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Visiting the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose, PA

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Located in northern Pennsylvania, along Interstate 81, Susquehanna County is often bypassed without much of a thought. However, for those looking to get off the highway and learn more about the history of the region, a stop at the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose is a great choice.

Located in an early 20th-century building in the heart of downtown Montrose, the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum chronicles the history of the region. Taking up the entire second floor of the borough’s library, the museum features items covering a wide variety of interests from the county’s history.

The home of the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose, Pennsylvania.
The home of the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose.

The museum portion of the historical society consists of two large and very cramped rooms.

Truthfully, I was very impressed with how much they were able to put into these rooms, but there’s no doubt that they would benefit from a larger space (which they will hopefully be getting some time in the near future). However, such a large collection ensures that anyone interested in the history of the region will find something to enjoy. Just make sure to take your time, as it can be difficult to see all of the items on display quickly without missing something interesting.

In addition to many of the typical things that you find at historical society museums in Pennsylvania, there were a few areas of the collection that stood out to me.

The first was the large number of high-quality paintings throughout the museum. They represent the work of several artists who spent time in Susquehanna County including George Caitlin, whose paintings of Native Americans are hanging in the Smithsonian, and Susan Waters, who is best known for her paintings of the Odd Fellows.

Paintings at Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose, PA
A small collection of the paintings at the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum.

There is also a nice collection of Native American artifacts. While some of the pieces are from tribes from the US Southwest, many are pieces found in the local area and tell the story of the native tribes to the region.

The museum also features other types of work by local artists. A large collection of carved, wooden canes have to be seen to be believed, and there is even a beautiful dress that is trimmed in human hair. I’ve seen many art pieces made out of hair, but I can’t recall another piece of clothing made from hair.

Hair art at the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose, Pennsylvania.
The dress features adornments made out of human hair.

The Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum’s collection of military artifacts is also quite well-done. They have a nice collection of Civil War items, including a few pieces that I haven’t seen elsewhere. Their military collection also includes items dating back to the late 1700s through the present day.

If you’re interested in the Civil War, don’t miss the Civil War Monument on the grass outside of the museum building. The monument was constructed in 1887, making it one of the first Civil War monuments in the region.

Overall, I enjoyed visiting the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum. If you want to learn more about this often-overlooked corner of the state, a visit to this museum in Montrose, Pennsylvania, is well worth your time.

Looking for more places to visit nearby? Check out Lost Falls, Salt Springs State Park, Endless Brewing, and the Tunkhannock Viaduct.


Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm

Saturdays on third weekend of each month: 10am-2pm 

Cost: Museum: Free
Genealogical Library (DIY): $10/day

Website: SusqCoHistSoc.org

Address: 18 Monument Street
Montrose, PA 18801

 

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5 thoughts on “Visiting the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose, PA”

  1. With the influx of all the gas companies to the area, the county was able to collect taxes and contributions from the locals and build a new library. The museum now has both floors and is much less crowded. They’ve really don’t nice work there.

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