Welcome to the American Maple Museum
The American Maple Museum is your one-stop source for the history, the people, and the equipment behind North American maple syrup making. Before you head to Croghan, dive into the world of the museum — the three floors of exhibits, the sugar house replica, the Hall of Fame, and the pancake breakfast — and plan your visit without bouncing between half a dozen tourism sites.
The American Maple Museum is as much a community gathering place as it is a museum: founded in 1977 by local maple producers in Lewis County, New York, it preserves over three centuries of the North American maple syrup industry — from Indigenous techniques to plastic tubing and stainless-steel evaporators in use today. If you love working museums, regional craft, and the smell of sap boiling down to syrup, this is the trip for you.
About the Museum
Created by Mel Yoder, Robert and Florence Lamb, and a handful of other Lewis County maple producers, the American Maple Museum follows a small Adirondack-foothills museum's classic arc — three floors, nine rooms, decades of donated equipment, and a fierce volunteer base. Housed in the former Leo Memorial School in Croghan, the museum is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and recognized by the North American Maple Syrup Council and the International Maple Syrup Institute. Read more about us
The Tour, in Brief
Three floors of self-guided exhibits with audio-tape narration. The first floor holds the sugar house replica, the equipment room, and the American Maple Hall of Fame. The second floor covers early syrup-making techniques, containers, and sugar molds. The third floor is given over to logging — tools, a lumber camp kitchen replica, and a period office. Plan two hours for a thorough visit. See the full tour
The Maple Hall of Fame
Every year at our opening ceremonies in May, two people — selected by the North American Maple Syrup Council — are inducted into the American Maple Hall of Fame. Members come from across the United States and Canada and are honored for their contributions to the maple syrup industry. The 2025 class: David Hamilton (New Castle, Indiana) and Timothy Wilmot (Underhill, Vermont). More on the Hall of Fame
Hours & Admission
The museum opens for the season on Memorial Day and runs through early September. Memorial Day to June 30: Friday, Saturday, and Monday, 11 AM – 4 PM. July through early September: daily except Sunday, 11 AM – 4 PM. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 5–12, free for under 5, and $10 for a family. Group and school rates available. Full hours and admission
Pancake Breakfast
The museum's signature event — a Sunday pancake breakfast served in our own dining room by volunteers, featuring pure maple syrup made the way the exhibits describe. The breakfast is the museum's major fundraiser; the recipes are roughly what they have been since 1977. More on the pancake breakfast
Recognition & Awards
An official New York State Path Through History site, recipient of the 2017 MUSE Award, and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The museum is a non-profit; admissions, the gift shop, the pancake breakfasts, and donations are what keep us running.
What People Are Saying
"A neat museum with several floors of exhibits featuring a self-guided audio tour. Really good day trip." — Yelp review
"The museum itself surpassed our expectations. The self-guided tour is very informative and they have many fascinating maps and artifacts. We loved the gift shop as well and loaded up with lots of locally made maple products." — Tripadvisor
Find Us
American Maple Museum · 9756 State Route 812 · Croghan, NY 13327 · (315) 346-1107. Located in Lewis County in the Adirondack foothills, about 40 minutes east of Watertown. Directions and parking