Local Interests & Tours   

Tour New York Wire Works, an industrial landmark in York since 1888. See its expansive design, learn about its history, and its role as a community resource. Make time to enjoy the cafe and shop the handmade items, artwork, and one-of-a-kind products! This is a three-sneaker tour with a substantial amount of walking, outdoor walking, historic tour pace, and not all areas accessible. New York Wire Works is located at 441 E. Market St, York, PA 17403.

Stroll downtown State College to see art ranging from beautiful murals that span entire blocks to small bronze pigs. View and learn about various art installments with Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID) representative Joseph Quinn (JQ). DSCID is a neighborhood improvement district devoted to preserving and enhancing the value and vitality of downtown and works to retain, expand, and attract businesses and investment to improve the downtown environment. JQ will share the history of public art in State College and the stories of the pieces as you admire the permanent art displays and discover some you may not even know are there!

Special notes: This course requires walking and standing for the duration of the course. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. The nearest parking garage (pay for parking) is on Pugh Street.

Explore the trove of historic artifacts at the Boal Mansion, with its extensive 19th-century furnishings. See how eight generations of the Boal family reflect the American story. Learn how the Boals acquired the Columbus Chapel, with its collection of 15th–18th century European art, as well as an admiral’s ship desk. Participants will hear about the family’s connections to the Declaration of Independence and the founding of Farmers’ High School (now known as The Pennsylvania State University). Participants will also have access to special collections that are rarely on public display or are in the works for preservation initiatives.

Special notes: Please wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes — participants will be standing for the duration of the tour.

Course fee includes $12 admission fee. 

The Central Railroad (CRR) of Pennsylvania turned its last wheel in 1918. So why should this 23-mile line that linked Centre and Clinton counties matter today? The birth and demise of this railroad mirrored almost perfectly important trends that shaped the nation’s transportation network for decades to come. So, to understand what was happening at the local level provides insight into what was occurring at the national level. This is aside from the fact that the CRR of PA was an interesting enterprise worthy of study for its own sake.

The Central Railroad (CRR) of Pennsylvania turned its last wheel in 1918. So why should this 23-mile line that linked Centre and Clinton counties matter today? The birth and demise of this railroad mirrored almost perfectly important trends that shaped the nation’s transportation network for decades to come. So, to understand what was happening at the local level provides insight into what was occurring at the national level. This is aside from the fact that the CRR of PA was an interesting enterprise worthy of study for its own sake.

Participants will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Eisenhower Auditorium, exploring areas not typically accessible to the general public, such as backstage areas, dressing rooms, and lighting catwalks. See demonstrations of some of the theatrical systems, learn about the history of the building, and hear anecdotes about various events that have occurred there over its 50 plus–year history.

Special notes: Please wear sensible footwear (i.e., sneakers or flats without slippery soles). Parts of this venue tour include navigating steep stairs, dimly illuminated mechanical rooms, and elevated catwalks. For those unable or unwilling to attempt these physical challenges, alternative opportunities may be made possible by advance request. The nearest paid visitor parking is the East Parking Deck or any campus visitor parking.
 

Enjoy a walking tour of the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State. The farm grows more than 75 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and cut and edible flowers marketed through several campus venues. During the tour, learn about sustainable farming principles, including rotating crops, encouraging pollinators, and planting cover crops. Throughout the tour, discover similarities and differences between home gardens and small-scale market farms. Participants will gain an appreciation for the complexity of market farming, and home gardeners will take home some pro tips, as well.

Special notes: Full parking information is available on the student farm website: https://www.studentfarm.psu.edu/find-the-farm/. Meet at the front entry gate next to the large, brown "Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm" sign. Please wear walking shoes and sunscreen. Bring a bottle of water. You must be able to stand and walk for the duration of this tour.
 

While enjoying a stroll through the heart of Penn State’s lovely campus, discover places that you didn’t know existed, such as the Penn State Honor Code hidden in plain sight, and learn some facts that are not well-known, such as the translation of the Greek words that adorn the War Memorial. The tour will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. with optional lunch (at your expense) in a campus dorm cafeteria following the tour. 

Special notes: The class will meet at the Nittany Lion Shrine. The nearest campus visitor parking (pay for parking) is the Nittany Parking Deck. Participants will be walking for the duration of the course. Dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and wear good walking shoes.

OLLI members will take a private tour of the fully restored, historic landmark, The Yorktowne Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Dating from 1925, view the historic architecture and artifacts of the building. The hotel address is 48 E. Market St, York, PA 17401. This is a one sneaker tour and all areas are fully accessible.

Fort Roberdeau was built in 1778 to protect a lead mining and smelting operation on the Pennsylvania frontier during the American Revolution. The fort provided a safe haven for soldiers and settlers throughout the region. Fort Roberdeau, although open for only a couple of years, is a wonderful example of the hardships that America faced during its struggle for independence. Today, tours of Fort Roberdeau include an introductory video and presentation, a tour of our exhibition space, and a tour of the reconstructed Fort. Re-enactors teach and immerse you in the life of people on the frontier.

Special notes: The site is outdoors with limited seating. Please dress for the weather. Bring a water bottle/drink. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it at one of the picnic areas following the course.

Course fee includes $10 admissions fee.

 

 

Participants will take a tour of the Boal City Brewery in Boalsburg and learn about the basic brewing process and nuances that are specific to certain styles and objectives. Participants are invited to stay after the course for a drink at their own expense.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Frost Entomological Museum, which houses the insect and related arthropod collections of Penn State. Learn about natural history collections and how people in the Department of Entomology are expanding their collective knowledge of arthropods.

Founded in 1962 by Dr. Joel N. Myers in State College, AccuWeather is now the most recognized and most used source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the AccuWeather Global Headquarters. 

Special notes: The AccuWeather building has 3 floors, and as such, there will be a fair amount of walking and use of stairs during this tour. There is an elevator available for anyone unable to use the stairs, but use will require a separate chaperone, which may mean missing parts of the tour.
 

Take a deep dive in the Palmer Museum of Art's special exhibition, Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper. 

Special notes: Paid visitor parking is through the HonkMobile app or pay station in the lot adjacent to the Lewis Katz Building. Parking is also available at the East Parking Deck, with a short walk to the Arboretum. Participants will be standing and walking for the duration of the tour.
 

The tour will include a presentation on the yearly life cycle of deer and animal care at the facility and an overview of past and current research. Participants will have the opportunity to view deer and participate in a question-and-answer session.

Special notes: Participants will be required to follow the bio-security policy; visitors do not wear footwear or clothing into the facility that has been worn in positive captive facilities or natural deer habitats (forests, agricultural lands, parks, etc.) within Chronic Wasting Disease Management Areas. Participants will be provided with a pair of plastic disposable boots to wear during the visit. The policy will be shared in advance of the course. Participants will be standing for the duration of the course.

Explore Fort Necessity with OLLI instructor CAPT Jim Bloom. Fort Necessity National Battlefield covers the story of the battle of Fort Necessity on July 3, 1754. This battle is the opening battle of the French and Indian War and leads to a worldwide conflict that sets the stage for the American Revolution. This fort is the site of George Washington's first military encounter and his only surrender. The field trip will include a guided walking tour of Fort Necessity by a National Park Ranger and a stop to see Jumonville Glen. At Jumonville Glen, a short skirmish between the French and colonial Virginian soldiers was fought; these were the first shots of the French and Indian War. The trip will also cover the story of the National Road, which was America's first federally funded highway. Interstate route 40 that you enter the park from is the current version of this historic road. You will have the opportunity to learn about how the road was created and maintained and explore a historic stagecoach stop in Mount Washington Tavern.

Instructor: Captain Jim Bloom retired from a 31-year career as a U.S. Navy officer and physician in 2011 and returned to his childhood home in central Pennsylvania. A 1975 undergraduate of Penn State, Captain Bloom attended the University of Pittsburgh medical school, then entered active duty with the Navy. In addition to clinical duties, he served as Deputy Chief of the Medical Corps, 6th Fleet surgeon, and Commanding Officer of Naval Hospital Sigonella, Sicily. He is a popular OLLI instructor and is currently the vice president of the Central PA Civil War Roundtable.

Special notes: The field trip has a substantial amount of walking and standing, including outdoor walking (some on uneven ground), and not all areas are accessible. Stairs are involved.

Location: Fort Necessity National Battlefield, National Pike, Farmington

Fee: $105 members and nonmembers includes bus transportation. Meals not included.

Itinerary
Lunch is on your own — there are no dining options available. Please pack 
lunch/snacks/drinks. We will be eating at the picnic pavilion. The bus will stop at Sheetz on the trip down and back for a comfort stop and opportunity to purchase food.

7:00 a.m. — Depart Fullington Trailways bus garage, 2101 Alexander Drive, State College (near State College Regional Airport).

10:00 a.m. — Arrive at Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Explore Visitor Center on your own.

10:30 a.m. — View the film Road to Necessity, followed by a walking tour of Fort Necessity guided by a National Park Ranger. Tour concludes with a Soldier’s Life demonstration and musket firing.

11:30 a.m. — Explore on your own and picnic lunch (eat on bus or at picnic tables/pavilion).

12:30 p.m. — Board bus for Jumonville Glen (7 miles west of Fort Necessity, 732 State Rte. 2021, Hopwood). Short walk to site and a talk on Jumonville Glen by CAPT Jim Bloom.

1:15 p.m. — Board bus and travel to the Mount Washington Tavern, 3414 National Pike, Farmington. Self-guided tour of Mount Washington Tavern.

2:30 p.m. — Board bus for State College.

5:30–6:00 p.m. — Arrive in State College.

The Rottler Awards Selection will run June 8 to July 20. This is one of our most prestigious awards where members are chosen for prizes based on two of their artwork as a collection of their work. The physical activity level for the course is one sneaker. The gallery is on one floor, no stairs and is accessible to those with walkers or wheelchairs. York Art Association has a large parking lot and some street parking. Address: 220 S. Marshall St., York, PA, 17402.