Image created by fotor image generator. I mean, it spelled Hershey correct, and Pennsylvania is really difficult to spell!
This trip has been kind of fun and interesting, but the pace is so painfully slow. A part of this is my leg just will not cooperate and I cannot walk as fast as everyone else. It hurts to go faster than my normal pace, but my normal pace is so slow for everyone else. If I have to rush on my feet, well, that’s a problem. Another issue is that Brandi and Abby will not wake up on their own. Wesley will wake up early, and go back to sleep because he realizes nothing is going to happen, I wake up from 5 to 7 in the morning. I use that down time to write and play some games on my phone, but ultimately I wish we would just go.
When my bunch finally does wake up they drag ass getting ready, the kids give each other a hard time and it almost always takes Abby time to turn off goblin mode. Regardless, on this day we got up and went into Hershey and we visited the Hershey Story Museum.
The weather was perfect for a day out.This reads: His Deeds Are His Monument – His Life Is Our Inspiration – This time capsule was created by the Hershey community to honor and remember Milton Hershey’s vision for his community on the occasion of his 150th birthday. September 13, 2007. To be opened on Milton Hershey’s 200th birthday, September 13th, 2057.We tasted 6 different chocolates from around the world. This mat explains all of them!Six different chocolates to taste. We sorted them out and started with 1 and ended with 6. They were all pretty good. We did a little video where we all took turns rating them.While it didn’t actually make real kisses, it was still interesting to see all of the moving pieces involved in making them for such a massive production. By moving, I literally mean there was a button that you press to activate it and the whole machine comes to life. At the machine for making kisses, there is a little interactive game where kids can make their own factory line. With a little help, Abby made it work!This is called a Melangeur. According to the sign that is at the base, chocolate liquor that has been combined with cocoa butter is mixed in the maelangeur. Vanilla is often added during this step.This video explains how chocolate was made by the Hershey company back in the day, and I guess it is still made the same way today to some degree.Cocoa Beans, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate LiquorThis timeline was huge. I tried to photo all of it, but that would have been too much. It was interesting to compare the history of the Hershey company to the history of the US. The Verascope, developed in the 1890s, was a device to let folks view stereoscopic (3D) glass plate photographs. The Hersheys use this Verascope to enjoy photographs they had taken on their travels.Canceled Check to White Star Line: Milton Hershey paid a deposit for passage on the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Urgent business matters that required his attention forced him to book an earlier voyage on the German passenger liner ‘Amerika.’ On the check it looks like the cost of a ticket for Hershey was $300. This is about $10,100 in 2025 dollars.Portable Medical Kit Used by Catherine Hershey, 1900-1915: Despite Kitty Hershey’s steadily worsening condition, she and Milton spent most of their time traveling between 1910 and 1915. The trips were partly for pleasure, partly in quest of treatment for Kitty’s illness.
Hershey has an interesting history of a man who had a 4th grade education, and worked to build a chocolate empire. As hokey and tourist trappy the town of Hershey feels, there are plenty of interesting things to learn about the company, the founders and the people involved along the way.
I enjoyed the visit to the museum and ending the night with Red Robin was a strong finish. Such a fun time!
