Pennsylvania Ski and Winter Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
The Pennsylvania Ski and Winter Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Camelback Ski Area’s base lodge, with additional exhibits in the museum’s Liberty Mountain Annex. In 1994 Alex Bensinger and Alber Dowden headed a group in forming this education organization that is committed to preserving the state’s skiing and winter sport heritage.
The Pennsylvania Ski and Winter Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Camelback Ski Area’s base lodge, with additional exhibits in the museum’s Liberty Mountain Annex. In 1994 Alex Bensinger and Alber Dowden headed a group in forming this education organization that is committed to preserving the state’s skiing and winter sport heritage.
The museum’s collection at Camelback in Tannersville includes displays entitled “One Hundred Years of Ski Equipment”, “History of Sledding”, “One Hundred Years of Pocono Winter Sports” and the Hall of Fame. Amongst the items on display are skis, equipment, clothing, sleds, ice skates, posters, biographies, memorabilia and photographs. Organizations that have collaborated with the museum to create a place where the public can learn about winter sports include the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, American Association of Museums and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The Hall of Fame, also located at Camelback Ski Area, has been in operation since 2002 and has inducted about 50 individuals who have made contributions to snow sports in Pennsylvania, countrywide or internationally. These individuals are honored at the annual Hall of Fame ceremonies and then their names are added to the permanent exhibit. Amongst the Hall of Famers are Howard head, inventor of the metal ski and S.L. Adams, creator of the Flexible Flyer. Founders of various ski resorts have also been inducted, including James Moore (Camelback), Martin Wilburger (Elk Mountain), Dupre Family (Seven Springs) and Irvin Naylor (Roundtop).Others who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame include veterans of the 10th Mountain Division from World War II, National Ski Patrol volunteers, ski retailers, racing officials and ski instructors.
The Pennsylvania Ski and Winter Sports Museum’s Liberty Mountain Annex is situated at Liberty Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Fairfield. This supplement to the main exhibits at Camelback was opened in December of 2007. This museum contains a number of items related to the history of winter sports, particularly those related to Liberty Mountain. There are also plans to expand to other ski areas, opening up small museums across Pennsylvania. Be sure to pay a visit to the Pennsylvania Ski and Winter Sports Museum and Hall of Fame when skiing in the area, as there is much to discover.