A modern, open-air wooden building with a slanted roof stands on a forested hillside near Meadowcroft. Several people are walking on stairs and ramps that lead up to the structure. Tall green trees surround the building and line the hill in the background.
Exhibit
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village

19,000 Years of History

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Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village

Experience what life was like for prehistoric Americans at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village.

A group of people stands on a wooden walkway inside a large wooden structure. A guide gestures toward archaeological ruins and large rocks displayed below, illuminated by warm lighting. Lush greenery can be seen through the slatted wooden walls in the background.

Meadowcroft Rockshelter

Exhibit

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village

Dig into archaeological evidence that reveals the earliest signs of human habitation dating back 19,000 years.

  • A blacksmith stands at a workbench demonstrating metalworking in a dimly lit workshop. Several children stand in the foreground watching attentively. Various tools, equipment, and a forge are visible in the background.

    Meadowcroft Historic Village

    Experience everyday 19th century rural life in Meadowcroft’s carefully recreated Historic Village.

  • A group of children sit on wooden benches under a shelter constructed from branches and leaves, listening to an adult who is speaking. The scene takes place outdoors in a wooded area with sunlight shining through the trees.

    Prehistoric Indian Village

    Go back 400 years and explore a recreated 16th century Monongahela Indian Village.

  • A woman in 18th-century historical clothing prepares food outdoors next to a rustic log cabin at Meadowcroft. Several cooking pots hang over an open fire ring, surrounded by trees and a grassy clearing beneath a partly cloudy sky.

    Frontier Trading Post

    Two 1770s era structures help to spotlight the similarities and differences between European settlers and Eastern Woodland Indians.

  • Display of historic horse-drawn carriages and wagons inside a museum, featuring a red Concord Coach with “U.S. Mail” lettering, surrounded by informational signs and illuminated by dim lighting.

    Trails to Trains

    The Trails to Trains exhibit transports visitors through time, exploring the evolution of transportation in Southwestern Pennsylvania using five vehicles from the collection.