Unlocking History at the Gettysburg Mercantile Museum

John Buchheister owns the Gettysburg Mercantile Museum, a unique 1800s general store guided tour located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

For John, opening the Gettysburg Mercantile Museum was a long-time dream come true. “It has always been a dream of mine to open a Mercantile Museum showcasing the wonderful inventions of the century and teaching how things were done,” he shared.

About Gettysburg Mercantile Museum

With over 1,000 items dating from 1800-1899 on display, the museum offers an immersive experience for locals and visitors alike. The tour guides speak about inventions of the 1800s, the merchants, and townspeople from Gettysburg, PA.

John’s vision to transport locals and tourists back in time first came to life in 2016, when he opened a mercantile and sutler store. And in 2023, he opened the Gettysburg Mercantile Museum & Goose Bros. Gettysburg Ice Cream Parlor.

Challenges of running a historical museum 

Making his dream a reality wasn’t without its challenges. To bring the historic houses back to life from disrepair, John had to do renovations. 

Despite the obstacles that came with doing renovations, John loves being his own boss and advises others thinking about starting a business to “remember that nothing comes easily; if you stumble, keep getting back up and try again!”

Streamlining business processes 

To simplify business operations and eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens, John relies on Patriot Software’s Full Service Payroll. With Patriot, processing payroll and paying employees on time has become a seamless and efficient process. 

“I have been very impressed with the customer service,” John shared. “I had many questions when I first started using Patriot Full Service, and each time I called, I was able to speak with representatives who were very kind and helpful!”

Bringing history back to life

The Gettysburg Mercantile Museum serves as a testament to John and his team’s dedication to preserving and sharing history. Through its guided tours and authentic collection, visitors can step back in time to the 1800s. 

And thanks to Patriot’s Full Service Payroll, John can focus on the thing he’s most proud of—bringing history back to life every day—instead of running payroll.

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