Adventure Collective
Archivist's Tour: Explore East Broad Top Railroad Archives - Harrisburg, PA

Archivist's Tour: Explore East Broad Top Railroad Archives

Rockhilleasy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

1–1.5 hours

Fitness Level

Suitable for most fitness levels; involves some stair climbing and standing during the tour.

Overview

Unlock the hidden archives of the East Broad Top Railroad on a private tour led by the station’s Archivist. Experience history behind closed doors in Rockhill, PA.

Rockhill, Pennsylvania

Archivist's Tour

1 Hour • Steep Stairs Required

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About This Adventure

Explore the hidden treasures of the East Broad Top Railroad on an exclusive tour of the Orbisonia Station's archives. Led by the railroad's Archivist, you'll access the normally restricted second floor, witnessing the preservation of over 5,000 linear feet of historical documents and artifacts, making this a truly unique experience.

Look "inside the vaults" and support the EBT Archives and Special Collections Program!

Led by the railroad's Archivist, you'll journey through our effort to preserve, protect, and provide access to the East Broad Top's vast archival collection. You'll climb the stairs to the second floor of the Orbisonia Station, normally off-limits to the public, and spend an hour inside the former Engineer's Office, which now houses the EBT Archives and Special Collections Program.

First, you'll get a rare glimpse inside the Orbisonia Station's vaults, estimated to contain over 5,000 linear feet of maps, drawings, records, and more dating back to the earliest days of the EBT. Next, you'll see how the Archives team take unprocessed documents, protects/preserves them, catalogs them, and digitizes them to provide access to our restoration crews and the public!


##Tour Overview: !Map of the Rockhill Railyard with the Orbisonia Station highlighted Tour Stops:

  • Orbisonia Station (2nd Floor Engineer's Office & Vaults)

Accessibility Information:

Due to the historic nature of the facility, this tour is not wheelchair accessible.** Accessing the second floor of the Orbisonia Station requires climbing a flight of very steep stairs. This tour is not recommended for those who have difficulty climbing stairs or require assistance walking. Tours are one hour in duration and require long periods of walking and standing.

Please contact our ticket office PRIOR to booking if with any accessibility questions.

Adventure Tips

Wear comfortable shoes

The tour involves walking up stairs to the second floor archives, so sturdy, comfortable footwear is recommended.

Bring a notebook or camera

Recording interesting details and photos of this unique experience is encouraged, but check the Archivist’s policy on photography.

Arrive on time

Tours run on a strict schedule to preserve the archive materials properly, so punctuality ensures you get the full experience.

Follow handling instructions

For preservation, some items can’t be touched directly—always listen to the Archivist’s guidelines during the tour.

Local Insights

Wildlife

  • White-tailed deer
  • Eastern wild turkey

History

The East Broad Top Railroad is one of the last remaining narrow-gauge railroads in the U.S., originally built in 1873 to transport coal and goods.

Conservation

Efforts are ongoing to maintain the railroad as a historic and educational resource while minimizing impact on the surrounding natural landscape.

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Adventure Hotspots in Harrisburg, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Gear

Comfortable walking shoes

Essential

Necessary for navigating stairs and walking in and around the station.

Light jacket or sweater

Keeps you comfortable during cooler spring temperatures inside and outside.

spring specific

Camera or smartphone

For capturing photos of the historic station and surroundings (verify photography rules).

Notebook and pen

Helpful for jotting down interesting facts shared by the Archivist.