Museum

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Our museum is located at 109 Pine Street in the center of Towanda’s Historic District. Formerly the Bradford County Jail, construction of the massive stone building was begun in 1871 and within two years it was completed. The three-story structure was built with stone quarried from Barclay Mountain. Two distinct sections mark this remarkable structure - the dwelling house in the front and the cell block in the back. The first prisoners were moved in on August 14, 1873 and the jail continued to service the county for the next 118 years. During that time it housed a varied group of prisoners, both male and female. In 1990, after the jail was determined to be in a rapidly deteriorating state, the County decided that a new larger and modern jail would be built in the county. The Bradford County Commissioners transferred the property to the Bradford County Historical Society in 1998.

Today, the museum features two floors of museum exhibits, which are creatively arranged in what were the cellblocks. The third floor features a genealogical and historical research library that houses a variety of resources for researchers. We offer regular museum hours from May through September, and also guided group tours by appointment.