About
Mountain Lake Park Ticket Office Museum is a volunteer-run museum in the original ticket office of Mountain Lake Park's Bashford Amphitheater, in the town's historic district along G Street. The Mountain Lake Park Historical Association runs it to tell the story of the Chautauqua resort founded here in 1881, and it makes a natural starting point for exploring the historic district.
From Ticket Booth to Museum
The ticket office once admitted crowds to the 5,000-seat Bashford Amphitheater, whose architectural details it shared and whose stage hosted speakers including President Taft, William Jennings Bryan and the magician Carter the Great. The amphitheater was taken down in the 1940s and its lumber reused to build houses, including 307 G Street next to the ticket office. After a renovation and redesign, the museum reopened in the summer of 2023 with exhibits curated by association volunteers.
What You'll See
- Original postcards written by travelers during the resort era
- The story of the amphitheater and its inverted-truss design, which needed no center supports
- Early-1900s trophies and memorabilia from the Mountain Lake Park Tennis Club, the town's oldest institution
- Historic photographs, documents and an interactive monitor about the town and its people
- Youth and adult audio tours produced by docents and volunteers
Before You Go
Visits are arranged by appointment: send the association a message through its website with your preferred dates and party size. Free Historic District maps for self-guided walking or driving tours are available at the museum, and collectibles and books are sold to support it.
Pair your visit with a stroll through the historic district for a fuller picture of Mountain Lake Park's resort days.
Address
301 G St, Oakland, MD 21550