Boyertown offers several ways to explore its history: train rides, museums, a theater, as well as opportunities to walk and play disc golf. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing between the different experiences. A 90-minute train ride, an educational experience centered on a diesel locomotive, and exhibits about local history each have a different focus. This lets you choose which topics are most interesting for your trip.
Experience Railways and Technology
The Colebrookdale Railroad is located at 64 S. Washington Street in Boyertown. Its Secret Valley Expedition lasts 90 minutes and uses carefully restored railroad cars that are more than a hundred years old. The experience combines a train ride with the historic character of the cars. The stated duration gives you a concrete point of reference when planning your visit.
“Engineer for a Day” offers a different perspective: guests learn the basics of operating a diesel locomotive. The two experiences therefore have different focuses—one is a 90-minute ride in restored vintage cars, while the other is a learning experience about the locomotive. If you plan to try the escape room at the General Carl Spaatz National USAAF Museum, advance reservations are required. Check the reservation requirements before making your plans.
Walk or Play Disc Golf
At Boyertown Community Park, you can choose between two different activities. The disc golf course has 18 holes, and there is also a walking trail about one mile long. The distance gives you an idea of the trail, while the number of holes describes the disc golf offering. This lets you make your choice based on the activity you prefer, without treating the two formats as comparable measures of time.
The park is open daily from sunrise to dusk. Since operating hours can change, it’s best to check the information before your visit. Both the walking trail and the course are part of the park’s offerings; which activity better suits your plans depends on whether you’d rather walk a trail or play a round of disc golf.
Theater and Local History
The State Theatre of Boyertown shows films and live performances. It opened on December 12, 1912, under the name Lyric Theatre. The theater thus combines a clearly dated history with two types of entertainment today: you can consider it as a destination for a film or live performance, while also placing its former name and opening date in the context of local history.
Iron mining is also part of Boyertown’s history: it led to the town’s founding and is the subject of exhibits by the Boyertown Area Historical Society. The museum is currently closed for renovations. Bear this restriction in mind when planning a visit; the exhibits’ subject offers a distinct historical perspective on the town’s origins.
The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles displays carriages and horse-drawn wagons that were made in the same building where they are now exhibited. The museum also includes Jeremiah Sweinhart’s former carriage factory, founded in 1872. Here, the vehicles on display are connected to the building where they were made. This connection gives a visit to the museum a tangible link to local manufacturing history.
Discover more destinations: Macungie, Douglassville, Fleetwood, West Reading, Reading, Mohnton, Shillington, Kutztown.
For the regional travel overview: Berks.
