The Hershey Story (Museum)

Like many families that live in the Central PA area, we have been to Hersheypark more times than I can count and quite frankly I am not reviewing it because I know everyone will plunk down ridiculous amounts of money to go there regardless. So for all the times we have driven through, I’ve always wondered what else there was to do in Hershey.  After doing a little research, I discovered something a little more up my alley…a museum dedicated to the story of Milton Hershey.  Before we visited, I got the impression it was set up similarly to the Turkey Hill Experience, with the museum as the basic admission and a Chocolate Lab for an additional expense.  The Hershey Story even had a third interactive activity called “Chocolate Tastings” which allowed visitors to sample different types of chocolate additions for hot drinks, however this was also an additional expense.  Having a larger family, we chose the least expensive route and did not do any extras.  I actually told the kids ahead of time I would let them do the Chocolate Lab if they each contributed $3 of their own money, and surprisingly no one wanted to do it.  Amazing how they change their tune so quickly when they have some skin in the game…free parenting tip for you there.

The ground floor of the museum contains the ticket counter, restrooms, a small gift shop, the Pantry Café, and an interactive kiosk the children spent quite a bit of time at.  Additionally they have a special hands-on exhibit that periodically is changed out.  Currently “Chocolate Workers Wanted” takes kids on a journey through Mr. Hershey’s original chocolate factory where they have the chance to try out different tasks needed to run the factory.  My girls liked putting on dresses and aprons to look the part.  Each person received a card and after completing each station, punched an embossed stamp in the corresponding circle.  We had fun checking on the roasted beans, trying to push the heavy “bathtub” used for moving liquid chocolate, dumping the chocolates out of the molds, and loading and weighing the boxes. Upon completion, we had our papers stamped which told us how much we would be paid for our work had we been an employee.

The second floor is set up more like a traditional museum, which moves from room to room in a rectangular pattern.  The exhibits are interesting and engaging although not really as many interactive components are added to this area.  The visitor is taken in chronological order through the life and works of Milton Hershey.  The children received a scavenger hunt leaflet to keep them engaged, which actually really helped keep my three-year old interested.  We would search for the items and I’d give her a high five when she found one, much to her great delight!  Some highlights included a computer display to create your own chocolate factory, a short video clip explaining how the town of Hershey was built, the large graphic timeline of when Hershey products were created, and the computers to create your own newspaper article (which my 12 year old son claims he spent most of his time here!)  Of course I moved through slowly reading most of the inscriptions, taking in all the history, while my youngest children had fun running around, making a ruckus and playing hide and seek.

The Hershey Story will definitely leave you with a better idea of who Milton Hershey was and the tremendous legacy this man has left for the town, but also our nation.  Who doesn’t love at least one of the products made by Hershey?  Our only beef with this attraction was no free samples, unlike Turkey Hill Experience where you received unlimited ice cream and tea samples.  After lunch, which we packed, we took the kids over to Chocolate World just down the street to take the free Chocolate factory tour and received our free chocolate sample there.  A perfect supplement to the museum, our children were thrilled to finally take this tour, as we never seemed to have time while visiting Hersheypark.  By the way, parking there for less than 3 hours is free.  All in all, a great little day trip, the perfect combination of fun and history!

Hours:  Winter hours are 9AM-5PM daily

Admission:  Basic museum admission is $12.50/adults ($20 to add Chocolate Lab), $9.00/children (3-12) ($15.00 for lab).  See website for other admission information.

The Hershey Story

63 W. Chocolate Ave.

Hershey, PA 17033

(717) 534-8939

Visit their website at www.hersheystory.org for more details.