Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum

Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum In addition to our scheduled hours, we are open other times by appointment. Please call the Crawford County Historical Society

Our goal is to preserve the legacy of Meadville's own Keystone View Company, which began business in 1892, and went on to become the world's largest manufacturer of stereoscopic (three-dimensional) materials.

If you're looking for something to add to your wardrobe you can check out our gift shop after your museum tour. Perhaps ...
09/03/2026

If you're looking for something to add to your wardrobe you can check out our gift shop after your museum tour. Perhaps a new tee shirt or a tri-cornered hat is just what you're looking for.

The Keystone View Co. 'scope factory is in the background, and the smaller building is the drying kiln where lumber was ...
08/27/2026

The Keystone View Co. 'scope factory is in the background, and the smaller building is the drying kiln where lumber was dried before being used for stereoscopes and cabinets. Our museum is currently open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 4, so stop by to learn more about the world's largest stereoscopic company.

Thank you to our wonderful community for your support during Crawford Gives!
08/25/2026

Thank you to our wonderful community for your support during Crawford Gives!

From August 19 - 21 Crawford Gives is an easy way to donate to 200+ organizations, including the Johnson-Shaw Stereoscop...
08/19/2026

From August 19 - 21 Crawford Gives is an easy way to donate to 200+ organizations, including the Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum. For more information go to www.crawfordgives.org

Nowadays people tend to build brick or cement block factories, but the Keystone View Company started out with factories ...
08/13/2026

Nowadays people tend to build brick or cement block factories, but the Keystone View Company started out with factories made of wood. Stop by on Friday, Saturday or Sunday from 10 to 4 to learn more about the world's largest stereoscopic company.

Sometimes Keystone photos were used over many years. These 2 views at our color tinting tableau show the mounting color ...
08/06/2026

Sometimes Keystone photos were used over many years. These 2 views at our color tinting tableau show the mounting color changed, and 1 image seems darker, but the photo of oranges kept being printed. Stop by Friday through Sunday from 10 to 4 to learn more.

The backs of a recently donated set of Keystone stereoviews has the title in 6 languages. Some views list offices in Eng...
07/30/2026

The backs of a recently donated set of Keystone stereoviews has the title in 6 languages. Some views list offices in England and Australia, but were views sold in many more countries? Stop by Saturday from 10 to 4 to learn about Keystone in Meadville.

07/25/2026

Three boys. Three viewers. Zero pamphlets.

Something clicked at the Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum that afternoon that a worksheet never could. Hands on the device. Eyes locked on a scene from before they were born! No adult narrating what they were supposed to feel.

The museum field (and others) call it Tactile Encoding.

The brain holds onto what the hands have touched far longer than what the eyes have scanned. Think of your grandfather's pocket watch. You can still recall its weight before you knew a single fact about it. That is not just sentiment. That is memory doing what memory does when the body is involved.

Passive retrieval gives you the fact. Active contact gives you the feeling, and feelings are what stick - which is why the stereoscope (or at a View Master in this particular exhibit in the Stereoscopic Museum) in a child's hands is not a novelty. It is civic infrastructure. The kid who holds Meadville in 1895 through a stereoscope is the adult who notices when the storefront comes down in 2045 đź“·

Visit the Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum Fridays through Sundays from 10am-4pm - 423 Chestnut Street, Meadville.

Some people believe their stereoviews got warped as they aged, but during the manufacturing process Keystone workers pla...
07/23/2026

Some people believe their stereoviews got warped as they aged, but during the manufacturing process Keystone workers placed flat views between two curved wood pieces before locking them in a press to form that warp. Stop by the museum to learn more.

I don't know if Mount Vernon currently has benches on its lawn, but it did when a Keystone photographer took this image....
07/16/2026

I don't know if Mount Vernon currently has benches on its lawn, but it did when a Keystone photographer took this image. Stop by and see our American Revolution in 3-D display – during July we're open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 to 4.

Address

423 Chestnut Street
Meadville, PA
16335

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18147204306

Website

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