![Have "elefun" at Mister Ed's Elephant Museum.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/d3/47/d347e67d6a1acc9cfd0f6c2c29ef9e93.jpg?itok=TrHneFtr "Have "elefun" at Mister Ed's Elephant Museum.")
Are you looking for a local, family-fun venue to explore? Just head over to Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Emporium for “elefun” this winter.
It was in 1967 when owner and founder Ed Gotwalt, also known as “Mister Ed,” received his first elephant as a good luck gift on his wedding day. Afterwards, his collection continued to grow. It grew so large, in fact, that it even outgrew his home and needed to have a home of its own. That was the start of Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Emporium which has been a trademark in the Adams County community since 1975.
Sadly, a fire broke out in July of 2010 that resulted in considerable damages and losses to the museum, and approximately 2,000 elephants were lost. Out of the remnants of those lost elephants, a mosaic was created. Even though the museum was considered 75% damaged, community support in efforts to revive the museum have been wonderful. By the February following the devastating fire, Mister Ed's Elephant Museum reopened to the public with even more elephants in the collection than ever before. The elephant memorial mosaic hangs right above the new checkout in the museum store.
Stop by the museum today and you will find yourself in the middle of a stampede of over 10,000 elephants from all over the world, made from all kinds of materials. From an elephant hairdryer, an elephant pulling a 24-karat gold circus wagon and even an elephant potty chair, you will not believe all the different elephant sights that await you. The collection continues to grow daily! Some of the friends you will meet along the way include Commander Robert Eli, who watches over the fishpond outside, and his friend Miss Eli Phant, who tells guests about plans for expanding the outdoor park-like setting for Mister Ed's.
In addition to the wondrous display of elephants, stop by Mister Ed's museum store and check out the trinkets, gifts and memorabilia to take home with you. Even start your own collection of unique elephants!
A visit to Mister Ed's is a real treat, but perhaps you want to complete your stop with a sweet send-off and a treat of edible origin. Well, you're in luck, because Mister Ed also boasts a fantastic, olde-thyme candy room with the largest selection in the area of vintage candies and roasted peanuts. Elephants love peanuts!
You don't need a memory like an elephant to remember all the unique sights to behold you when you visit Mister Ed's Elephant Museum. This place is sure to leave a lasting impression that will have you coming back soon!
Mister Ed's Elephant Museum is located at 6019 Chambersburg Road, Orrtanna, PA 17353. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Extended operating hours begin on Memorial Day and last through Labor Day, opening at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free! For more information, visit www.mistereds.com.
