The entrance to the American Treasure Tour Museum
Many people have a collection of memorabilia to help them remember past places and events. Typically, these collections consist of photographs, souvenirs, family artifacts, and personal belongings. I have certainly observed the frequent appearance of such items on PBS’s well-known Antiques Roadshow. Personally, I have a small box containing various items that might appear trivial yet serve as reminders of different experiences from my childhood. Like many people, I occasionally experience nostalgia for past events and places.
Nostalgia refers to a sentimental yearning for the past, often triggered by sensory cues that evoke fond memories of people, places, or times. Although it is mainly an emotional experience, various items, music, fragrances, and events can evoke this yearning. The American Treasure Tour Museum, founded in 2010, serves as a venue where recollections of bygone days can be easily, entertainingly, and appreciatively revived. While the establishment is called a museum, it is, in many respects, a compilation of artifacts and memorabilia from popular culture spanning the last 120 years.
The initial display that greets visitors within the entrance
A Vast Collection of American Popular Culture
The collection is so extensive that I believe it would be nearly impossible not to find yourself reminiscing as you observe or listen to something that evokes a significant memory. The collection occupies more than 100,000 square feet within a former B.F. Goodrich tire factory building. It is challenging to adequately describe the vast number of artifacts showcased in the collection. Presently, it is estimated that there are well over a million items exhibited throughout the facility.
An antique car displayed in the Classic Cars walking section of the museum
Location in Oaks, Pennsylvania
The American Treasure Tour Museum is located in Oaks, Pennsylvania, roughly 20 miles north of Philadelphia, near Valley Forge Historical Park. Interestingly, while many individuals may not be aware of the town of Oaks, they might recognize the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, which is adjacent to the museum. Every year, the very popular National Dog Show is held there in November and later featured on the NBC television network following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
A working D.C. Ramey Piano Company Banjo Orchestra
Entering the Museum
The museum occupies the second floor of a 1.2 million square foot nondescript warehouse-like structure, and the small entrance is next to a restaurant-supply business. Upon entering, visitors are immediately greeted by a magnificent crystal chandelier from Philadelphia’s historic Warwick Hotel, accompanied by animatronic toys and the melodies of an antique player piano. The collection originated when an individual, mysteriously referred to as The Collector, began gathering a diverse assortment of artifacts reflecting American pop culture and nostalgia long before the museum opened to the public. Initially a private endeavor, the museum was officially established in 2010 at its present site.
A large puppet displayed in the Classic Cars section of the American Treasure Tour Museum
The Anonymous Collector
Antiques dealers Jerry and Ginny Frey, recognized as cofounders, persuaded the reclusive owner to unveil the collection, first for a select group of tours in 2011, and later expanded to general admission in 2013. The staff is eager to emphasize that The Collector prefers to remain anonymous, allowing visitors to focus on the collection rather than the individual.
The mystery surrounding the Collector and the rationale behind the accumulation of diverse items introduces a captivating aspect to the experience. I was indeed fascinated by what motivated an individual to begin gathering such an extensive and eclectic collection. Additionally, I discovered that the staff offered several hints regarding the identity, including the clue that the American Treasure Tour Museum has a strong connection to the Classic Auto Mall located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania.
A musical bandwagon featuring a display of mechanical circus performers
Who Will Enjoy the American Treasure Tour Museum
The American Treasure Tour Museum has the potential to appeal to a wide range of visitors. Families with children will enjoy the museum’s extensive collection of toys, dolls, pop-culture memorabilia, animated circus exhibits, and holiday displays. The experience is further enriched by a 45-minute guided tram ride, which provides convenient access to the displays. Those seeking nostalgia will appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with the past through a diverse selection of American memorabilia that covers several decades.
Circus banners created for the American Treasure Tour Museum
Pop culture aficionados will be pleased with the assortment that features a range from retro advertisements to modern pop culture figures. Additionally, automobile and music lovers will be especially drawn to the vast selection of vintage cars, motorcycles, and unique automated music devices, including band organs and calliopes. There is also a segment of the population, such as myself, who will be fascinated by the quirky and diverse collections of distinctive artifacts from American culture, often referred to as Americana.
A Personal Connection to the Collection
My primary motivation for visiting the museum was the discovery that at least one item in the collection was created by my high school art instructor, Richard Fox. The piece I was aware of was a scaled-down replica of a proscenium, stage, and movie screen from the silent film era, which Mr. Fox (as I referred to him) affectionately called “The Bijou”. This miniature theater is prominently showcased in a video on the American Treasure Tour Museum website.
A display of memorabilia from the original Raiders of the Lost Ark movie
Walking Tour and Tram Tour
The museum tour consists of two distinct experiences: a walking tour and a guided electric tram tour. Upon checking in at the ticket counter, visitors have the option to begin either the self-guided walking tour or the tram tour. As I arrived approximately 30 minutes before my scheduled tram tour, I opted to start with the self-guided tour, which is divided into two sections: the Music Box and Classic Car exhibits.
A small sample of the collection of over 250 music boxes displayed within the museum
The Music Box Exhibit
The Music Box exhibit showcases a remarkable collection of more than 250 automatic musical instruments, including vintage music boxes, player pianos, band organs, calliopes, nickelodeons, photoplayers, and other mechanical musical instruments. During my visit, several devices were playing background music as I explored the exhibit. In contrast to a conventional museum, there was minimal to no explanation provided for the numerous items on display. Visitors are free to wander at their own pace and examine the items closely. It was in this room that I discovered the Bijou theater, which was crafted by my high school art teacher.
In addition to the automated musical instruments, every available space is filled with displays of movie posters, celebrity photos, record albums, dolls, dollhouses, and miniature model dioramas that complement the musical exhibits. After I visited the museum, I discovered that three of Mr. Fox’s stage set models were in this room. Regrettably, there were so many items on display that I did not notice them. I am confident that had I encountered them, I would have recognized his unique artistic style in crafting dramatic scenery. To my great pleasure, a dear friend shared photographs of the set designs for me to enjoy after I visited the museum.
A display of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls
Mixed in among the musical instruments are collections of Raggedy Ann dolls, vintage telephones, paper models, antique dolls, and even a 1930s Link Trainer flight simulator. Complementing the museum’s own holdings is a loaned collection from the Music Box Society International (MBSI), featuring over 100 antique music boxes dating to the turn of the 20th century.
An antique car displayed in the Classic Cars walking section of the museum
Classic Cars and Transportation
The latter segment of the walking tour showcases an extensive collection of more than 75 vehicles, which encompass classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. The progression of American transportation from the early 20th century onwards can be observed alongside a comprehensive assortment of pop culture memorabilia arranged in, on, and around the vehicles.
A Conestoga wagon seen during the tram tour
The showcased vehicles include steam-powered models, electric cars, internal combustion autos, sports cars, fire trucks, and custom sedans. Accompanying the displayed vehicles, I particularly appreciated the parade of hand-pulled children’s circus wagons, a unique exhibit featuring a replica of the Ark of the Covenant as seen in the original Indiana Jones film, and a collection of antique nickelodeons.
The beginning of the tram tour of the American Treasure Tour Museum
The Toy Box Tram Tour
The main highlight of the American Treasure Tour Museum is the electric tram tour, which guides visitors through a 75,000-square-foot area affectionately referred to as the Toy Box. This section of the museum contains far more than just toys. The 45-minute tram journey proceeds at a leisurely pace, enabling passengers to capture photographs, and is complemented by a scripted narration that details the exhibits encountered along the route. The tram makes periodic stops to allow the driver to activate various displays, including Wurlitzer band organs, animatronics, automatons, and even a complete 1977 Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band.
A display of Tiffany-style lamps
The blend of lights, moving objects, neon signage, and endless memorabilia is captivating. At a showcase of Tiffany-style lamps, there was not merely a handful, but an extensive exhibition of hundreds. This was equally true for nutcrackers, plush toys, Easter bunnies, Halloween masks, Philadelphia Mummers costumes, Christmas ornaments, pop culture figurines, and circus artwork.
A display of nutcrackers in the American Treasure Tour Museum
Pop Culture Displays and Amusement Park Artifacts
The Toy Box showcases memorabilia from American pop culture and everyday life, spanning the 19th to the 21st centuries. It features a varied assortment of toys, vintage carousel figures, automatons, cultural icons, and even rides from amusement parks. Restored large entertainment band organs, typically associated with amusement park carousels, are played while mechanical figures spin and whirl.
The world’s tallest Gumby figurine
Some prominent displays encountered during the tram tour include a 1980s Christmas exhibit, originally from the former Lit Brothers Philadelphia department store, vintage Christmas decorations featuring Santa figures, festive dolls, and recreated winter scenes. Furthermore, the tour showcases animated mechanical animal figures, teddy bears inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt, and over 300 hobbyist-built model airplanes suspended from the ceiling.
A giant high-heeled shoe from the Wedding Central cable network
Additionally, guests can discover the world’s tallest Gumby, a neon storefront, a statue of the Pep Boys, the largest slinky in existence, and a giant high-heeled shoe that was unveiled during the 2009 launch of the Wedding Central cable network.
The entrance to the Toy Box section of the American Treasure Tour Museum
Antique Automaton Toys
I have a deep personal interest in antique automaton toys and was delighted to observe a significant representation of them in the collection. Some were showcased in circus-themed displays, while others, like a sword swallower, were positioned on the floor near the tram pathway.
Early in my professional career, I was employed at a prominent department store in eastern Pennsylvania called Hess Brothers. Each Christmas, the store would sponsor a television program highlighting a selection of antique automaton toys featured in its main store. I had high hopes of seeing some of those automatons, and although none from their collection seemed to be present, I was pleased to find that many of the antique toys on display were quite similar.
A display referencing H.G. Wells’s radio broadcast of the War of the Worlds
What the Collection Says About American Culture
The collection is curated to highlight items that once fascinated the American public. It reflects, in many ways, our growing obsession with mechanical and technological artifacts and their impact on our culture. Furthermore, it addresses our fixation on celebrities, Hollywood, and entertainment, along with our desire to be captivated by the latest trends in American culture.
The seemingly unusual combination of objects and the diverse arrangements of items reveal a great deal about us as a consumer-driven society and our affection for eccentric, vibrant, loud, and diverse types of entertainment. At the American Treasure Tour Museum, our past 100 years are presented before us, highlighting our constant desire to be enthralled by the most recent and trendy fads.
A display of early and historic telephones
Certain displays, such as telephones, illustrate progression; others, like motor vehicles, demonstrate the evolution of design and style; electronic entertainment displays reflect technological advancements, while additional displays, including nutcrackers, reveal our fascination with collecting sentimental objects. The museum encompasses numerous subtle themes, and although it may initially appear as a chaotic assortment of antiques and memorabilia, the sheer volume of artifacts inevitably causes visitors to reflect on our culture and our affinity for objects.
The American Treasure Tour Museum offers a unique experience that is enjoyable to explore, yet holds significance comparable to any traditional museum. Ultimately, it appears to be a great source of entertainment, but I slowly came to realize that it provides profound insights into our identity as a society and our fascination with art, design, and, equally crucial, promotion. I strongly felt that, perhaps, the museum overall is a strong reminder that the lasting influence of P.T. Barnum has and will always permeate our culture.
Richard Fox’s Bijou Theater created for viewing silent movies
Returning to The Bijou
At the end of my tour of the museum, I returned to the main exhibit hall to take one last look at the small-scale movie theater, The Bijou, that was created by my high school art instructor, Richard Fox. The memories were overwhelming. Mr. Fox was one of those teachers who you learn from as a student for a semester, but his influence stays with you for a lifetime. He was a creative, engaging, and fascinating person whose depth of knowledge and experience defined his character.
Besides being an extraordinary artist, he was also a skilled set designer for regional theater companies, a masterful model builder, a lover of opera (particularly Gilbert and Sullivan operettas), a supporter of Broadway theater, and a knowledgeable authority on the early days of filmmaking.
A close-up of the side entrance of Richard Fox’s Bijou Theater. Photograph taken by Lee Thomas.
Mr. Fox used his model theater to showcase his extensive collection of silent movies, complete with organ soundtracks. When not in school, the miniature theater sat in his home in front of the piano Sir Arthur Sullivan used to compose The Pirates of Penzance. Along with fellow and former students (admiringly referred to as “used-to-be-kids”), I viewed numerous films on the Bijou and engaged in extensive discussions regarding art, culture, and life overall.
A set design model created by Richard Fox. Photograph taken by Lee Thomas.
I am uncertain whether Mr. Fox would have wanted the Bijou displayed in a vast museum, with only a handful of people aware of its backstory. It is likely that he would have favored its repeated use as a means to educate students about the lucrative and thrilling era of early filmmaking and silent cinema. Regrettably, we do not always get to choose how we are remembered or how our treasures are preserved. I had the rare opportunity, through one of his creations, to spend a few moments revisiting my experiences with someone who profoundly impacted my life in various ways, particularly in fostering my appreciation for the arts. This is a memory I will cherish for the remainder of my days.
A Theophile Mortier Dance Hall Organ called “The Emperor.” Photograph taken by Lee Thomas.
Planning a Visit
If you are in eastern Pennsylvania, particularly the Philadelphia region, Valley Forge Historical Park, or the King of Prussia area, consider visiting the American Treasure Tour Museum in Oaks, Pennsylvania. The museum is easy to find, and the admission fee is quite affordable. I spent nearly two hours exploring the exhibits, reminiscing about the past, and capturing numerous photographs. For the most current information on their operating schedule, please visit their website at www.americantreasuretour.com, where you can find details on operating days and hours. During my visit, the facility was open only from Friday to Monday. Additionally, online, you can reserve tickets for the tram ride and view images from the collection.
Vintage amusement park rides on display on the tram tour
Final Thoughts
While researching online reviews of the American Treasure Tour Museum, I came across a comment from a visitor who referred to it as “super weird and interesting.” I believe this succinctly captures its essence, and I would further enhance it by adding the phrase “in a refreshingly amusing way.” Reflecting on the pop culture of my past provided a delightful opportunity to reconnect with my youth and formative years. I am certain that within the American Treasure Tour Museum, there is a piece of nostalgia that will transport you back to a treasured memory, leaving you with a smile as you exit. What could be more rewarding than that?