Hershey
A town built around a chocolate factory from 1903, whose founder left the entire company to a school for orphaned children.
Updated 30 August 2026
Milton Hershey built the factory here in 1903 in dairy country and then built the town around it - housing, schools, a trolley system, a bank - on the argument that workers would produce better if they lived well. In 1909 he and his wife founded a school for orphaned boys, and in 1918, after her death, he quietly transferred essentially his entire personal fortune, the controlling interest in the company, into the trust that funds it; the school still owns the controlling stake today and educates children from low-income families. Hersheypark grew from a picnic ground for employees into a large amusement park with over a dozen coasters. Streetlights on Chocolate Avenue are shaped as wrapped and unwrapped Kisses.
What to look for
- A company town built from 1903 - housing, schools, transport.
- A school that owns the company - Hershey gave it his controlling stake.
- Hersheypark - grown from an employee picnic ground.
- Kiss-shaped streetlights - alternately wrapped and unwrapped.
When to go
May to September for the park; December for the Christmas programme. A full day.
Practical notes
The factory itself is not open - the chocolate tour is a simulated ride. Hersheypark is a separate and expensive ticket. Summer weekends are packed. Off season much of the park is closed.
Nearby
Harrisburg is west; Lancaster County is south.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q868666, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Hershey
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All packing kitsPlan your trip
Where to start if Hershey is going on the list.
Booking links on this page are affiliate links - if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write about a place.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
