The Appalachian Trail Museum opened June 5, 2010 in a 200-year-old grist mill at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, about two hours north of Baltimore and just two miles from the halfway point of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail (A.T.). This is the only museum in the country dedicated to hiking.

Hours of Operation:

• Spring and Fall Hours: Open weekends, Noon - 4 p.m., the first weekend in April to Memorial Day, and Labor Day Monday to November 1st.

• Summer Hours: Open seven days a week, Noon - 4 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day Monday.

The 200-year-old grist mill is a historic location that is conveniently located near the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail. Situated next to two popular hiking stops, the Pine Grove General Store, where it is tradition to stop and eat a half gallon of ice cream, and the Ironmasters Hostel.

Opening exhibits will include, the Earl Shaffer Shelter and artifacts from other early hikers including Grandma Gatewood and Cesar Becerra. The museum will also feature changing exhibits, a children's discovery area to introduce children to the trail and outdoor activities, a thru-hiker photo display of 18,000 A.T. Hikers, a hiker's lounge and an indoor/outdoor story-telling center to encourage visitors to share hiking experiences.

The museum society is looking for volunteers to staff the building and others to do programs such as talks, nature walks and demonstrations of outdoor skills with an emphasis on programming for children.