Lincoln Highway museum to have free admission Friday, seeks donations for new roof

The Lincoln Highway Experience is celebrating Lincoln’s birthday with free admission on Friday.

At the same time, the nonprofit that runs the transportation-oriented Route 30 museum is seeking contributions toward a roof replacement for the oldest section, a stone house dating from 1815.

It’s time to update the Unity museum’s 31-year-old shingle roof, which has leaked and has been patched twice, according to Lauren Koker. Koker is executive director of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor that operates the attraction and encourages visitors to explore a six-county segment of the highway in Pennsylvania.

“It’s at the end of its lifespan,” Koker said of the roof. “We can’t get a metal roof. We have to replace it with a shingled roof to keep to the historic character of the house.”

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the heart of the museum is known as the Johnston House, boyhood home of William F. Johnston, governor of Pennsylvanian from 1848 to 1852.

The heritage corridor is looking to raise $16,000 toward the new roof, supplementing a project grant of $55,800 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“We’re getting there,” Koker said of the heritage corridor’s “Raise the Roof” fund drive. “We’ve had some very generous donors.”

Those who visit the museum will see one of the original 1928 cement markers that were placed at each mile along the Lincoln Highway — America’s first trans-continental roadway, connecting New York City and San Francisco. Appropriately, the marker features a portrait of the 16th president near its top.

Visitors have until March 31 to view the museum’s latest revolving exhibit, a window into life in southcentral Pennsylvania during the Civil War that dominated Lincoln’s presidency. On loan from the Bedford County Historical Society, “On the Home Front” features storyboards and memorabilia.

It also offers insight into lesser-known maneuvers that were peripheral to the July 1863 clash of troops in Gettysburg, according to society Executive Director Gillian K. Leach.

In accordance with health guidelines during the covid-19 pandemic, visitor capacity in the museum is limited to 10 in the Johnston House and 10 in a recent addition that houses a restored roadside diner and tourist cabin. Masks must be worn except when patrons enjoy a slice of pie that is served in the diner as part of each tour.

Winter hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.weekdays, with the last visitor admitted at 3 p.m.

Visit lhhc.org or call 724-879-4241 for details.