Reviews

  Our "family" wasn't teens - it was a senior citizen mother, and "kids" in our 60s.
Saw this in a DK travel book and thought we'd give it a... read more shot. We only had an hour before closing - so we went back for two more hours!
Outstanding collection of clocks, watches. The building is impressive, with everything thoughtfully displayed and described.
Staff is very committed to the collection, history, and sharing fun details.
My mother worked at Gruen Watch Company - there is an entire case of them.
Tall clocks, table clocks, mantel clocks, water clocks. Gorgeous, historical, fun.
The shop is fun, too.
Heads-up: the clock sale is in July!

  Surprisingly comprehensive collection - What a pleasant surprise. This place is located in a modest residential area and you might drive past it without realizing what's inside. There are THOUSANDS of preserved and often... read more unique clocks and watches here. Many of the ornate and majestic grandfather clocks leave you staring and in awe. The collection of historic pocket watches that ran American railroads during the heyday of the US rail system has to be unequaled anywhere. Everything is displayed and presented for easy viewing. Really a neat place for horology buffs, and history buffs too. Highly recommended.

  Phenomenal collection of time pieces and their history - The National Watch and Clock Museum is a phenomenal collection of time pieces of all types and sizes from all eras since mechanical clocks were first made. The word "national"... read more in its name derives from the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors whose members pooled their collections and created a unique educational enterprise. Today, there may be over 15,000 items in the collection spanning more than five centuries. The detailed descriptions provided for both large sections and individual items are most impressive. I had planned two hours for my visit, but I should have allowed the whole day. Many f the clocks are actually running and chime at appropriate times. By chance, six visitors converged on the Engle Clock, AKA the Monumental Clock at the same time a member of staff was passing, and he gave us a full demonstration of the intricacies of this floor to ceiling construction that includes multiple moving figures, music, and biblical and revolutionary War history. Near the end of the well organized passage through the exhibits, one sees the role clocks and watches play a role in modern industry, whether entertainment or automobile. This contrasts with earlier exhibits showing the importance of clockwork in navigation. This was an afternoon well spent.

  AWESOME! - When we visited Columbia recently, we were told to go to this museum. Holy cow, am I glad we did! This is an incredibly interesting place, with grandfather... read more clocks and watches dating back to the seventeenth century! There are also other types of clocks, as in wall clocks, and even sun dials on display.
An absolutely must see is the "Eighth Wonder of the World" grandfather clock, and be sure to have a guide talk about it and demonstrate it for you. Honestly, you won't believe your eyes and the history behind it.
We spent three hours in here browsing and reading about all the clocks from the different time periods, and we could have spent at least another half hour doing that. Clearly, one has to enjoy this sort of thing to really appreciate it, but I really think it's worth the time. There's also a gift shop which offers a variety of clock and non-clock items. If you've never been here before, this is a must see.

  A must-see if you're in the area - Very interesting and informative tour. Huge and varied collection of time-keeping pieces. Staff was friendly and helpful. Facility was spotless and a pleasure visit. Entire... read more family including adult children enjoyed it.

  Fun, educational, must see this museum - My fourth trip to this great museum. So many clocks on display, especially old mechanical clocks from a different world than today. They are engineering wonders, works of art, whimsical... read more toys, and more. They have clocks from giant clocktowers on display, still running. I go to this museum every time I pass through Lancaster county.

  Oh my, such an interesting museum. Massive Grandfather clocks, smaller wall clocks...from all over the world. The intricacies of these treasures are just mind boggling. Such workmanship would be... read more hard to find in this modern world. Why isn't this amazing, historical collection in a larger city, such as NY or DC?? Once you find it, you will so glad you did.

  A place to get lost in time - Absolutely fantastic place! Allow at least 2-3 hours. Don't miss the demonstration of Engle clock with literally hundreds of moving parts.

  Fun way to tick away the time - Got to see the Engle clock demonstration it was really cool. It happens twice a day and the docent explaining it wandered through the museum inviting people to see it.... read more Very strange to be in a room with that much ticking but a very cool exhibit. There are older mechanisms and a few older timepieces that I found fascinating that incorporated mirrors and artwork