Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Compass Inn Museum is located in Laughlintown, Pennsylvania, in the scenic Laurel Highlands region of Westmoreland County. You can find the museum at 1386 U.S. Route 30 East, Laughlintown, PA 15655, conveniently situated along the historic Lincoln Highway.

    Just about 65 miles east of Pittsburgh, the museum is easily accessible by car and makes an ideal stop for travelers exploring southwestern Pennsylvania. Its location along one of America’s earliest transcontinental roads adds to its historical significance, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts, families, and tourists alike.

    Whether you're planning a day trip or a weekend getaway in the Laurel Highlands, the Compass Inn Museum offers a unique glimpse into 18th- and 19th-century travel and life.

  • The Ligonier Valley Historial Society and Compass Inn Museum is aproximately 1 hour or 65 miles from Pittsburgh making our site a perfect day trip or weekend getaway stop in the Laurel Highlands Region.

  • Compass Inn Museum will strive to accommodate your needs.

    Please contact us in advance of your visit so that we may have our ramps placed for your arrival.

    • Limited accessible parking and site access is located at the rear of the property along Weimer Avenue.

    • Historic Compass Inn is a multi-story, log & stone inn constructed in 1799. We try to be as accessible as possible; however, due to the historic nature of the inn, only the first floor is accessible via ramps. These ramps require placement as needed. Therefore, we ask that you call ahead.

    • If you are unable to climb stairs to the second story of the inn, a binder will be provided that contains pictures and information about each room and its content.

    • Restrooms are accessible via ramps.

    • Access to the Museum Shop requires navigating two steps.

    • Walking apparatus are permissible in the historic inn and outbuildings.

    • When entering outbuildings, there is a minimum of one step.

    • Tours of the historic site last 1 to 1 ½ hours and require short periods of walking, stair-climbing, and longer periods of standing. Limited seating in most areas is provided. Walking takes place over uneven stone paths and grassy areas.

    • Only the Museum Shop and restrooms are air-conditioned.

    • During cold weather, only Compass Inn, the Museum Shop, and restrooms are heated, outbuildings are not.

  • Site policies outlined by LVHS & Compass Inn Museum include:

    • Use of Metal Detectors and Hunting for Objects and Artifacts

    • Visitor Photography

    • Service Animals

    • Additional Site Policies

    To read each policy in depth, click this link.

  • No. For the safety of our staff, volunteers, and visitors, we ask that only service animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability are welcome in the historic Compass Inn, outbuildings, and Museum Shop.

    Non-service animals, or pets whose function is to provide comfort or emotional support, are not permitted.

    For the full policy, click here.

  • The Compass Inn Museum offers a wide range of family-friendly activities designed to make history fun, interactive, and engaging for visitors of all ages. Located in Laughlintown, Pennsylvania, this historic stagecoach inn brings the 18th and 19th centuries to life through hands-on experiences and immersive learning.

    Families can enjoy guided tours of the restored inn, where costumed interpreters share stories about early American travel, daily life, and the role of stagecoach stops along the historic Lincoln Highway. Children especially enjoy seeing authentic artifacts, period furnishings, and learning how travelers lived long before modern conveniences.

    Throughout the year, the Compass Inn Museum hosts family-friendly events, living history programs, Stagecoach Adventurers Summer Day Camp, youth group tours/field trips, and workshops.