it's been a highly successful year," he adds.
This summer, Boal Mansion and nearby Penn's Cave stood out as key Happy Valley attractions open to the public. With strict self-imposed restrictions, the museum offered two daily tours limited to household groups. This doubled their operating hours, though visitor numbers were lower due to group size caps.
As COVID-19 cases rose, they closed until 2021. While exhibits are currently inaccessible, transformative projects are underway at Boal Mansion.
Behind-the-Scenes Developments at Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel
Trails
The flagship project: three miles of new trails across the 48-acre estate, including a 40-foot footbridge to Blue Spring Park. These paths offer safe outdoor escapes. "This fall, volunteers mulching trails counted 125 hikers in just a few hours," Cameron notes. "It's a tremendous community asset."
Gardens
Staff and volunteers are preparing 12 formal gardens for a stunning 2021 debut. Highlights include a new water garden near the chapel for serene reflection, a sensory garden engaging sight, sound, smell, and touch, and a Shakespeare garden with over 60 plants from the Bard's works.
Scout initiatives enhance the landscape: one installed wood duck boxes and planted 500 trees/shrubs; another built a bird observation platform with bird-friendly plants.
Central to the plans: relocating and restoring the historic Rockview Prison greenhouse to create a tropical rainforest and butterfly habitat over the coming years.
Museum Exhibits
Upon reopening, the museum—operating since 1952 with hundreds of thousands of artifacts—will double in size, showcasing many never-before-displayed items.
New for 2021:
- Fashion tour: Boal family attire from the 1890s Gilded Age to Roaring '20s, including Parisian designs and military uniforms.
- Military tour: Boal armory, WWI posters, and Colonel Boal's battlefield maps.
Transportation museum: riding gear, saddles, and 12 original Boal carriages, buckboards, and stagecoaches.
Performing Arts
The Boal Barn Playhouse, America's oldest continuously operating bank barn theater, gains year-round appeal with new heating and air conditioning. Though 2020's six plays were canceled, Centre Dance filmed The Nutcracker on-site. In 2021, it opens to local theater, dance, and music groups.
An outdoor stage will enable summer Shakespeare in the Park.
These enhancements position Boal Mansion as Happy Valley's Central Park equivalent—blending gardens, trails, history, and arts. "This is such an important place," Cameron emphasizes.
Get Involved with Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel
- Donate: No public funding supports operations—rely on gifts, events, and weddings. "We'll maximize every dollar," Cameron promises.
- Membership: Enjoy free admission, exclusive events, and preserve Happy Valley history.
- Volunteer: Over 1,000 volunteers typically contribute. With school disruptions, help is needed for trails, planting, and more—safely outdoors and distanced. Bring family or groups!
Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel | 163 Boal Estate Drive, Boalsburg, PA 16827 | office@boalmuseum.com | 814-876-0129
