The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers,
Lee and Karen Duquette enjoyed the amazing
Roadside America Indoor Miniature Village
in Shartlesville, PA
June 8, 2017

FYI: While in Pennsylvania, the two RV Gypsies parked their RV at Quakerwoods Campground in Allentown, PA. If you are interested in the campground photos and comments, here is the link to the campground, otherwise, continue scrolling down this page for the amazing miniature village.

FYI: Just before arriving at Roadside America Indoor Miniature Village, the two RV Gypsies saw the nearby Blue Mountain Family Restaurant and stopped to eat. If you are interested in the restaurant comments, here is the link for the restaurant otherwise, continue scrolling down this page for the amazing miniature village.

Roadside America is an indoor miniature village and railway covering 8,000 square feet, created by Laurence Gieringer in 1935.

It was first displayed to the public in the home of Mr Laurence Gieringer in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Word got out about the exciting miniature village after a story was published in the local newspapers, and due to its popularity, Mr. Gieringer moved the display to a local amusement park called Carsonia Park (that is now closed), where more people could come to see his spectacular miniature village. The display stayed there for a very short time, from 1938 to about 1940 when Mr. Gieringer purchased land at the current site of Roadside America to build a larger display in order to accommodate the growing interest. In 1941 the exhibit reopened at the current location in Shartlesville, Pennsylvania, Exit 23 on Interstate 78, approximately 20 miles west of the Lehigh Valley.

The display contained;

• A 7,450 square foot, fully landscaped displaying over 300 miniature structures

• Up to 18 trains, trolleys and cable cars running throughout the display

• 10,000 hand-made trees

• 4,000 miniature people engaged in everyday daily pursuits

• Many rivers, streams and waterways

• Interactive animations such as a circus parade, construction workers, saw mill workers and more, that can be activated by visitors.

• Scale is 3/8 of an inch to one foot.

• All trains are "O" gauge

• 600 miniature light bulbs

The display is constructed with

• 21,500 feet of electrical wiring

• 17,700 board feet of lumber

• 6,000 feet of building paper

• 4,000 feet of sheet metal under the plaster work

• 2,250 feet of railroad track

• 648 feet of canvas for waterproofing

• 450 feet of pipe

• 18,000 pounds of plaster

• 4,000 pounds of sheet iron

• 900 pounds of nails

• 600 pounds of rubber roofing material

• 75 pounds of dry paint

• 75 gallons of liquid paint

• 225 bushels of moss

• 25 bags of cement

• Three barrels of screened sawdust

• Three barrels of tar

Roadside America has remained unchanged since Gieringer died in 1963.

The walls had great paintings on them that enhanced the village, but the two RV Gypsies really liked the Statue of Liberty and the USA flag, which is not surprising since they are both Military Veterans.

Below: As Karen Duquette was going up the stairs to view the miniature village from the walkway above, Lee Duquette asked Karen to turn around so he could take her picture. Once she got up there, she took a few photos looking down upon the very large miniature village. There was also an elevated viewing walkway on the other side of the room.

Below: The view from the elevated walkway on the other side of the room

Below: The view looking from the back of the room to the front

The photo below on the right is a close up of part of the circus shown in the below photo on the left.

Below: Close- up of some buildings in the photo above

Below: View of the waterfall area from across the room and the view from behind the waterfall

Below: Anthracite Mine and interactive coal ladder

Below: zoomed in images of some of the items in the above photo

small, live goldfish were
swimming in the pond

Unfortunately Roadside America's Indoor Miniature Village closed permanently in March 2020 due to the pandemic. In January 2021, hundreds of Gieringer's miniatures, displays, and signs were auctioned off, including the friendly waving Amish couple. (quote from RoadsideAmerica.com) Lee and Karen Duquette are so glad they got to see this amazing place before it closed.

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