Group Visits

Groups of 10+ can enjoy special tours, programs, and discounts.

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Bring Your Group to West Overton Village

West Overton Village offers tours for groups of 10 or more with discounted admission rates, along with the option of our hands-on DIY (Do-it-Yourself) History Activities. We welcome family and friend groups, clubs, bus tours, and more. 

We have many options to customize your visit. You can select from a "menu" of  guided tours and hands-on DIY History Activities. The number of programs depends on your group's size, interests, and arrival / departure times. Our staff will work with you to create the best experience for your group.

Group visits are available May 1 - October 31. 

Pre-scheduled groups of 10+ receive a discounted admission of $8 per person. Please contact Director of Visitor Engagement Pam Curtin at pam@westovertonvillage.org to discuss further.

Guided Tours

We offer guided tours to provide an up-close look at our historic buildings and museum. Most group visits include one or more guided tours as they are a great way to learn the history of West Overton. In particular, the tour of the 1838 Overholt Homestead is our signature tour that provides an overview of the Overholt and Frick families.

Take a guided tour of 1838 Overholt Homestead built by Abraham and Maria Overholt. While visiting this beautiful Federal-style mansion, learn how the Overholts settled the property in 1803, how Abraham expanded the distillery, and how the family farm transformed into a thriving industrial village. Also learn about industrialist Henry Clay Frick, who born in the springhouse and spent years of his youth at West Overton. Visit Abraham and Maria Overholt's room, the Mural Room depicting scenes of early Westmoreland County history, and the converted bedroom that pays tribute to the Overholts' Mennonite heritage.
Take a guided tour of our Museum’s award-winnning exhibition, Forging Ahead and Falling Behind: Industrial Growth in a Rural Community. This exhibit explores the various industries at West Overton, including farming, milling, distilling, weaving, coopering, housekeeping, coal mining, and more. Interact with artifacts including a 19th century fanning mill and hand-powered washing machine, step inside a 300,000 lb. capacity grain bin, explore a recreated general store, and look inside a restored coal car.

The Museum exhibition can also be offered as a self-guided activity.
At the Educational Distillery, learn about the history and science of distilling rye whiskey. Discover how grains like rye and barley were cultivated and distilled as a means of food preservation. For the Overholts, distilling became a primary business and well respected craft. Groups with individuals 21+ and valid IDs can arrange whiskey tastings.

DIY History Activities

DIY (Do-it-Yourself) History Activities are hands-on activities and demonstrations that reflect the daily lives of people at West Overton.

The availability DIY History Activities varies according to age group, time of year, and staff availability. Please discuss your interests with Director of Visitor Engagement Pam Curtin at pam@westovertonvillage.org

Great for kids and kids at heart! Play with the games and toys that entertained children in the 19th century. See how familiar games like ring toss and tug of war have evolved over time, and learn some new ones, too, such as the game of graces. We provide a variety of games and toys that can be enjoyed individually and in groups.
Discover how technologies have changed over time to make this household chore faster and more efficient. Explore laundering tools ranging from the washboard to vintage washing machines, led by a guide who will manage safe interactions or demonstrations.
Visit the historic outdoor kitchen and learn how the hearth and beehive oven were used to cook a variety of foods. Identify differences and similarities between these technologies and modern kitchen appliances. Discover historic foodways and food preservation techniques.
Learn how butter was historically made in a churn and the science behind transforming cream into butter. Make your own butter in a small container to take home.
Uncover the science of how people in the 19th century took fireplace ashes and turned them into a household cleaning product. Make your own melt-and-pour bar of soap scented with traditional herbs like lavender and sage.
Explore lighting technologies spanning the 18th century to the present, from tin lanterns to a coal miner’s lamp. Dip your own wax candle and learn about the necessity of making candles before electricity.  
Weaving was an important art and industry at West Overton. Learn about the Overholts’ tradition of weaving coverlets, an intricately patterned bed covering, and how textiles were made using different organic materials and dyes. Weave with yarn and a small, take-home cardboard loom.
Use a historic rope making tool to create a piece of rope to take home. Learn about the natural materials used in rope, how those materials were braided, and why rope was so important to farmers and other workers. 
Learn about the importance of food preservation on the Overholts’ farm. See how cabbage was shredded and turned into sauerkraut through the process of fermentation. This program is best offered in the fall.
Try your hand at a historic corn fodder chopper traditionally used to chop cornstalks into animal bedding. Learn about the machinery and 19th century animal husbandry. This program is only offered in the fall.
Learn about the history of the iron, coal, and coke industries in western Pennsylvania and explore a display of natural history specimens and artifacts. Watch as a lead ball is cast and learn about the science of smelting metals. 
Examine primary sources, such as artifacts and documents, from West Overton Village's collection to explore what these objects meant to people at the time they were created and what they tell us as historians today. Practice the skills of historians by learning how to "read" a primary source and work in small groups to conduct analyses. 
What stories do artifacts tell us? Practice the skills of curators as we discuss how to take a single artifact and draw out broader historical themes and meaningful connections. Work in small groups, studying an artifact and imagining a method of interpretation and audience. This activity pairs well with the Primary Source Analysis.

Additional Options

Gift Shop

Our newly renovated gift shop offers a variety of history-inspired items including books, jewelry, and West Overton keepsakes and souvenirs. The gift shop is located in the Museum and sales benefit the nonprofit mission of West Overton Village.
 

Lunches

Groups are welcome to bring their own lunches, or can coordinate with West Overton Village to have lunch prepared by an outside vendor at an additional cost (please ask us about this opportunity when you inquire about your visit).

The Overholt Room, our indoor venue, can seat up to 120. Contact us for larger group options. We also invite you to enjoy a picnic lunch on the Homestead lawn, weather permitting.

Group Visit Procedures 

  • Group visits are available May 1 - October 31.
  • Groups should dress appropriately for the weather and scheduled activities. 
  • Please contact us with any questions and concerns regarding accessibility accommodations.

Contact Us

Please contact Director of Visitor Engagement Pam Curtin at pam@westovertonvillage.org or fill out this form to request your visit. Completing this form does not confirm your group’s visit. Our team will reply to your request as soon as possible.  

Get a Taste of History

Our Educational Distillery carries on the tradition of making whiskey at West Overton. Discover the history of Old Overholt and the science of rye whiskey distillation at our modern facilities.