Exhibits & Collections

Exhibits at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

Landis Valley Village and Farm House Houses the Largest Pennsylvania German Collection in the Country

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum offers a rich array of exhibits that bring the history and culture of Pennsylvania German life to visitors through artifacts, immersive displays, and historic interpretation. Exhibits are thoughtfully curated to showcase the agricultural heritage, craftsmanship, and daily life of the region’s early settlers, as well as the story of Landis Valley itself.

Bitzer Barn Exhibit

Located within one of the site’s prominent original structures, the Bitzer Barn exhibit provides a deep dive into 19th-century agriculture and rural life in Pennsylvania. This exhibit explores traditional farming tools, techniques, and the vital role of animals and crops in sustaining early communities. Visitors can see authentic tools, machinery, and interpretive displays that highlight the innovation and labor of Pennsylvania German farmers.

         

Collections Gallery Exhibit

The Collections Gallery offers a rotating selection of artifacts from Landis Valley’s vast permanent collection, which includes over 100,000 items. This gallery highlights everything from textiles and furniture to folk art and household items, presenting a comprehensive look at the material culture of the region. The gallery also serves as a space to explore specific themes, rare objects, and newly acquired artifacts, with expert interpretation from the museum’s curatorial staff.

Visitor Center Gallery

“The Hobby That Became a Museum: Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 1925–2025”

                                                                                                  

As part of Landis Valley’s 100th Anniversary Celebration, the Visitor Center Gallery is currently hosting the special exhibit, “The Hobby That Became a Museum: Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 1925–2025.” This exhibit chronicles the incredible journey of Henry and George Landis, two brothers whose passion for preserving Pennsylvania German culture and artifacts led to the founding of Landis Valley in 1925. Through photographs, artifacts, and personal stories, visitors can explore how a private collection on a family farm evolved into a state-run living history museum that today welcomes thousands of visitors annually.

This centennial exhibit not only honors the vision of the Landis brothers but also looks to the future, highlighting Landis Valley’s enduring role in education, preservation, and community engagement.

Many of our buildings here have their own exhibits for you to explore when you are onsite here at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

The exhibition is made possible by the Landis Valley Associates and The Richard C. Von Hess Foundation

 

Virtual Museum Exhibits – History Anytime

This online presentation highlights wedding clothing from a past temporary exhibition. These pieces are no longer on display.  Many of the items are from the collection of Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum and other area museums and institutions. All of the items are from this geographic region, across the 19th and 20th Centuries.  Photographs, documents, and clothing illustrate changing fashions and traditions. The items highlight the period of 1840 to 1918. It’s more than just wedding dresses! You may be amazed and surprised at what you see.  It’s all part of the fascinating story of south-central PA and German community life and traditions.

Thrown, Fired and Glazed: The Redware Tradition From Pennsylvania and Beyond

This online presentation from a past temporary exhibition represents part of one of the most extensive collections of modern and historic redware shown in one place. These pieces are no longer on display.  Includes pieces from Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum’s extensive collection plus pieces from over a dozen other sources.

See what makes this exhibit so fabulous

William Chester Ruth: 1882 – 1971

This online exhibit tells an amazing American story of overcoming immense obstacles through ingenuity and intelligence to become an ingenious inventor. Having grown up in a rural Pennsylvania family that came out of slavery, William Chester Ruth learned blacksmithing and mechanics to become an inventor of agricultural equipment and devices that made the business of farming easier and more profitable.  During WWII, he also invented multiple top-secret devices for the military.  In all, he held over 50 patents.

You will be inspired by this unique story.

Click to see for yourself
Explore Pennsylvania’s online collection of historical objects, archaeological artifacts, and natural history specimens.

This online database is a work in progress and features a sampling of items from various state-owned museums and historic sites, including Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum.

If you have objects that you would like to donate to Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, please contact the Museum Curator Jennifer Royer at jeroyer@pa.gov. Please provide photographs and provenance. The museum will not accept unsolicited donations mailed or dropped off at the museum. All donation offers are reviewed by Jennifer Royer. Appropriate artifacts will proceed through the PHMC acquisition process, which can take up to two months. Accepted items have a strong Pennsylvania German link, are in good condition, and do not duplicate the museum’s current collection. All offers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum will never provide an appraisal.

Click to see Landis Valley Collection