It is easy to spot in a town so small: population - less than 900. Destruction appears minimal, considering that a Wwii tank has 'crashed' through the wall of the old storefront. Broken bricks litter the tank and ground. The turret is aimed to deter all threats. This is the World War Ii Museum in tiny Eldred, Pa, about an hour south of Buffalo, Ny.
This tiny town and the museum promoters have performed an outstanding aid for the preservation of local and global history. Opened in 1996, it is dedicated to those who served on the front lines and on the home front.
Northwestern
Eldred became the site of a munitions plant in 1942 because of its unique location. It had a small population. The hasten ran through town. And Eldred was surrounded by hills for a natural defense, if necessary. More than 1500 population worked in the installation until mid-1945. Mostly women, they built bombs, mortar shells and fuses for the war effort. The installation ran 24 hours a day. In total, Eldred shipped more than eight million pieces for British and U.S. Troops.
The museum is a surprise. From the outside, it's typical small town - a old assurance agency and a furniture factory. On the opposite side of the construction from the protruding tank is a Wwii monument. It lists the names of local veterans who fought in the war. An American flag flies at permanent half-staff until the last name on the wall has died.
On whether side of the entrance are dioramas of the Battle of Midway and Patton's march across Europe. Allied flags fly overhead - filling the lobby with color. Huge maps information the European and Pacific theatres of operation. You've heard the names ... Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Tunisia. The maps bring home the scope of the war in a new way. Vast regions and ultimate climate variations created communication nightmares, unlimited danger and ultimate courage from ordinary men and women in astounding circumstances.
The lobby also features a life-size tribute to the women who worked in the local munitions plant. They wore special all-cotton clothing with rubber buttons. Each one had to disperse the static electricity in her body by touching a metal rod before entering the munitions areas. Eldred was just one of hundreds of factories across the Us that contributed to the war effort. The customary installation construction exterior of town now slumbers, dilapidated and decaying, a mere shell of its old glory.
Films, dioramas, exhibits and storyboards information the weapons, the strategies, the battles and the lives of those who fought, both Allied and Axis. through a unique set of circumstances, artifacts on display consist of pieces sent to the museum from Russia. It's easy to spend several hours here, learning or revisiting the stories of World War Ii.
Eldred is also one of the few places in the world with a bridge that has an intersection in the middle. Originally built in the 1920's,Kendall Bridge unites Routes 346 and 446. The 500-foot span crosses a road, a hasten and the Allegheny River.
The Allegheny Arms and Armor Museum on Route 46 near Smethport focuses on the weaponry of warfare. Unlike Eldred's singular focus, Aa&A boasts an ample variety of boats, tanks, planes, vehicles and weaponry from Wwi to the present. Its eclectic variety includes Huey helicopters, a Russian tank from Desert Storm, howitzers and other 'retired' militaria.
In nearby Portville, Ny, Sprague's Maple Farm & restaurant is a sweet spot to stop. Nestled among the hills, you can hike Maple Trail to the old-fashioned sugarhouse, learning about maple syrup output along the way. Sprague's hosts a variety of events throughout the year. March is the best time to see the syrup-making process. Guests can also make maple sugar on the snow, ride aboard the sugar wagon, or savor maple-flavored spun cotton candy. The favorite restaurant features an ample menu of home-style favorites and maple-flavored sauces, syrups and desserts. Take home your favorite maple treats and country crafts from the gift shop.
With an early start, this is a one-day exploration. Add an overnight in Smethport or nearby Olean for a peaceful mini-vacation in the scenic Allegheny mountains.
Touring troops Museums in Northwestern Pa - Two Unique Collections, Plus a Quaint Dining Spot
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