The Rural Life Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and display a broad array of historically significant items, pictures, and documents including many used in rural homes, farms, and industry in the Trappe area. The museum recognizes accomplishments of outstanding individuals, including Nathaniel “Nace” Hopkins, a former enslaved man who served in the Union Army and later started a school for African American children, and J. Franklin “Home Run” Baker, who made it all the way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The museum promotes the preservation of historic rural architecture. We study the art, customs, crafts, music, occupations, and methods of transportation of earlier eras and reenact these life styles through cultural events, displays, exhibits, and lectures. As the museum grows, we look forward to including historic demonstrations of homemaking, farming, and industry as they developed over the years.

Hours are limited, please call in advance to confirm operations.  The museum strives to open the first and second Saturdays of the month and closes during the winter months.