History

The Milesburg Museum and Historical Society was chaptered in September 1996 with the purpose of discovering, collecting, preserving, and presenting the cultural heritage of the people of Milesburg.

From Milesborough to Milesburg

Col. Samuel Miles purchased the land that would become Milesburg in 1792 and a year later, his brother, Richard Miles, mapped out the town of Milesborough. Milesborough was officially established in Mifflin County, (Centre County was not formed until 1800), on March 13, 1797.

In 1827, the spelling was changed to Milesburgh, and in 1843, was granted borough status. It wasn’t until September 20, 1893 that the borough was granted the Milesburg name we know today.

Milesburg’s Founding Fathers

Col. Samuel Miles was commissioned in the Continental Army from 1776 - 1790. He started the ironworks at Centre Furnace in State College in 1791 as a joint venture with James Dunlap and John Patton. Miles sent his two sons, Joseph and James along with his two brothers, James and Richard to the area that would become Milesburg in 1793. In addition to the iron works at Centre Furnace, Miles also built the iron works at Harmony Forge and the town of Milesburg soon grew, populated by the iron workers drawn to the ore-rich land on the banks of Spring and Bald Eagle creeks. At that time, this valley contained the source of purest iron ore in the world. Joseph and James Miles carried on the iron works business until 1825 when Joseph Green became a partner. The Harmony Forge iron works continued until 1898.

The Hannah Green Meeting House

Hannah M. Green was born Hannah Miles in Brush Valley in 1773.  Her father was James Miles, brother of Col. Samuel Miles that founded Milesburg.  Hannah married Samuel Green but was widowed in August of 1798 before her son, Samuel was born in December 1798.  The first meetings of the Milesburg Baptist church were held in Hannah’s home in 1821.

The Hannah Green Meeting House, circa 1793 was purchased on March 18, 1999 and has become the home of the Milesburg Museum to maintain a collection of artifacts, provide a research and genealogy library, and develop and present educational programs for the community.