Roadside America - Shartlesville, PA - Model Railroads on Waymarking.com

It is said that the creator of Roadside America, Laurence Geiringer, would look out of his window as a child and see the hotel which used to exist on top of Neversink Mountain. Being a child, he didn't realize that this hotel was a real life size building. In his mind, it was a tiny building that he should be able to hold in his hand. And, thus, the obsession began with tiny representations of real life.

Geiringer grew up and began creating his own little miniature village. As more people began to want to see his work, he moved his displays from his home to a local park and, finally, to its current location in a former dance hall in Shartlesville, PA. And what an exhibit it turned out to be. An article from the Washington Post (visit link) described it:
"All is in motion at this indoor spectacle. Planes buzz; cable cars whirr; street and house lights click on and off; and tiny people work, dance and play (there's even a cameo appearance by a minuscule Benjamin Franklin). Watch as a tiny coal-mine elevator moves up and down, fountains gush real water, and a little blacksmith plies his trade. Every 25 minutes or so, the lights are dimmed and the "Night Pageant" unfolds: Hundreds of stars appear on the ceiling, planes hover over a brightly lit airport and patriotic American folk songs boom over the loudspeakers"

Roadside America has been described as a button business. I realized the accuracy of that term as I took my grandchildren to see the miniature village. There are buttons every where. They do exactly as described above, things move, make noise, light up and totally delight the children who control what is happening in front of them. And there is just as much joy seen on the parents' faces as they watch the kids having a wonderful time.

Scale: O Scale-1:43.5 or 1:45 (Eur) ,1:48 (US) What is the herald of the layout? (Is there a featured railroad line(s) for the layout): 18 operating O gauge model trains/trolleys, no particular train line name noted What is the theme of the layout?: 8000 square feet portraying life from pioneer times to 1960 which is when the creator, Laurence Gieringer, passed away. What is the era of the layout? (What time period does the layout depict?): The entire exhibit encompasses about a two hundred year history, ending in 1960. Is there an admission fee? If so how much..: Adults (Ages 12+) $8.00 Children (Ages 6-11) $5.00 Children (Ages 5 and Under) FREE Seniors (65+)/Military Discount $7.00 Is this location handicap accessible?: No What type of location is this layout found in? ( Museum, Club, Hobby Shop, Business, Manufacturer,..: Roadside America is an 8000 square foot display in a building dedicated only to the train exhibit. Maybe could be called a museum or perhaps a hobby as it was the lifetime project of its creator. Layout Website: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log   05/06/2017 r.e.s.t.seekers visited it