Chester County Celebrates Mushrooms With New Exhibit

In celebration of Mushroom Month in September, the Chester County Welcome Center, at 21 W. Market St. at the Historic Court House, has unveiled a new exhibit. "Visit the Mushroom Capital of the World" will be the featured exhibit through the end of October.

Visitors can learn about the county's Mushroom Trail. Guests and residents can discover where to find the area's favorite mushroom soups and buy fresh mushrooms in southern Chester County and the Kennett Square area.

“It's really exciting to tell people about the local heritage and culture of something unique to Chester County,” said Carrie Harkness, guest services supervisor, to the Daily Local News.

This year, Mushroom Month will be celebrated amid the backdrop of the 40th annual Kennett Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square on Sept. 6-7.

Throughout the exhibit, visitors will find interesting pieces of history from Chester County's longstanding affinity for mushrooms. For example, did you know that Raymond Rettew discovered how to mass-manufacture penicillin using mushrooms? During World War II, Rettew's discovery saved countless lives. According to the exhibit, 90% of the nation's mushrooms during 1943 were produced in West Chester.

Quirky items related to mushroom history are also featured throughout the exhibit area. The New Year's Mushroom Drop in Kennett Square is recognized in a photo, and a mushroom-shaped Disco Ball is displayed. Frequent patrons of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square will also be delighted to view a recipe for Longwood's original mushroom soup.

The exhibit also demystifies the science of growing mushrooms. A 45-minute film produced by the American Mushroom Institute explores their cultivation as well as their distribution in Chester County and the significance of the Mushroom Festival.

Guests can also view live mushrooms growing in the display. Lions Mane/Pom Poms were featured on Aug. 14; the varieties grown change weekly.

The Chester County Welcome Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.