State Museum of Pennsylvania

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The State Museum of Pennsylvania

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is a non-profit museum in downtown Harrisburg, run by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to preserve and interpret the region's history and culture. It is a part of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex.

The museum includes a multi-media planetarium, as well as four floors of exhibits and displays covering Pennsylvania history from prehistoric times through current events. Visitation averages 315,000 people annually. Among the features are a large collection of artifacts and displays related to the American Civil War, as well as an extensive collection of industrial and technological innovations. Artwork, paintings, dioramas, and other audio-visuals aid in the interpretation. There are over three million objects in the museum's collections.

On March 28, 1905, Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker signed legislation creating The State Museum of Pennsylvania. On March 1, 1907, the museum staff and collection moved into the Executive Office Building. It became part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1945, and moved to its present building in 1964. It is located adjacent to the State Capitol Building. The building is round and the museum exhibits are located on the ground, first, second, and third floors, with offices of the museum staff and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission on the fourth and fifth floors.