Within the walls of this 7 story cement castle is a well cataloged collection of just about all the items a person or family would see or use during the 1800's. Henry Mercer constructed this concrete Castle to house his lifelong collection of items from the period in order to preserve them for future generations. Among many other items are several wagons, a Stagecoach, whaling boat even the gallows used by Bucks County during that period. A very interesting and worthwhile visit that I can strongly recommend with just one caveat; Be forewarned while the building does have a small elevator it does not have heat.

I really loved how the collection of items is displayed in this museum, the center gallery could be considered very artistic in the way it's laid out . Lots of things to look at on 7+ floors. Everything from antique tools to old wooden machinery can be seen. I loved exploring the non-conventional building, and finding new things all over the place. The 6/7 floor area had hundreds of cast iron plates with a wide array of designs on them. The only down side is the narrow hallways. The more people who are visiting, the harder it is to view some of the displays .

The Mercer Museum in Doylestown PA was a new find and what as discovery! Interesting old castle like concrete building filled with artifacts about every aspect of the old world life where craftsmanship was key. What a collection with well described sections covering blacksmith to candle making to wagon making and even a small general store. Fun for the whole family. Check out all floors and also get the discounted combo ticket including Fonthill Castle Mercer ‘s home to complete the adventure! Staff is also very nice and helpful.

My first thought upon entering the museum was…oh my god there is stuff hanging from the ceiling! It is a little overwhelming and you do not know where to look first but it is also very cool at the same time. The collection of artifacts are grouped by category with a brief description in each section. As a whole, the collection shows how early Americans lived and worked. I would recommend a visit if you love history. Cost is $15 which is reasonable for a visit. I recommend about 2 hours to explore all the floors and any special exhibits.

The Mercer museum has a nice collection of tools from different trades spread out over seven floors. It is not as overwhelming as it sounds as the seven floors are all around a central area and it is easy to go from one floor to the other. There were definitely some interesting articles there and the signage provided some good insights. Be aware that there is no HVAC in the museum, so it is quite cold in there in winter (we needed a coat when we were there in February and were still pretty cold) and presumably may get pretty hot in summer.

Visited after reopening during COVID when tickets for 2-hr slots are in place. Called the museum and asked how big the museum is and how long do people usually spend. Was told that "most people spend about an hour, but it's really dependent on how thorough you are, but 2 hours are definitely enough, as it's just the perimeter of the building". So I came in and realized it's a 5-hr museum. Yes, I am very thorough in reading the signs, so when they say it's about an hour, I usually think of 2 hours. If they say there is a lot to see here so plan at least 2 hours, then I set aside 4 hours. But it's a huge surprise to learn how many items there are on display. It's the level of confidence conveyed to me that overwhelmed me. So if you have to read everything and are afraid of being kicked out after the 2-hr mark, do NOT visit now.

There is so much to see and absorb at the Mercer Museum. The six stories of collections takes some time to go through. If you enjoy history and appreciate how things were done in the past, you will be glad you visited. The Mercer is in a tall castle. While the building itself is very impressive, the number of devices displayed is incredible. Allow 2-3 hours and be prepared to read. The castle is dimly lit. The exhibit off the lobby was on artists from Bucks County. It was my favorite part of the museum and I took numerous photos of the art. It is almost completely handicap accessible. There is plenty of parking and the grounds surrounding are lovely.

One of the more interesting museums I have been to - not only the very specific focus on the devices and tools used historically by all kinds of workers and craftspeople (including tools used in farming, hat making, weaving, hunting, tin working, shoemaking, wheelmaking etc etc), but the way in which the artifacts were displayed. In addition to rooms along the periphery of the museum devoted to various crafts and trades, the center is essentially a 7 story exhibition space with all sorts of artifacts suspended so that one can look at them as one travels up or down the museum floors. It is an almost surreal effect and quite engaging. There are staff present to answer questions who are very friendly. I would say this is a can’t miss if you are visiting the area!

WEAR A COAT! I did not know that this museum did not have heat.  On a cold blustery day, we ventured to visit.  I enjoyed the Charles M. Schultz exhibit and then we went up the stairs to begin the Mercer exhibit.  I didnt realize it was like a dungeon.  Cold damp and I started shivering.  I stayed on the floor for as long as i could take it and then left my husband to enjoy the exhibits and headed to the cafe to warm up.  So awfully interested in Henry Mercer, but not at the expense of my health.  What a shame the museum did not come w/ heated overcoats to wear while viewing! --            

We spent two hours on a Sunday wandering through the seven levels of the Mercer Museum. If you enjoy stepping into the past and imagining life over 100 years ago then this is the place for you. The collection of tools, transportation and machinery is well laid out as you go from level to level. I left with a deeper appreciation of how previous generations had to work hard for many things we take for granted today!