Plan Your Visit

Historic mill, welcome center, and springhouse among green trees and millpond

There’s always something new to do at the Mill! Monthly milling demonstrations show the Mill operating as it did in the mid-18th century, with hands-on activities for children. Our docents offer tours on a range of topics, and when the Mill is closed the public is welcome to walk the trails on our beautiful 22-acre grounds.

Visit highlights

  • Wooden gears driving production of flour in historic mill

    Milling demonstrations

    Come see our 275-year-old mill in operation on the second Saturday of each month from April through December!

    See the Mill in motion, feel and hear the thunder of its mighty water wheel, wooden gears, and grinding stones as our Millers grind the grist that makes our flour and meal.  It's a chance to meet our Miller and hear him talk about how the original wooden gears work and what they do.

    There are hands-on interactive activities for the children as they sift flour, and the opportunity to buy stone-ground flour and cornmeal produced by the Mill!

    View schedule of upcoming demonstrations

  • Bench in lush green setting next to pond

    Public trails

    Even when the Mill is closed, there are still things to do! Our beautiful 22-acre grounds are open to walkers, joggers, and picnickers from Dawn to Dusk (provided there is not a private event in session).

    Enjoy the lush scenery, abundant wildlife, and changing seasons as you walk our mile of trails along a historical railroad bed, Mill Pond, and the Pickering Creek.

    Check out our trail map: Lenape Trails at Anselma.

  • Red and gray wood visitor's center at Mill at Anselma

    Private group tours

    We customize tours to your group’s interests and time constraints to create a unique experience. These group tours may be scheduled any day of the week April through December. (See tour topics below for areas of interest.)

    Standard admission fees apply and must be paid two weeks in advance of the tour. For more information or to schedule a tour, please see the guide below.

    View our Private Group Tours Guide

A tour for every interest

  • Historic house and springhouse surrounded by green grass and trees

    General

    Provides an overview of the Mill, its history and operations, as well as the miller's house, providing insight into how they lived.

  • Interior of historic mill with 18th century engineering

    Technology

    Focuses on the original milling technology and the revolutionary (for the times) innovations that were added over the years to improve production.

  • Collection of antique equipment, tools and artifacts

    Artifacts

    Introduces the visitor to some of the interesting tools, equipment, and other artifacts in the Mill's collection dating back 100+ years.

What visitors are saying

  • “Very interesting piece of local history. The volunteers here are amazing, they really make for an outstanding experience.”

    Bill A.

  • “Awesome hidden gem historic mill....very knowledgeable volunteers and impressive working mill equipment.”

    Patty O.

  • “Great history! Love the trails. We saw lots of animal life! Beautiful property.”

    Laura C.

  • “This is a must visit -- one of the few working grist mills in the USA, in an excellent state of preservation. An idyllic location”

    Adam F.

  • "Fascinating place to visit. Experience the ingenuity of our ancestors. The guides are very knowledgeable. Worth a stop. "

    Ruth W.

  • "Awesome place, I would recommend this place to anyone interested in our country's history or simply antique equipment."

    Matt M.

  • "Takes you back in time. The volunteer guides tell a wonderful story about the mill and how it operated over hundreds of years."

    Harm S.

  • "Beautiful and interesting site. Knowlegable and friendly guides. Something to interest everyone, engineers, gardeners, history enthusiasts, children."

    Mary W.

  • "My family loves this historic mill, which is still grinding corn and wheat, and are for sale. There are trails around ponds, too."

    Stephen M.

  • "The best Santa around! Nice low key Christmas celebration. Great place to get beautiful photos. My boys (age 9) are still fascinated by the grain sorter and the mill."

    Judy M.

  • "Being able to see the interior of the mill with all the equipment was fantastic. The mill is really well preserved and still operates as it did 200 years ago. Recommended."

    Dana H.

Introduction to The Mill at Anselma

Take a short virtual tour of The Mill at Anselma, including the Mill and the miller’s house. Today’s miller, Dave Rollenhagen, talks about the original mill machinery that still works today under his expert care. Many thanks to Beth and C. J. Stein for making this video possible.
(Runtime approximately 4 minutes.)

Planning your visit

Hours: The Mill is open on weekends April through December. Operating hours are Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Tours: Public tours are offered on the hour Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Admission: Adults (ages 15 to 61)— $10; Seniors (age 62+)—$5; Youth (ages 5 to 14)—$5; Children (4 years and younger)—Free.

Membership: Become a member and enjoy free admission to the Mill for a year, 10% discount at the Gift Shop, and more!

Gift Shop: The Mill at Anselma Gift Shop is located in the Visitor Center and is open to visitors when the Mill is open. We offer a variety of our own stone-ground flour and cornmeal, local honey, stoneware, magnets, apparel, books, recipes, and other mementos of your visit.

Restrooms: Restrooms are available in the Visitor Center during hours the Mill is open.

Grounds: When the Mill is closed the grounds are still open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk.

 

Getting here

The Mill at Anselma is located at 1730 Conestoga Road in beautiful Chester Springs, PA, a short drive from Philadelphia.

There is free parking for buses, cars, vans, and shuttles on site. Please follow the prompts, cones, and signs on site to park in the designated area.

Help us ensure The Mill at Anselma continues to educate and inspire visitors and scholars for generations to come.

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