Showing posts with label Indian Steps Museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian Steps Museum. Show all posts

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Great American Holly Tree

Located on the grounds of the Indian Steps Museum, hovering higher than the two-story museum, Is thought to be the largest American Holly tree in North America.

The tree was just a tiny seedling when the Pilgrims originally landed at Plymouth Rock. Today the holly tree acts as a living American artifact.

Each year a small branch is taken from the tree to commemorate the museum and the beautiful land that surrounds it.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Indian Steps Museum




Embedded in the walls of the Indian Steps Museum are thousands of artifacts from various tribes of Native Americans. These relics are placed in such a way as to tell their story and to forever share their history and ancestry with visitors from all over.

The museum originally came to fruition after local Attorney John Vandersloot purchased a tract of land near the Susquehanna river. While excavating the land he unearthed numerous artifacts including arrowheads, stone tools and pottery. Some of these findings predate even the Egyptian pyramids.

In 1908 Attorney Vandersloot began to build a museum to forever enshrine his findings. In 1912 the museum was completed. Inside you'll find beautiful stained glass windows, a large sandstone table, stone stairs, and stone fireplaces all of which help to enrich the natural beauty.

After Mr. Vandersloot's passing the property was acquired by a few of the utility companies who operate nearby. Eventually the property made it's way into the hands of the Conservation Society of York County. Today they still maintain the museum, which has been regarded as one of the finest museums in the United States, as well as the nearly ten acres of beautiful river hills that surrounds it.