Fort Hunter Interactive Walking Tour
Expiration: 365 days after purchase
Included Venues
See locations on an interactive map.
Behind the tavern, there are several beautiful American Sycamore trees, also known as "buttonwood." These beautiful trees are present throughout the park, but here lies the largest specimen on the property, estimated to be over 300 years old. The younger parts of these trees will shed their bark (exfoliation) and reveal a bright white layer underneath. Over time, the main stalk of the tree will develop hardier, darker bark that hides this white underlayer. The large leaves and bright white upper limbs make the American Sycamore one of the easiest species to pick out in a forest.
At the far end of the Fort Hunter portion of the PA Canal towpath sits a small nature trail that uses a wooden bridge to pass through a natural wetland area. Boy Scout Max D. Lynch of Troop 77 built this bridge in 2010, and it serves as a wonderful spot for visitors to observe the flora and fauna one expects in our region's wetlands. In addition to the towpath access, visitors can also cross the bridge from the edge of the sport field.
Built in 1876 during the Boas/Reily ownership, this barn was the home of Daniel Dick Boas's booming dairy operation. The lower level has been modernized for use as public event spaces and classrooms for educational programming, while the upper portion is retains its historic character. During events like Fort Hunter Day, the main doors are opened to give the public a rare look into a proper 19th century dairy barn.
The red, wooden structure just south of the barn is a corncrib. These were used to store corn off of the ground to make it less accessible to rodents. The open, slatted sides allowed for ventilation and helped prevent mold growth. After Dauphin County acquired Fort Hunter, this corncrib was moved from its original location in the field east of the barn, and a small performance stage was constructed in front of it. This stage is primarily used for musical performances during events at the park.
This late 19th century covered bridge was originally built to cross the Little Buffalo Creek in Oliver Township in Perry County. in 1941, the bridge was set to be demolished, but Margaret Wister Meigs had other plans. She stepped in and offered to by the bridge, which was then placed on the lawn in front of the mansion. When Dauphin County acquired Fort Hunter, the bridge was heavily deteriorated. After being dismantled and placed in storage, the original elements were used to recreate the bridge, which now leads visitors toward the remnants of the PA Canal.
This private residence was previously used as a rental property before Dauphin County acquired Fort Hunter. The building has now been renovated and updated to fit the aesthetic of the park while being comfortable for the groundskeeper who calls it home.
This small garden is maintained by local volunteers and is meant to be representative of a decorative Victorian garden one might have seen during the Boas/Reily ownership.
This Federal-style mansion stands on the site of a colonial fort constructed during the French and Indian War. Previously known as "Hunter's Mill," the property became known as "Fort Hunter" once the colonial forces began using the property as a frontier fort. After the war, Archibald McAllister constructed the mansion in two parts. The first was a two story stone cabin erected in 1786, which is now the middle of the building. The second was the 1814 addition that now serves as the front of the building and makes it a proper mansion. In the rear, there is a summer kitchen likely enclosed during the Boas/Reily ownership.
In 1929, the W.F. Martin and family constructed and operated the Fort Hunter Station as a privately-owned service station. Unlike what one sees today, these historic stations sold several brands of fuel and operated independently from the control of large petroleum companies. The station also served the public with its in-house restaurant, cabins, miniature golf course, and beer garden. Today, the Fort Hunter Station is the subject of a long-term restoration project, and Dauphin County is actively working to prepare it to serve the public in a new way. In 2025, Fort Hunter staff created a special exhibit centered on the station and allowed visitors to vote on what it should become post-restoration.
Originally located along the river just north of Fort Hunter, this 1885-constructed church endured a lot before being relocated to higher ground. Henrietta P. McAllister, family member of Fort Hunter Mansion's original owner Archibald McAllister, donated the land where this church originally sat. Despite several instances of severe flood damage and a fire in 1927, it remained in operation and served as the home to a local Methodist congregation until the 1990's. In 2009, Dauphin County relocated the historic church to preserve and protect it. It now continues its service to the public as an event space.
Before refrigeration, icehouses were used to keep food cool by storing large blocks of ice harvested in the winter, which would be insulated with straw and saw dust. Notice the two story construction, which provides access from both Fishing Creek and the backyard of the mansion.
On the northern side of the barn, lies a mound-shaped area which served as a loading platform to aid in the transfer of dairy products into market wagons.
Margaret Wister Meigs was a niece of Helen and John Reily and founded the Fort Hunter Museum. Without her efforts to preserve the mansion and surrounding landscape, the rich history of the property may have been lost. This memorial, using tiles made by Henry Varnum Poor, honors Margaret's vision and dedication to Fort Hunter.
During the McAllister ownership, this small structure, known as a dairy or milkhouse, was used to store dairy products and ensure they were kept cool and uncontaminated by other food items.
Construction of the Eastern Division of the Main Line of the PA Canal began in 1826 and reached completion in 1833. This 43-mile stretch connected Columbia to the Juniata River at Duncan's island, utilized for transport for nearly a century. Today, the canal fills and drains naturally and serves as a home to a diversity of plant and animal life and is managed by the Parks Department as a natural preservation area.
Adjacent to the summer kitchen attached to the tavern, this little smokehouse would have been used to preserve meat by bathing it in smoke, drying and curing it over time. While smoking is still popular today, it was a necessity before refrigeration became common.
Similar to the dairy and icehouse across the road, this building was used to cool dairy products. However, the springhouse utilized the naturally cold water from an underground spring to manage the internal temperature, hence the name. This building has been damaged and restored several times since its original construction.
Looking toward Fishing Creek from the lawn behind the tavern, one sees a portion of a 19th century stone arch bridge, which was incorporated into a modern version with two lanes. The western portion, nearest to the river, is noticeably different than its 19th century counterpart.
This stable was constructed in the early 19th century to house horses for travelers visiting the tavern. Since Dauphin County acquired the park, the building has been renovated to more accurately reflect its historic character. Today, the building is primarily used for storage. However, during events and educational programming, the main stable is often open to the public.
This tavern was once operated by Archibald McAllister. Here, McAllister sold whiskey distilled on the property, rented rooms to travelers, and provided a place for local farmers to exchange information. Before Dauphin County acquired Fort Hunter, this building was divided into apartments. The building has since been restored to retain its historic character and is used as the headquarters for the Dauphin County Department of Parks & Recreation.