Programs at the 1719 Hans Herr House and Museum

   The 1719 Hans Herr House and Museum offers a wide variety of educational and entertaining programs for children and adults (see Mama & Me), for school groups and families.     The most popular events of the year remain the three Festivals: Heritage Day, held the first Saturday in August (2008: August 2); Snitz Fest -- A Celebration of the Apple, held the first Saturday in October (2008: October 4); and Christmas Candlelight Tours, held on the first  Friday and Saturday in December (2008: December 5 and 6). These three events are open to the general public; no reservations are required.

(above) medicinal herbs in the 1719 House garden: Comfrey or Boneset (Symphytum officinale) and Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)

        Young people ages 10 to 15 living in the Lancaster County area may be interested in participating in our Summer Youth Experience program. In this series of hands-on training workshops, young folks have the opportunity to learn such colonial-era skills as hand sewing, gardening and field work, basketmaking, blacksmithing, cooking, flax and wool preparation, spinning, weaving, and dyeing. "Graduates" from this program have the opportunity to participate in the Museum as presenters at special events and as guides for Museum tours. The fee for this program is $25; some small materials fees may also be required. For more information contact the Administrative Assistant at info@hansherr.org, or call the Museum (717) 464-4438.

    The Museum opens its doors to the general public on the first day of April, and finishes its year at the end of November. However, arrangements for special group tours for private groups, or schools can be made for dates during the “off season”, December through March. In the Spring, and again in the Fall,  three special events called “Frolicks” are held for school groups. These fun-filled learning experiences take students through a series of stations at which interpreters demonstrate cooking and crafts, explain colonial lifestyles, and show some of the more notable features of the 1719 House and surrounding gardens and orchards. Students have the opportunity to see, hear, smell, and taste something of what colonial life was like in Pennsylvania, and the chance to play some games of the period. Home-schooling groups are welcome.

    Indeed, all school groups are welcome to come to the Museum, even if they can’t arrange to come for the Frolicks. The Museum offers several different tour packages for school groups.

Kids and the Museum

   Most children enjoy a visit to the 1719 Hans Herr House and Museum and we strive to make the visit a pleasant one for everyone in the family. Very young children will not have the patience to take the full tour. We know this, and we hope you agree that our admission policy that all persons under the age of seven are free is fair. We do offer a special program just for the very young called “Mama & Me” (or “Papa & Me”!).

Some guidelines to make your visit more pleasant

    We ask that parents supervise their children to ensure their safety and the safety of the Museum’s collection. We aim to be a “barrier-free” facility: almost none of our collection is in cases or separated from the visitor by a railing or rope. We ask parents please to see that their children not touch or handle any objects in the collection, unless specifically instructed to do so by a Museum guide. On special events days when fires are burning, please stay well back from the fires and the anvil of the blacksmith’s shop. Please let the guides from the Museum feed the fires themselves. Please feel free to enjoy the grounds of the Museum any time for a picnic or a stroll. Please walk, and ask your children to do the same, especially when the Museum is crowded.

   Please just look at the animals, and keep fingers and toes well back. Most animals are friendly if you are respectful, but it is good to be cautious. Parents, please try to prevent your children from chasing after the chickens. Please note that the horse pasture fence is electrified.  “Bee” aware of the busy pollinators in the orchards and gardens! Without them, we will have no fruit. But, they will defend themselves if they feel threatened. If you see a bee or a wasp nearby, calmly walk away with your hands down. In most cases, the insect won’t follow you far -- she has better things to do.

    A lost-and-found area is located in the Visitor’s Center.