Dewees Tavern Museum at Historic Trappe

Dewees Tavern Museum at Historic Trappe, located at 301 West Main Street in Trappe, Pennsylvania, is a museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history of the Trappe area within the broader context of state and national history. The institution collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets artifacts that tell the story of the people, places, and events that have shaped the Trappe area over the years.

Visitors to the museum can explore three historic properties, including the Center for Pennsylvania German Studies housed in the Dewees Tavern, which features five exhibition galleries showcasing furniture, fraktur, textiles, and other objects, as well as a research library and archives. The Henry Muhlenberg House is a fully-furnished museum that interprets the lives of Lutheran pastor Henry Muhlenberg and his son General Peter Muhlenberg. The ongoing restoration project at the Speaker's House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg, includes a Pennsylvania German kitchen garden. Additionally, the museum is currently working on restoring the Muhlenberg parsonage, built in 1745.

The museum also hosts special events, such as an evening at RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve in Phoenixville, featuring cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a seated dinner, and the presentation of the Speaker's Choice award. Proceeds from this event support restoration projects at the museum's four historic sites.

One of the museum's current exhibitions, "Native Son: The Life and Art of David Ellinger," showcases the work of local folk artist David Ellinger, who played a key role in popularizing Pennsylvania German culture in the mid-20th century. The exhibition includes several wintry landscape paintings of nearby farmsteads.

To support the museum's restoration efforts, visitors are encouraged to make a generous donation. Thank you for your support of Historic Trappe and its mission to preserve the history of the Trappe area for future generations.