Membership

Through your generosity, we can continue to create lasting connections to Renfrew’s distinctive character and dynamic heritage through unique experiences, fostering a meaningful sense of place for visitors of all ages.

Our History

The property now known as “Renfrew” was conveyed by William Penn’s sons, via a land grant, to the Stoner family, German immigrants who arrived in present-day Franklin County in 1743. Abraham Stoner (1745-1824) briefly rented the farm to the Scotch-Irish Renfrew family in the mid-eighteenth century. Stoner’s daughter, Catherine (1769-1858), wed tanner Daniel Royer (1762-1838) who, along with their descendants, created a burgeoning cottage industry on 150 acres in the Cumberland Valley. Firmly rooted in their Pennsylvania German heritage, the Royers were also quintessentially American; their story closely mirrors the narrative of our young nation with central themes of industriousness, ingenuity, and innovation. By the close of the nineteenth century, the property boasted two successful farmsteads, a tannery, gristmill, lime kiln, and several outbuildings. Later occupants of the site placed their own marks on the landscape, resulting in a varied built environment with unique structures spanning the Federal to Edwardian Eras.

Renfrew’s final private residents were Edgar A. (1882-1965) and Emma K. Geiser Nicodemus (1892-1973). Married in December 1943 at the ages of 61 and 51 respectively, they proceeded to lovingly restore the then dilapidated property. Their historic farm was bequeathed to the Borough of Waynesboro, as a gift to its citizens, following Emma’s death on July 7, 1973. It was through the generosity of Emma and her sister, Hazel F. Geiser (1885-1971), that Renfrew formally opened for tours on May 15, 1975. Daughters to Norris D. and Adeline Filbert Geiser, the sisters were heiresses to Waynesboro’s very own Geiser Manufacturing Company, a nineteenth century producer of industrial farm implements.

Now, with over two centuries of history, much of the landscape remains unchanged. Its distinctive character and dynamic cultural heritage sets Renfrew apart as an important historic site in Franklin County. As an institution, Renfrew offers visitors an intimate view of the past, allowing everyone to discover how the agriculture, industry, and domestic life of the Early American Period worked together to make a prosperous Pennsylvania German farmstead. Over the years, Renfrew has grown as a cultural institution with its mission increasing in scale and scope far beyond Emma’s original concept. Research and restoration has resulted in an expansive campus including several restored buildings, structures, and features, walking trails, gardens, recreation areas, and more. Because of its significance in telling the story of early America from a local perspective, the “Royer-Nicodemus House and Farm” were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1976.

Why Be a Member? Your Support Makes a Difference!

Emma filled her restored Federal era farmhouse with a personally curated collection of Early American decorative arts dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Those who knew her best said she just collected what she liked. With no formal art history training or antiques expertise, Mrs. Nicodemus relied on her own good taste along with advice from close friends and fellow collectors to develop a keen eye for the historic and beautiful, hand-selecting pieces to furnish her period home. Her eclectic collection of antiques grew to include fine ceramics, folk art, silver, furniture, textiles, toys, books, and more.

Today, Emma’s antiques form the core of Renfrew’s museum collection of nearly five thousand artifacts. With special emphasis on decorative arts, domestic life, agriculture, and craft of the Early American Period (1790-1830), Renfrew Museum and Park serves as a repository for artifacts that tell the story of our young nation’s growth from a local point of view. Highlights of Renfrew’s diverse holdings include a mixture of Pennsylvania German dower chests, fraktur, chalkware, and scherenschnitte displayed alongside early English Staffordshireware, Canton China, and Federal Era Baltimore furniture. Included also are locally made tall case clocks by Waynesboro artisans Jacob Wolf and Peter Grumbine, along with historic folk pottery by the Bell family.

Since 1975, Renfrew Museum and Park has served the community by preserving, interpreting, and educating others about its historic Pennsylvania German farmsteads, Early American decorative arts collection, built environment, and cultural landscapes. Renfrew relies on the support of our members to continue its ongoing mission and invites you to become part of the Renfrew Family. 

Renfrew Museum and Park…cultivating inspiration for today, harvesting a shared history for tomorrow.

Members of Renfrew Museum and Park enjoy special benefits that help get the most out of experiences at their favorite farmstead. Discover Renfrew in new ways, be the first to know about events and institutional initiatives, gain exclusive access to our collections, historic buildings, fresh content, and more.

“Cultivate Inspiration” with us by purchasing a Renfrew Membership. Choose the level that’s right for you and join today!

Individual – $30

Benefits extended to one (1) named adult age 18+

• Quarterly Newsletter mailed to your home or business
• 10% discount in Museum Shop
• Unlimited admission to General Farmstead Tours during our regular season (mid-April through mid-October)
• Free or reduced admission to most lectures, presentations, programs, events, and workshops (excludes fundraiser events)
• Time Travelers reciprocal membership network – Enjoy benefits for over 400 museum and historic sites around the country!
• Invitations to Members-Only Events

Family – $75

Benefits extended to four (4) people: includes two (2) named adults & up to two (2) guests

• Quarterly Newsletter mailed to your home or business
• 10% discount in Museum Shop
• Unlimited admission to General Farmstead Tours during our regular season (mid-April through mid-October)
• Free or reduced admission to most lectures, presentations, programs, events, and workshops (excludes fundraiser events)
• Time Travelers reciprocal membership network – Enjoy benefits for over 400 museum and historic sites around the country!
• Invitations to Members-Only Events

Supporting – $150

Benefits extended to six (6) people: includes two named (2) adults & up to four (4) guests

• Quarterly Newsletter mailed to your home or business
• 10% discount in Museum Shop
• Unlimited admission to General Farmstead Tours during our regular season (mid-April through mid-October)
• Free or reduced admission to most lectures, presentations, programs, events, and workshops (excludes fundraiser events)
• Time Travelers reciprocal membership network – Enjoy benefits for over 400 museum and historic sites around the country!
• Invitations to Members-Only Events

Contributor – $250 (formerly Renfrew Society Level)

Benefits extended to up to eight (8) people: includes two (2) named adults & up to six (6) guests

• Quarterly Newsletter mailed to your home or business
• 20% discount in Museum Shop
• Unlimited admission to General Farmstead Tours during our regular season (mid-April through mid-October)
• Free or reduced admission to most lectures, presentations, programs, events, and workshops (excludes fundraiser events)
• Time Travelers reciprocal membership network – Enjoy benefits for over 400 museum and historic sites around the country!
• Invitations to Members-Only Events
• Complementary Renfrew Tote Bag

Patron – $500 

Benefits extended to up to ten (10) people: includes two (2) named adults & up to eight (8) guests

• Quarterly Newsletter mailed to your home or business
• 20% discount in Museum Shop
• Unlimited admission to General Farmstead Tours during our regular season (mid-April through mid-October)
• Free or reduced admission to most lectures, presentations, programs, events, and workshops (excludes fundraiser events)
• Time Travelers reciprocal membership network – Enjoy benefits for over 400 museum and historic sites around the country!
• Invitations to Members-Only Events
• Complementary Renfrew Tote Bag
• 50% OFF one pavilion rental during the regular tour season (mid-April trough mid-October 15 only). Reduced rate of $50 applied to first four (4) hours of rental reservation only. Additional hours charged at regular rate of $25. Subject to availability. First come, first serve. Please review Pavilion Rentals page for details.

Cultivator – $1000 

Benefits extended to up to twelve (12) people: includes two (2) named adults & up to ten (10) guests

• Quarterly Newsletter mailed to your home or business
• 20% discount in Museum Shop
• Unlimited admission to General Farmstead Tours during our regular season (mid-April through mid-October)
• Free or reduced admission to most lectures, presentations, programs, events, and workshops (excludes fundraiser events)
• Time Travelers reciprocal membership network – Enjoy benefits for over 400 museum and historic sites around the country!
• Invitations to Members-Only Events
• Complementary Renfrew Tote Bag
• One (1) free pavilion rental during the regular tour season (mid-April trough mid-October 15 only).  Subject to availability. First come, first serve. Please review Pavilion Rentals page for details.
• Behind-the-Scenes VIP Tour with the Executive Director for up to twelve (12) guests, once per year. Subject to availability. Please contact office to request scheduling.

Lifetime (existing members only, no longer offered)

Benefits extended to twelve (12) guests: includes two (2) named adults & up to ten (10) guests

One-time payment receives annual benefits.

• • Quarterly Newsletter mailed to your home or business
  • 20% discount in Museum Shop
  • Unlimited admission to General Farmstead Tours during our regular season (mid-April through mid-October)
  • Free or reduced admission to most lectures, presentations, programs, events, and workshops (excludes fundraiser events)
  • Time Travelers reciprocal membership network – Enjoy benefits for over 400 museum and historic sites around the country!
  • Invitations to Members-Only Events
  • Complementary Renfrew Tote Bag
  • One (1) free pavilion rental during the regular tour season (mid-April trough mid-October 15 only).  Subject to availability. First come, first serve. Please review Pavilion Rentals page for details.
  • Behind-the-Scenes VIP Tour with the Executive Director for up to twelve (12) guests, once per year. Subject to availability. Please contact office to request scheduling.