Ashtyn Asay If you’re in the mood for a day trip from New Jersey that goes beyond the typical museum or historic site, there’s a massive collection of oddities, vintage treasures, and nostalgic pop culture waiting just across the Delaware River. The American Treasure Tour Museum in Oaks, Pennsylvania, is home to a one-of-a-kind collection that feels part museum, part time capsule, and part wonderfully weird roadside attraction. Located about 20 miles outside Philadelphia and just west of Valley Forge National Historical Park, the museum occupies 100,000 square feet and showcases items from before the digital age, from antique automobiles and mechanical music machines to animatronics, neon signs, and miniature displays. Keep reading to learn more about this unique attraction.
A Collection 60 Years in the Making
The story behind the American Treasure Tour is almost as intriguing as the collection itself. According to Ashley Galleo, manager of Valley Forge promotions, the museum is the result of one local man’s lifelong love of pop culture. The collector, now in his 80s, has remained anonymous, but his collection has grown over the course of six decades to become the attraction visitors can explore today.
“He has been amassing this collection for 60 years; however, the collection was open for tours starting in 2009,” Ashley said. “He collects for the sake of collecting, not because of the museum, which was an afterthought to the collection.”
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While there isn’t much the museum can share about its collector, his massive collection speaks volumes about his passion for antiques and relics of days gone by. What began with a classic car in the 1950s now fills a 100,000-square-foot space that served as a BF Goodrich Tire factory from 1937 until its closure in 1986. Today, the former factory is packed with an eclectic mix of items spanning decades, giving visitors the chance to see everything from vintage memorabilia to mechanical attractions in one place.
“We like to think that some of the common themes among the collection are that they are mostly mechanical and bring joy to people,” Ashley said.
Despite its long history, the collection isn’t finished yet. The American Treasure Tour continues to evolve, and Ashley said visitors can expect even more to come.
“Bigger and Better!” she said. “I personally hope that the collection keeps getting larger and more people get to come experience it. In the meantime, we will keep adding!”
What You’ll See Inside
The American Treasure Tour describes itself as a lighthearted adventure through a massive showcase of pop culture, with a particular focus on the sights and sounds that filled the country before the digital age. Upon arrival, guests can explore the Music Room, which contains a variety of musical instruments and dolls, as well as the Classic Car Exhibit area. Visitors can then take a guided tram ride through the museum’s 75,000-square-foot Toy Box, which is filled with everything from animatronics and electric animated store displays to old advertisements and, of course, toys.
One of the collection’s standout pieces is a Wurlitzer 175 Band Organ. According to Ashley, it’s likely the most valuable item in the museum, and there’s good reason why: only one was ever made. The museum’s collection also includes plenty of other mechanical music machines and vintage pieces that offer a look at the technology and entertainment of generations past.
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And if you’re wondering which exhibits tend to get the most attention from guests, there’s one clear answer: the animatronics.
“The animatronics probably get the biggest reaction,” Ashley said. “Chuck E. Cheese particularly or animatronics that have a ‘Creepy factor.’”
The American Treasure Tour Museum is located at One American Treasure Way in Oaks, PA, and is open Friday and Saturday from 9AM to 8PM, and Sunday and Monday from 9AM to 5PM. For more information or to book a tour, visit the museum website here.
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