Trailheads

More Learning Opportunities

2012-02-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

We seem to be on something of a roll here about educational opportunities on the Trails of History (with a brief detour for Groundhog Day, which I guess you could consider a teachable moment). Anyway, we might as well keep it rolling.

If you’re a teacher or librarian in grades K-6 working in the Central Susquehanna or Capital Area Intermediate Unit, you may be interested in the PHMC and Pennsylvania Heritage Society partnership with those IUs. Applicants for the 2012-2013 teacher development program (which will focus on the American Revolution and Constitution periods) are now welcome. There is no tuition fee for the program, which is funded by a Teaching American History grant from the US Department of Education. The deadline to apply is March 2; information and application materials are available here. (Guest blogger Rhonda Newton provided a glimpse of last summer’s program here. Details for this summer’s experience will be different, but this gives you an idea.)

We’ve featured the sailing program of the Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara a number of times, and it always seems to draw interest from Trailheads readers. Recruitment is now underway for high school and college students interested in a unique (yeah, that’s overused, but it fits here) educational experience onboard Niagara(you can find contact info on their website). Students sign up for three-week stints and can, through partnerships between schools and the Flagship Niagara League, receive academic credit. One of the three-week slots has already filled, but enrollment is still available for the following: May 31-June 19 (college level history voyage, which we featured on Trailheads in 2010); June 22-July 12 (high school level voyage); and July 11-31 (college level science voyage). If you’d like to learn first-hand about what students think of this experience, one of last summer’s participants wrote about it for her school newspaper (it was picked up on the “My High School Journalism” blog).

Groundhog Day Plus One

2012-02-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, so now we know what I didn't know when I wrote this on Wednesday. The results were mixed: Punxy Phil says 6 more weeks of winter, but Octoraro Orphie says early spring. We report, you decide.

Also, I want to direct your attention to an introductory interview with PHMC's new executive director, Jim Vaughan, that is now on the PHMC website.

Since I’m writing this on Wednesday, I can’t report on the results of Groundhog Day 2012. Given that it’s 61 degrees here in Harrisburg (on Feb. 1), my money’s on an early spring. But I’ve been wrong before.

The Pennsylvania German roots of our Feb. 2 obsession with whether or not a rodent sees his shadow are fairly well established, although according to Wikipedia (yeah, that’s right) the origins stretch back to ancient pagan practices as well. In southeastern and central Pennsylvania, Grundsow Lodges celebrate the day with social events at which food is served and skits are presented. (That puts me in mind of our 2012 theme of food and foodways in Pennsylvania.) The most famous groundhog is, of course, Punxsutawney Phil, but there are others (not counting the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Gus)—Octoraro Orphie, Susquehanna Sherman, Poor Richard, Dover Doug, and Uni.

This has been such a mild winter so far for most of us that Groundhog Day doesn’t seem to have quite the urgency it does some years. Whether you’re hoping for more winter or an early spring, I hope you’ll take time to learn about some of the history of the day (or watch the movie).

Sweet February

2012-01-27T07:30:00.000-05:00

Image: nixxphotography / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I may have mentioned once or twice on this blog how much I love chocolate. So it should come as no surprise that I have chocolate on my mind as we dive into February (like that’s different from every other month—humor me). Setting that aside for the moment, though, let’s see what’s happening on the Trails of History. Winter is a slower time at many of our sites, so please be sure to check ahead before visiting. Most sites will be closed on Feb. 20 for Presidents Day, but Fort Pitt, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, and the Railroad Museum of PA will be open for ~~chocolate~~ business.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Feb. 19: Lackawanna Audubon Society—member Alan Hughes explores the flora and fauna of Russia.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Feb. 18: Annual Winter Lecture—Jack Giblin, of the US Army Heritage and Education Center, will discuss the history of the battlefield and surrounding area during the two centuries after the Battle of Bushy Run in 1763. Free to Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society members, $5 for non-members.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Feb. 5: Fireside Tales—this popular program is geared to young children (ages 4-8) and their families; today’s program features stories of 18th-century Pennsylvania German and English life in the Oley Valley. Suggested donation of $2 per child; the fireplace in the Wayside Lodge helps warm things up, but dress for the weather and bring a blanket if it’s really cold. (Facebook photos of a previous Fireside Tales program are here.)
Feb. 12: Black History Program—the Homestead will offer a special presentation in honor of Black History Month; check the website for details.

Ephrata Cloister
Through March 29: Winter History Class—held Thursday mornings (started yesterday), this annual enrichment program explores topics related to the site history through lectures and a field trip. Call 717/733-6600 for more information.

Graeme Park
Feb. 12: Colonial Valentine - candlelit tours of the Keith House explore the loves and losses of Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson. Cost is $12 per person, includes refreshments. Call 215/343-0965 for details.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Homeschool Winter Classes—geared for ages 6-17 (some are for age 10-17), these Wednesday morning classes engage students with hands-on activities. Cost is $20 per class or $100 for all six (last class is March 7); 717/569-0401 x228 or c-sbrown@pa.gov for details or to register.
Feb. 4, 11, 18: Folk Art and Friends Craft Classes at the Weathervane Museum Store—these Saturday afternoon classes (which continue in March) explore a variety of traditional crafts. Click here for specifics.
Feb. 11: Victorian Valentine Dinner—start with champagne and chocolates in the Weathervane Museum Store, then take a horse-drawn carriage to the Landis Valley Hotel for a four-course meal accompanied by a strolling violinist. Cost is $140 per couple; call 717/581-0591 for reservations (you can check out the menu here).
Feb. 17-19: Winter Institute—sign up for half-day, one-day, two-day, or three-day traditional craft classes. For details and registration info, go here.
Feb. 25: Heirloom Seed Project workshops—a selection of two-hour sessions including home gardening, raising backyard chickens, fruit trees, and propagation. Call 717/569-0401 x204 for details or to register (which is required).

Old Economy Village
Feb. 14: Special Valentine Dinner—enjoy champagne and a candlelit dinner served in the historic Granary; call 724/266-4500 x101 for reservations ($100 per couple).

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Feb. 1: Memoirs of a Vietnam Veteran—Clyde Hoch, Sergeant, US Marine Corps, recounts his experiences from enlistment to his service as a tank commander in Vietnam to his return home; part of the Friends of PMM Speakers Series.
Feb. 25: Go Tell the Spartans—1978 HBO production (rated R for strong language) starring Burt Lancaster as a career Army officer serving as an advisor within the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam; based on the 1967 novel Incident at Muc Wa by Daniel Ford. Donation requested; part of the Cabin Fever Film Series.

Somerset Historical Center
Feb. 9: Maple Sugar School—participants will learn the basics of maple sugaring from sap to syrup to sugar during this informative program. Cost is $20; contact the site at 814/445-6077 to register. Those interested in pursuing the business of maple production will have the opportunity to continue learning as the spring progresses. (Find more info here.)

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Feb. 12: “Art is an entrée, not a dessert”—opening reception for a juried group exhibition presented by the Susquehanna Art Museum in the DOSHI Gallery at the State Museum; exhibit runs through July 15.
Feb. 18: National Geographic Giant Map of North America—visitors will be able to walk from the Aleutians to the Florida Keys in mere minutes (seconds?) on this 26’ by 35’ map. Presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania Alliance for Geographic Education, the exhibit (through March 15) will also feature large-scale repros of historic Pennsylvania maps from the State Archives. There will be a free preview on Friday evening, Feb. 17, as part of this month’s 3rd in the Burg.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Feb. 18: Washington’s Birthday Celebration—visit the website or Facebook for more information.

Apprenticeships in the Preservation & Traditional Building Trades

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

Continuing our look at educational opportunities, this week's guest blogger is Joe Lauver of the PHMC's Division of Architecture and Preservation. The hiring period for these apprenticeships ends April 30, so don't wait.

Apprentices are instructed in traditional joinery techniques at the apprentice training workshop hosted at Daniel Boone Homestead

Become part of a large and growing sector of the construction industry preserving Pennsylvania’s treasured historic buildings.

PHMC is sponsoring its 7th annual summer apprenticeship program to introduce students and recent graduates of post-secondary trade schools, technical colleges and other training programs, and others with building trades experience to the preservation and traditional building trades needed to preserve Pennsylvania’s historic places. PHMC and several partner organizations and companies will be offering paid apprentice positions for 12 weeks in the summer of 2012 at locations throughout Pennsylvania. The apprenticeships will include a free training program with an introductory one-day seminar in historic preservation and two days of hands-on training by master craftsmen in various preservation and traditional trade skills. More information on the program, including a list of apprenticeship locations, can be found here.

History on Film this Weekend

2012-01-19T11:34:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note that the Knox Mine Disaster program at the Anthracite Heritage Museum this Saturday afternoon will include a screening of the trailer for a new feature-length documentary film, “The Knox Mine Disaster: The End of Anthracite.” For more info on the film, go here.

We're All About Learning

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

I know I’m preaching to the choir on this. I don’t have to tell Trailheads readers that the sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History provide rich learning opportunities and experiences year-round. Visitors to our sites enjoy tours (on their own or with a guide), programs, workshops, festivals, etc. while spending time with family and friends (or making new friends). But this week I’d like to focus on several opportunities for educational development that may be of interest.

The past couple of posts (here and here) have included the Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt developed by PHMC staff for use at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. For those of you who didn’t make it to Harrisburg for the show (it closes tomorrow, so there’s still time), the scavenger hunt booklet is now available online, along with photos of the actual markers. The booklet was developed to engage children and their families in exploring Pennsylvania’s agricultural and food industry heritage. (It is related to PHMC’s 2012 theme, “The Land of Penn and Plenty: Bringing History to the Table,” which will roll out slowly over the next couple of months with the big kickoff scheduled for March.) It’s a fun way to learn some history, not to mention Pennsylvania geography, if you also locate the markers on a map.

Although the deadline is only one week away (January 20), it isn’t too late for undergraduate and graduate students to apply for the Keystone Summer Internship Program. Applicants for these unpaid internships can designate their preferred locations (field sites, the State Museum, or the State Archives) and indicate their areas of interest. Interviews will be scheduled in late winter and early spring with selections made in March. Interns are expected to be in place from May through August, with specific schedules worked out with their intern mentor. To read about the experiences of interns in previous years, go here, here, or here.

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries and PHMC have announced the new Pennypacker Fellowship Program for 2012-13. For those of you who remember PHMC’s Scholars in Residence program, this will function very similarly. The fellowship program will support research on Pennsylvania history that makes significant (though not necessarily exclusive) use of the State Library or a PHMC facility. The application deadline is January 30; notification of awards will be in March. Residencies (up to 8 weeks long with a stipend of $400 per week) can begin May 1, 2012, and must be completed by April 30, 2013. Up to six residencies will be awarded each program year. For more information, go here.

Into the New Year

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2012, Trailheads. I hope you had a lovely wrap-up to 2011 and are ready to charge ahead. Winter tends to be a bit quieter on the Trails of History. Some sites are closed this month and next; some others are running on a reduced schedule. It’s always best to check ahead if you’re planning a visit. Most sites will be closed on Jan. 16 for the Martin Luther King holiday, but Fort Pitt, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will be open.

PHMC will be at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg (starts tomorrow and runs through Jan. 14) with a presence inside the Main Hall and outside in the parking lot. The Bureau for Historic Preservation has developed a Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt (see last week’s post and a photo of staff getting set up here), and the Civil War Road Show will be onsite: Sat., Jan. 7, from 10 am to 6 pm; Sun, Jan. 8, from 11 am to 6 pm; Mon.-Fri., Jan. 9-13, 10 am to 5 pm; and Sat., Jan. 14, 11 am to 5 pm. (Go here for more details.) Admission to the Road Show is free, although the Farm Show charges $10 for parking.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Jan. 15: the annual membership meeting of the Lackawanna Audubon Society will take place at the museum.
Jan. 21: Knox Mine Disaster Program—this annual program examines the events of Jan. 22, 1959, when the Susquehanna River broke through the roof of the Knox Mine at Port Griffith, Luzerne County, flooding it with icy water and killing twelve men.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Jan. 28: Annual Historic Weapons Show—held in cooperation with the Old Westmoreland Rifles and the Collectors Show Association.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Jan. 8: Fireside Tales—young children (ages 4-8) and their families are invited to spend a couple of hours in the Wayside Lodge for some good old-fashioned storytelling. There will be a fire and some light refreshments to help warm you, but dress for the weather and bring an extra blanket or two. Suggested donation.
Jan. 15: Hell or High Water Shoot—reenactors from the First Pennsylvania Regiment will hold their annual winter flintlock shoot using reproduction 18th-century guns.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

Ephrata Cloister
Jan. 26: Winter History Class—this program, which continues on Thursdays through the end of March, provides an in-depth look at the fascinating history of the site, the people who lived there, and the people who’ve studied them; for more information, call 717/733-6600.

Fort Pitt Museum
Jan. 1-15: the Museum will be closed for exhibit maintenance and upgrades; reopens on Jan. 16.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Jan. 14: “You Enter Germany – Bloody Huertgen and the Siegried Line”—this 2007 German documentary chronicles the longest battle (involving American troops) in history using archival footage and interviews with veterans. Donation requested.
Jan. 28: “When Trumpets Fade”—a 1998 HBO film loosely based on combat action of the 112th Infantry, PA National Guard, along the Siegfried Line. This is a great opportunity to see how well the movie (which is rated R for strong language) adheres to the history. Donation requested.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Jan. 15: “The Principles of Peace: Remembering King”—program presented by Nathaniel Gadsden’s Writers Wordshop. Museum admission (and program) free on this day.
Jan. 20: Book signing and 3rd in the Burg—former PA legislator Franklin Kury will be in the State Museum Store to sign copies of “Clean Politics, Clean Streams: A Legislative Autobiography and Reflections.” The program and a reception are sponsored by the Pennsylvania Heritage Society.

A New Farm Show Tradition?

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2012!

Many thanks to Scott Doyle and Karen Galle from the PHMC’s Bureau for Historic Preservation for their contributions to this post.

Consider this a sneak peek at PHMC’s annual theme for 2012, The Land of Penn and Plenty—Bringing History to the Table. Throughout the year, we’ll be highlighting programs, exhibits, and tours at Trails of History sites that deal in some way with food and foodways. But to start things off, PHMC’s Bureau for Historic Preservation has designed a Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt for visitors to the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show, January 7-14 in Harrisburg. (I’ve always associated the Farm Show with food—almost exclusively—so this seems like the perfect match to me.)

BHP staff have selected historical markers with agricultural themes (many of them directly food-related) and developed a booklet to go with them. Student detectives will answer questions in the booklet by finding repros of the markers scattered around the Farm Show Complex. Those who don’t find all the markers while at the Farm Show will be able to finish their hunt at home by visiting ExplorePAHistory.com, a website that uses historical markers as a starting point for learning about Pennsylvania history (including lesson plans for teachers).

PHMC/Historical Marker Dedication

To start your scavenger hunt, visit PHMC’s Farm Show booth in the Family Living Section of the Main Hall from 9 am to 8 pm (find the butter sculpture and head east). In addition to learning about rural and agricultural life, you’ll also be able to see PHMC’s popular dugout canoe and archaeology exhibit. And just for participating in the scavenger hunt, students will receive a History Detective temporary tattoo!

The 2012 Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt is sponsored by Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers, Inc.; Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania; PA Civil War 150; witf; Pennsylvania Heritage Society; and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farm Show.

Stuff to Do Next Week

2011-12-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

You can read an electronic version of the Trailheads feature in Pennsylvania Heritage magazine here (or better yet, you can join the Pennsylvania Heritage Society and get the magazine and other membership benefits).

For all of you out there looking for something to do in the coming week—between holiday celebrations and fighting with your in-laws (just kidding)—here’s a recap of what you’ll find on the Trails of History. All sites (except Washington Crossing) will be closed on Dec. 25. Most sites are closed on Mondays at this time of year, but Eckley Miners’ Village, Fort Pitt, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will be open on Dec. 26 for your visiting pleasure. Given seasonal schedules, I highly recommend checking ahead with the site you want to visit to see if they’ll be open when you plan to be there.

PHMC/Anthracite Heritage Museum

First of all, thanks to the folks at the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces for sharing the photo above. As part of the Museum's annual board, staff, and volunteer luncheon, everyone brought a gift for Toys for Tots. The collected goodies were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps Sub District Recruiting Station in Scranton. Curator John Fielding is shown here with two Marines and several of the new toys collected. I'll also mention that other sites also mix community service with their holiday programs (if I've left out a site, please let me know)--Landis Valley collects non-perishable food items as part of their community bonfire program; Erie Maritime's Christmas Tree ship program collects holiday decorations and scarves/gloves/hats for people who need them; and the Railroad Museum of PA serves as a collection point for Toys for Tots in their community. Thanks, all of you, for all you do.

Ephrata Cloister
Dec. 27-30, Lantern Tours—special evening tours bring the site and its history to life; student historians work with staff to present this perennial favorite. The 2011 tour explores education in a variety of forms at the historic Ephrata Cloister. Reservations are required as the space in each time slot is limited. Call 717-733-6600.

Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara
Flagship Niagara League graphic designer Tim McLaughlin has developed a paper model of Niagara that could be the perfect snowy day project. Click on Paper Niagara Directions, Paper Niagara Sail Plan, and Niagara Paper Ship for the pieces you'll need. If you're in the area, why not visit the ship before or after you build your own?

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Dec. 27 and 28, Winter Camp—help combat school break boredom by attending either or both days of this engaging program. Hands-on activities include open hearth cooking. Registration fee is required (multi-day, multiple child, and member discounts are available); call 717/569-0401 x228 for more details.

Pennsylvania State Archives
If you prefer some armchair history, the staff of the State Archives has selected 15 episodes of Harrisburg broadcaster and historian Pete Wambach’s “This is Pennsylvania” radio program (which aired throughout the state from 1964 to 1985). These seasonal selections (you’ll need to scroll down the page) last about 3 minutes each and include transcriptions.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Dec. 31, Last day to view the exhibit, Rail Traffic Control: Managing the Crossroads of Commerce.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Dec. 29, Noon Year’s Eve—young children and their families can ring in the New Year a little early at this annual event. Included in museum admission; free to museum members.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Dec. 25, Washington Crosses the Delaware—the annual reenactment of the daring move by George Washington and his troops to attack the garrison at Trenton; free of charge.
Dec. 31, 235th Anniversary of the Crossing of the Delaware and the Battle of Trenton—this reenactment event takes troops from Washington Crossing, PA, (or they can join up on the NJ side of the Delaware) to the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton (on foot). Registration is required to participate (the public is invited to watch); go here for more information.

And finally, here’s a YouTube clip from Ephrata Cloister’s Christmas at the Cloister program in 2009. Whatever holiday you’re celebrating, may it be filled with good things.

William Penn's Legacy on the Air

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

As regular readers of Trailheads know, the PHMC's theme for 2011 has been William Penn's Legacy: Religious and Spiritual Diversity (previous posts have covered the theme here and here). So as the year winds down, you have the opportunity to view two symposia sponsored by PHMC and the PA Humanities Council that explored aspects of Pennsylvania's religious heritage. Tomorrow night, December 22, PCN will show the two programs back to back: "William Penn’s Legacy: Does the Holy Experiment Continue?" will air at 7 pm, and "The Abundance of Sacred Places" will follow at 8:35 pm.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

2011-12-16T07:30:00.000-05:00

PHMC/Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, photo by Cindy Reedy

If you’re somewhere in the vicinity of Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum between 6:00 and 8:30 tonight, you might want to stop by for the annual Holidays at Landis Valley event. Traditional Pennsylvania German decorations, plus hot cider and cookies, music from the Lititz Moravian Trombone Choir, and a festive bonfire—what more can you ask for (stop…it’s a rhetorical question)? Admission is free, but if you attend please bring one or more nonperishable food items for the Lancaster Food Bank.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Gov. Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett announced earlier this month that the theme for this year’s decorations at their official residence would be “A Pennsylvania Christmas.” Two Trails of History sites are represented. The Erie Room features a Flagship Niagara Christmas tree, complete with “Don’t Give Up the Ship” flags. Staff from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, as they have done for a number of years now, supplied and set up a model train layout around the Children’s Tree in the State Reception Room (pictured above). To see the Niagara tree and more photos of the Governor’s Residence decorations, visit the First Lady’s Facebook page here.

Still working on that shopping list and hoping that Santa’s elves would give you a hand already? Check out the goodies available from the Anthracite Heritage Museum. The Scranton Times-Leader ran an article as part of its Go Lackawanna feature (which often includes input from museum staff and volunteers) describing the great museum store and its offerings of heritage-themed gifts.

Photo by Ashley Yob via Pennsbury Manor's Facebook page

Pennsbury Manor hosted another successful year of its Holly Nights program (a longstanding Bucks County favorite). More than 2,000 people attended the two-night event, enjoying traditional music, food, decorations, and food. Some visitors enjoyed it so much that they posted their own photos to Pennsbury’s Facebook page (see above).

Although the Delaware River was pretty high last Sunday and it was not safe to row the durham boats over to New Jersey, all other aspects of the dress rehearsal for the annual Christmas crossing went ahead as planned. As you probably know, the event at Washington Crossing Historic Park commemorates the brave venture of Gen. George Washington and his troops on Christmas night 1776 that led to the first Battle of Trenton. The main (modern) event takes place at 1 p.m. on Dec. 25; even if the river doesn’t cooperate, there will be plenty to see.

History Online

2011-12-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

I realized as I was pulling this together that there’s a connecting thread to these items, besides the fact that they all involve Trails-of-History-related online resources. I don’t think it will be too difficult to spot, but the first commenter to point it out gets a free (value $0) subscription to Trailheads.

Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives

The Scranton Public Library has developed, with the help of several partners and funders, the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives, in order to make the region’s history more accessible to the public. The project debuted recently with several online collections, including Out of the Wilderness: The Industrialization and Development of the Scranton Area 1850-1865, which contains “letters, books, paintings, photographs and other artifacts from the era when the Lackawanna Valley emerged from its agrarian beginnings to become an industrial center that powered the torn nation’s war effort.” The Anthracite Heritage Museum contributed (digitally, that is) a collection of letters written by Benton native Ebert Smith (Company B, 177th PA Drafted Militia) to his sister Hannah Thacher in 1862 and 1863 from Camp Seamons (Harrisburg, PA) and Camp Mansfield (Deep Creek, VA). The letters give a sense of the tedium and hardships of camp life but also of Smith’s desire to comment on family news even though he’s off to war. (Want to see Smith’s entry in the muster rolls in the State Archives? Go here. He's the third entry on the page.)

As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, Battle of Lake Erie: Building the Fleet in the Wilderness, a booklet by Rear Adm. Denys W. Knoll, USN (Ret.) of Erie, is now available online, courtesy of the Naval History & Heritage Command and the Naval Historical Foundation. The Battle of Lake Erie and the US Brig Niagara’s pivotal role in it are key elements in any understanding of the War, and Knoll’s booklet provides a solid history. Having it available online will broaden its reach and help Erie Maritime Museum commemorate this important anniversary.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

Ephrata Cloister is featured in the "Properties and Preservation" section of the current issue of New England Antiques Journal. The illustrated article, by Barbara and Ken Beem, provides readers with a brief history of Conrad Beissel’s early life in Germany and migration to Pennsylvania, his attempt to settle himself away from civilization (one might even say “in the wilderness”), and the folks who followed him to what became Ephrata. Lovely publicity, just in time for Ephrata’s Lantern Tours at the end of the month.

Checking My Calendar Twice...Yep, It's December

2011-12-02T07:30:00.016-05:00

Well, here we are with another year drawing to a close. They say that time moves faster the older you get, but this is ridiculous. There’s so much to do. (Breathe.) I hope that in the midst of the busyness, you can spend some time on the Trails of History. As you probably know, site schedules really start to vary this time of year, so be kind to yourself and check ahead to make sure the site you want to visit will be open when you plan to be there. All sites (except Washington Crossing) will be closed on Dec. 25; but otherwise, there are lots of things to see and do. Enjoy.

Photo credit: The Abington Journal

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Dec. 3, 14th Annual Christmas in a Small Town (aka The Santa Train)—the Museum is a partner in this celebration that brings Santa to six communities in the Lackawanna Valley on a train provided by Steamtown National Historic Site. All activities are free, but (unfortunately) train rides for the public are not a feature of the program. For more info, go here. To see a YouTube video of the 2009 Santa Train (and watch the snow pile up), here’s a link.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Dec. 3, Open House Holly Trail—the Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead book store will be offering a great selection of books (10% off), along with painted boxes and chests by artisans Eleanor Sweeney and Jan Taylor.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Dec. 3, 16th Annual Christmas at Cornwall House Tour—some tour entries are new this year, others may be ones you’ve missed. Purchase tickets in advance for $15, on the day of the tour for $20; contact the site for details.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Dec. 4, A Homestead Christmas—scheduled activities include open hearth cooking, colonial music and dancing, tours of the Boone homestead and other historic buildings, a flintlock shoot, 18th-century crafts, and Belsnickel.

Eckley Miners’ Village
Dec. 3, Children’s Christmas—storytelling, arts and crafts, a wagon ride through the Village and a visit from St. Nicholas; program is recommended for ages 5-12. Reservations are required (contact the site); admission is $5 per child, $3 per adult.
Dec. 3-4 and 10-11, Victorian Christmas Fundraiser—the Sharpe House will be decorated and lit for the season, with Victorian ornaments and gifts (beverages and cookies will also be provided); admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children age 6-12.

Ephrata Cloister
Dec. 12-13, Christmas at the Cloister—a popular evening program featuring readings and music in the historic meetinghouse; space is limited and reservations are required (tickets went on sale at the beginning of November, so call 717-733-6600 now to see if there are spaces remaining).
Dec. 27-30, Lantern Tours—special evening tours bring the site and its history to life; student historians work with staff to present this perennial favorite. The 2011 tour explores education in a variety of forms at the Ephrata Cloister. Reservations are required as the space in each time slot is limited. Call 717-733-6600.

PHMC/Erie Maritime Museum & US Brig Niagara

Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara
Dec. 9, Christmas Tree Ship—learn the story of the schooner Rouse Simmons, which went down in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1912 carrying a load of Christmas trees. Enjoy holiday crafts, seasonal goodies, and lights on the rigging of Niagara. Bring along hats, scarves, mittens, and/or non-perishable food items to help local families (or contact the museum to find out about helping with a Christmas tree to donate).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Dec. 3-4 and 10-11, Country Christmas Village—experience a Pennsylvania German Christmas while you learn about Christmas trees and traditional holiday foods. There will be craft activities for children and you may run into Belsnickel (he’s like Santa, but edgier). Included in museum admission.
Dec. 16, Holidays at Landis Valley—this free evening event welcomes the community to sing carols around the bonfire, tour the historic buildings, and enjoy cookies and hot cider. Please bring non-perishable food items for the Lancaster Food Bank.
Dec. 17, Old Fashioned Children’s Christmas—this year’s program is built around the theme “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and includes several holiday crafts. Admission is charged, but members of the Landis Valley Associates get in free (makes a great holiday gift, too).
Dec. 27 and 28, Winter Camp—combat school break boredom by attending either or both days of this engaging program. Hands-on activities include open hearth cooking. Registration fee is required (multi-day, multiple child, and member discounts are available); call 717/569-0401 x228 for more details.

Old Economy Village
Dec. 3, Breakfast with Belsnickel—a breakfast buffet, plus loads of activities for children 5-12 years old (adults may enjoy a guided tour while the young ones take part in the program). Reservations required (fee is $25 per child), call 724/266-4500 x101.
Dec. 4, Friends of Old Economy Village Annual Christmas Dinner—start with wine and hors d’oeuvre in the Granary, then dine by lantern light in the historic Feast Hall. For reservations ($60 for FOEV members, $65 for non-members), call 724/266-4500 x101.
Dec. 10-11, Christmas at the Village—the site opens at 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday for a program of tours, music, and traditional German foods (there will be plenty of activities for children). Admission is charged.

Pennsbury Manor
Dec. 1 and 2, Holly Nights—okay, so it’s already the second night, but if you hurry you can still make it. Candlelight, bonfires, carolers, and craft demonstrations (I think there’s some cider in there too) set the mood for a winter’s night (click here for a discount coupon).
Dec. 10, Wreaths and Greens Workshop—learn how to turn evergreen boughs into a lovely wreath and how to care for evergreens in your home landscape. Registration is required (215/946-0400) and it’s BYOClippers.

PHMC/Pennsylvania Military Museum

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Tribute—this event marks the 70th anniversary of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s attack on the US Pacific Fleet in Hawaii and will take place beneath the guns of the USS Pennsylvania, which was docked at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Pennsylvania State Archives
For your listening pleasure, the staff of the State Archives has selected 15 episodes of Harrisburg broadcaster and historian Pete Wambach’s “This is Pennsylvania” radio program (which aired throughout the state from 1964 to 1985). These seasonal selections (you’ll need to scroll down the page) last about 3 minutes each and include transcriptions. The piece titled “Snow Shovel Championship” features a 1976 downhill race near Ambridge and mentions Old Economy Village (the snow shovel race will celebrate its 49th year in January 2012). Who knew?

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Dec. 3 and 10, Home for the Holidays—this annual event offers a nostalgic glimpse of train travel throughout the 20th century and includes costumed interpreters, seasonal music, a chance to visit with Santa and send a “telegram” to the North Pole (plus hot chocolate and cookies while they last). The Polar Express Parties are sold out for this year. (The Railroad Communications and Signaling exhibit closes Dec. 31.)

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Dec. 10, The Power of Story in Song and Dance—this free concert will feature Chinese, Bosnian, and Liberian traditional artists associated with the exhibit “Making It Better: Folk Arts in Pennsylvania Today.”
Dec. 16, Little Elves Workshop—parents and grandparents are invited to bring children (ages 4 to 7) to the State Museum Store from 10 am to 2 pm to make a special holiday gift while the grownups shop. Fee charged; free to museum members. From noon to 6 pm that day, as part of “3rd in the Burg,” shoppers will find special offers on creative gifts and stocking stuffers (admission to Store is free).
Dec. 17, Fatherhood and Family Holiday Celebration: Celebrating Kwanzaa & Christmas—offered in partnership with Nathaniel Gadsden’s Writers Wordshop, this community celebration features music, food, and much more. Free of charge.
Dec. 29, Noon Year’s Eve—young children and their families can ring in the New Year a little early at this annual event. Included in museum admission; free to museum members.

PHMC/Washington Crossing Historic Park

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Dec. 11, Dress Rehearsal—reenactors will conduct a full run-through of the Christmas crossing of the Delaware, and there will be other activities on site as well in the historic buildings; admission is charged.
Dec. 25, Washington Crosses the Delaware—the annual reenactment of the daring move by George Washington and his troops to attack the garrison at Trenton; free of charge. To find out about winning a spot in General Washington's Durham boat for the dress rehearsal or the Christmas crossing, go here.
Dec. 31, 235th Anniversary of the Crossing of the Delaware and the Battle of Trenton—this reenactment event (which I believe is held only every 10 years or so) takes troops from Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA) to the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton (or they can join up on the New Jersey side of the Delaware). Registration is required to participate (the public is invited to watch); go here for more information.

Small Business Saturday

2011-11-25T07:21:00.003-05:00

So, you’re conscious, are you? I hope that you had a wonderful day yesterday with family, friends, loved ones, or whatever combination worked for you. At the risk of sounding overly sentimental, I believe it is truly important to take time to reflect on what we are thankful for (though not just on Thanksgiving). Times are tough and uncertain (and have been for a while), but focusing on the things that make you feel better about the world helps. (Look for our upcoming line of “Trailheads Inspirations” at a mall kiosk near you.) Anyway.

One of the things I’m going to suggest is taking part in Small Business Saturday by checking out the museum store at your friendly neighborhood Trails of History site (bearing in mind that operating hours vary—check ahead online or by phone). You can shop local, often you can buy locally produced wares, and you’ll be supporting the ongoing public and educational programs of the site of your choice. Think of it as history with a side order of retail therapy. Or retail therapy with a side order of history. Whatever motivates you, we’re thankful for your efforts.

Speaking of things that make me feel better about the world, I mentioned last week that the Arts on Fire Festival (held at the Scranton Iron Furnaces) had won the Hometown Star Award from the Scranton Awards for Growth & Excellence (SAGE). Site administrator Chester Kulesa sent me a photo from the awards gala—thanks Chester, and congratulations again to you and the entire team that plans and pulls off this cool program.

Pictured at the SAGE Awards (left to right): Natalie O'Hara, President of MetroAction, Inc.; Margaret Reese, Anthracite Heritage Museum Associates; Chester Kulesa, Site Administrator, PA Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces, PHMC; Elizabeth Nagy, representing award sponsor Pennstar Bank; and Paula Mackarey, Board Chair of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

I’ll be posting the December program preview next Friday, but I don’t want you to miss Holly Nights (Dec. 1 and 2), a long-standing tradition at Pennsbury Manor. Visit Pennsbury’s Facebook page to find out how to win free tickets to the event.

PHMC/Pennsbury Manor

See you next week. Enjoy those leftovers.

Act Now (and other news)

2011-11-18T07:17:00.007-05:00

If you are in the Harrisburg area, there’s still time to catch the Holiday Marketplace, which wraps up at 3 pm today. Museum stores from half a dozen sites on the Trails of History are among the vendors for the sixth annual event, organized by the Pennsylvania Heritage Society and sponsored by PSECU. Come on down to the Commonwealth Keystone Building, do some shopping, and support our programs!

Today is also the last day to vote for your favorite entry in Drake Well Museum’s oil haiku contest on Facebook (you’ll have to scroll down a bit to find it).

Tomorrow is the 148th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and there is an entire weekend of commemorative events planned. Check out Pennsylvania Civil War 150’s Facebook page for details.

PHMC/Scranton Iron Furnaces

Let’s have a big round of applause for the Arts on Fire Festival, a joint effort of many community partners in Scranton, including the Scranton Iron Furnaces (where it takes place). Arts on Fire was just named as recipient of the 2011 Hometown Star Award at the gala of the Scranton Awards for Growth & Excellence (SAGE), sponsored by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and MetroAction. The award honors “an individual or organization that has made a significant economic impact on [the Scranton] area by conducting an event, with a rich social, historical and charitable contribution.” Woohoo!!

PHMC/PA Military Museum

In last week’s post, I mentioned that Pennsylvania’s First Lady, Susan Corbett, had written an article highlighting military history sites in the Commonwealth and encouraging Pennsylvanians to visit them. To set the example, Mrs. Corbett paid a Veterans Day visit to the Pennsylvania Military Museum, where she toured the exhibits and spoke with veterans about their service. (There are a number of photos on the First Lady’s Facebook page.) We look forward to welcoming Mrs. Corbett to all of the sites on the Trails of History.

Thank You, Veterans

2011-11-11T07:32:00.005-05:00

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
(1st stanza of the poem “In Flanders Fields,” by John McCrae, 1915)

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 marked the “end” of the “war to end all wars.” Since then, Nov. 11 (first as Armistice Day and now as Veterans Day) has been our national day of remembrance and celebration of the men and women who have served in the United States armed forces. (There was a brief stretch from 1971 to 1977 when Veterans Day was a Monday holiday, but in 1978 we went back to Nov. 11 as the official observance.)

Most sites on the Trails of History are closed today, but Fort Pitt, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Military Museum are open. As is the case throughout the year at all Trails of History sites, active duty military and their dependents will receive complimentary regular admission (roughly 2,000 folks have taken us up on that offer so far this year).

PHMC/Pennsylvania Military Museum

Pennsylvania’s First Lady, Susan Corbett, wrote a very nice article for last Sunday’s Harrisburg Patriot-News encouraging Pennsylvanians to visit the Commonwealth’s military heritage museums, including the PHMC’s Military Trail of History sites. If you visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum today (or in the next month), you’ll be able to catch two temporary exhibits (“Religion and Conflict” and “Santa’s Draft Card”) in addition to the museum’s current long-term exhibit.

This past weekend, the Railroad Museum of PA held its annual Trains & Troops event, which features military reenactors and equipment amid the collection of locomotives and railcars from various eras. The event highlights the role of railroads in US military history and honors the service of our veterans (an exhibit and video presentation in the lobby showcases the military service of museum staff and volunteers). The Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era covered the event here.

However you choose to spend Veterans Day, please join the PHMC in saying “Thank you” to those who have served and who are currently serving.

Media Blitz

2011-11-04T07:11:00.004-04:00

We’re everywhere. Not exactly eclipsing coverage of the Occupy Movement, the Greek debt crisis, or the demise of Kim Kardashian’s marriage, but sites on the Trails of History seem to be getting some nice publicity lately. Local media (print, radio, and television) have been featuring programs and exhibits or talking about local history with staff and volunteers of a variety of sites. Maybe this is nothing new, but it feels like a trend. And it’s the result of a lot of people working together to plan and promote great experiences for visitors and to showcase behind-the-scenes activities.

“The Buzz in Bucks” host Rachel Canelli visited Pennsbury Manor during their Harvest Day educational program in October and produced this short video piece on apple cider. Looks like everyone had a great time. (Thanks, Rachel, for including a plug for Pennsbury’s volunteer program.)

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania director Charlie Fox and historian/author Jim Porterfield taped an episode of Sandy Fenton’s “Let’s Talk Travel” radio show on WHP 580 (Harrisburg area) that is set to air tomorrow afternoon. They talked about train travel with Sandy, who frequently features luxury travel experiences on her show and blog. You’ll find a podcast of the episode here.

Marcia Fortley, host of Sites and Sounds of Historic Berks County, devoted her Oct. 24 show to the Daniel Boone Homestead. Interpretation Coordinator Amanda Machik and board members Bob Servin and Brad Kissam spoke about upcoming programs, the historical background of the Boone family, and the partnership between the Friends of Daniel Boone Homestead and the PHMC that keeps the site open to the public. You can watch the half-hour show here. (You can also find some vivid photos of the recent pre-Halloween snow storm on the Homestead’s Facebook page.)

Finally, Erie TV News provided viewers with a taste of the newly revived Ghosts Afloat event at the Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara. Organized by the Flagship Niagara League, in cooperation with major sponsor Mercyhurst College, the program combines local lore and the history of the Battle of Lake Erie in dramatic ways. Just a note: the video includes lots of screaming, so you may want to turn down the volume on your computer and usher young children out of the room. Don’t say I didn’t warn you; here it is. [11/7/11--when I posted this, the link took you to an online article with video of the event, now it's just an article. Sorry.]

What to Do in November

2011-10-28T07:08:00.012-04:00

I can hardly believe that it’s November already, but it is (almost). It seems like October just started and now it’s over. But then I probably wrote that last year at this time (no, I’m not going to check). Some site schedules change this month for the winter, so be sure to check ahead to avoid disappointment. Most sites will be closed on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, but Fort Pitt Museum, Pennsylvania Military Museum, and Railroad Museum of PA will be open. All sites on the Trails of History will be closed on Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving. You can avoid the Black Friday shopping crowds on Nov. 25 by visiting Fort Pitt, Old Economy Village, PA Military Museum, Railroad Museum of PA, The State Museum, or Washington Crossing Historic Park (all other sites will be closed).

Speaking of shopping, don’t forget the Holiday Marketplace in Harrisburg Nov. 17 and 18, organized by the Pennsylvania Heritage Society and featuring museum store goodies from Ephrata Cloister, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Pennsbury Manor, Somerset Historical Center, and The State Museum of PA.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Nov. 12 and 13, Under the Lackawanna Moon-telling northeastern Pennsylvania's history through monologue, dialogue, and music, this presentation shares the experiences of the area's settlers and early residents; seating is limited and reservations are recommended (call the Museum at 570/963-4804).
Nov. 19, Annual Meeting and Program-join the Anthracite Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces Associates for their annual luncheon and then a panel discussion on the mine fires of Carbondale and Centralia; there is a fee for lunch but the panel discussion is free (call 570/963-4804 for more information or to reserve your spot).
Nov. 20, Lecture—Part of the Lackawanna Audubon Society lecture series; check the LAS website for details.

Brandywine Battlefield
Nov. 26, Patriots Day—reenactors, firing demonstrations, cooking on an open fire, and more (plus a 10% discount in the museum shop—20% discount for members).

PHMC/Conrad Weiser Homestead

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Nov. 19, Candlelight Tours—enjoy an evening of living history and 18th-century music; check the website for more information.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Nov. 8, Friends Lecture Series—local historian Don Rhoads, Jr., will present a program entitled “Railroads of Lebanon County” (held in the auditorium of Freeman Hall at Cornwall Manor). Rhoads will use historic images of structures, equipment, and artifacts to bring several railroad companies to life.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Nov. 6, Boone Birthday Program—help celebrate Daniel Boone’s 277th birthday at his childhood home, with house tours, storytelling, old-fashioned toys, and birthday cake (yum).
Nov. 13, Fall Lecture Series—“Small Pox and Dysentery: Medicine in the Eighteenth Century” features Wendy Moyer from the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, who will speak about colonial medical procedures, home medicine, and the changing medical profession in the 18th century.
Nov. 20, Fall Lecture Series—“The Interstate System of the 1800s and Berks County’s Connection” will be the topic of Glenn Wenrich, President of the Pennsylvania Canal Society and volunteer at the Berks County Heritage Center, as he explores the importance of canals in early America.

Eckley Miners’ Village
Nov. 13, Fall Lecture Series—local author Jolene Busher will be on hand to talk about and sign her new book, Patchtown, Life in Eckley Miners’ Village 1860-1920 (more info available here).

Graeme Park
Nov. 27, Craft Fair—Friends of Graeme Park will team with the Friends of Hope Lodge for this event; check Graeme Park’s website or Facebook page for details.

PHMC/Hope Lodge

Hope Lodge
Nov. 5-6, Whitemarsh Encampment—this popular program is a reenactment of a 1777 encampment of the Continental Army; costumed reenactors, sutlers, and craftspeople will be on hand. For details and a coupon good for $1 off the admission fee, go here.

Joseph Priestley House
Nov. 6, Heritage Day—costumed interpreters will be on hand as you tour the house and laboratory on your own. Don’t miss the new exhibit in the laboratory (more info on that here).

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
Nov. 10, Hands on History—children of all ages can learn more about history by participating, so why not try it?
Nov. 12, Holiday Tin Class—learn to make your own holiday ornaments from Landis Valley craft demonstrator Beth Feaser; choose morning or afternoon session and register by calling the Weathervane Museum Store at 717/569-9312.

Pennsbury Manor
Nov. 6, Annual Meeting and Lecture—Former FBI special agent Robert K. Wittman will speak about his career tracking down stolen art and artifacts, including items stolen from Pennsbury in 1996.
Nov. 20, Open Hearth Cooking—“The Cook’s Choice” will showcase 17th-century recipes and techniques.

PHMC 2011 Religion Theme Lectures
Nov. 10, An Abundance of Sacred Places—this program will explore preservation issues related to historic places of worship; location is Trinity Center for Urban Life, Philadelphia.
Nov. 17, Religious Pluralism and Tolerance—William Penn’s legacy of religious freedom and its modern expression will be addressed by several speakers; location is Camp Curtin Memorial Mitchell United Methodist Church, Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Nov. 2-23, Exhibit, Santa’s Draft Card--Reverend Santa Claus of Saline County Missouri registered for the draft in World War II. A copy of his draft registration from the Selective Service System will be on display in the month long exhibit.
Nov. 19, Kids Day: Dress Up and Discover—visitors age 3-13 get in for half-price and will find new ways to experience the museum. The museum education collection of field gear and head gear will be available for try-on (and photo ops) along with other discoveries.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Nov. 5-6, Trains and Troops—learn about the important relationship between America’s railroads and military heritage through displays, programs, and reenactments; the program also includes a salute to veterans. And you can “Take the Swing Train” Saturday night, enjoying the music of the Sound of Roses Big Band. Check the website for ticket information (Trains and Troops is included in museum admission, but there is an additional charge for the dance; combination tickets are available).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Nov. 5, Workshops in Archaeology—“A Synthesis of Native American Archaeology in Pennsylvania: What We Have Learned in 25 Years of Publicly Funded Archaeology” will present numerous speakers and sessions. Fee is $20 in advance ($15 for members) and $25 at the door. Complete program and registration info are here.
Nov. 20, Exhibit opening—“Making it Better,” an exhibit featuring the work of more than 30 master artists working in a wide variety of traditions; this is a traveling exhibit from the Erie Art Museum (which was just awarded a 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service). On Nov. 18, as part of Harrisburg’s 3rd in the Burg, there will be a preview of the exhibit from 6 to 8 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Nov. 13, Cook Like Your Ancestors—a hands-on open hearth cooking class culminating in a delicious, shared meal. Registration and fee required, call 267-475-2353 (for photos of smiling, happy participants in the September version of this program, go here).

Mid-Week Update: Trains, Shopping and Fire

2011-10-26T07:34:00.008-04:00

I thought I’d throw a few interesting items into the mix here on a Wednesday, as we finally seem to be moving into fall weather (or right into winter perhaps?). Just a few tidbits to savor on your way to Friday.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

To celebrate their 30th anniversary as a corporation, the history-minded staff at Norfolk Southern wanted to bring together artifacts of the companies that preceded it. I can’t (in this brief space) go into the details of how railroad corporations change and merge, but suffice it to say the modern railroads include lots of others in their histories. One of the artifacts chosen was a GP-30 diesel engine, borrowed from the collection of the Railroad Museum of PA. A standout with its Conrail blue paint, No. 2233 rolled out of the Museum and was transported to Roanoke, Virginia, to be part of a photo shoot and anniversary train trip with three other locomotives. Who knows what stories No. 2233 will have to tell when it returns to Pennsylvania in the next couple of weeks?

Not interested in trains and their adventures? Maybe some recreational shopping is more your style. Then the Commonwealth Keystone Building in downtown Harrisburg is the place for you to be Nov. 17 and 18 for the sixth annual Holiday Marketplace. Organized by the Pennsylvania Heritage Society and sponsored by PSECU, the marketplace features museum stores from around the Trails of History. You’ll find handmade textiles, pottery, tinware and more, plus Pennsylvania food products that will help you start piling on the holiday pounds (why wait for Thanksgiving?). The best part is that your purchases support the participating sites and the work they do year-round to preserve history and keep it available to all of us.

PHMC/Scranton Iron Furnaces

photo by Lynn LoRusso

In the previous Trailheads post, I wrote about the Scranton Iron Furnaces program combining Halloween traditions with a Celtic harvest festival. Judging from the photos they’ve already posted on Facebook, it was a blast. (Get it? Iron furnace—blast? Never mind.) A great combined effort to bring new life to a significant historic site and make history fun as well.

See you all Friday!

No Frost on the Pumpkin

2011-10-21T07:35:00.006-04:00

Reminder: If you want to submit photos to the “This is MY HISTORY” photo contest and have them considered for inclusion in the statewide preservation plan, the deadline is Oct. 31. Hurry!!

Usually at this time of year, I write a post about Halloween-themed programs on the Trails of History. I’m not really feelin’ it this year, though. Maybe it’s because it was 60°F at 7:00 Thursday morning and looks to stay in the sixties for the next week (groovy, man). Maybe it’s because the world might come to an end today. Maybe I just haven’t had enough Hershey’s miniatures yet. It’s hard to say.

Perhaps if I made a scarecrow to “plant” in the wildflower meadow at Drake Well Museum, I’d be more in the spirit (so to speak). Handmade scarecrows can be delivered to the Museum during open hours between now and Oct. 29. Judging in several categories will be Oct. 30 and there will be prizes. Learn more here and good luck if you enter.

Or I could explore my Celtic roots at the Scranton Iron Furnaces during the Samhain Harvest Festival and Bonfire tonight. As site administrator Chester Kulesa explains (see local news coverage here), this is a nice tie between the historic site and the many local miners who came from the British Isles in the 19th and 20th centuries. They’re also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Iron Furnaces’ listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Proceeds from this program will help support the popular Arts on Fire event held in June.

Maybe a trip to Eerie (ahem) is in order to check out Ghosts Afloat, a new Erie Maritime Museum/Flagship Niagara event (although I understand it’s actually a revived program—insert your own reanimation joke here). With folks from Mercyhurst College, Ghosts Afloat brings to life history and local lore and will be offered this weekend and next. Go here for info on ticket availability, and keep an eye on the weather (they had to cancel one night last weekend due to high winds).

For more programs and events coming up this month, you can read the October program preview here. I think I’m starting to feel a little more Halloweeny—although I will up my dosage of miniature peanut butter cups to be sure.

True Crime Stories at Pennsbury

2011-10-14T07:37:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I saw a news article about a free lecture scheduled for Nov. 6 at Pennsbury Manor. I see a lot of program announcements and always take note in case there’s something I should include in the monthly preview for Trailheads (look for November’s in a couple of weeks—I know you can’t wait). I dutifully added the lecture to my list of events and set it aside.

And then it hit me. The lecture is by Robert K. Wittman, a former FBI special agent who spent his career (much of it undercover) working to recover art objects and antiquities taken from museums all over the world. (You might have seen him on The Colbert Report in early August, promoting his best-selling book, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures.) Paintings by Rembrandt, Goya, and Rockwell (you don’t often see those three mentioned together), a piece of 2,000-year old Peruvian battle armor, and Geronimo’s war bonnet are among the notable recoveries.

From a Trailheads perspective, though, Wittman’s most important case was—anyone?—a burglary and theft at Pennsbury. On Feb. 6, 1996, three men crashed a car through Pennsbury’s gate, drove down the path toward the river and forced open a door to the manor house. While inside, they wreaked havoc and made off with about 50 pieces from the collection, including an 18-inch pewter charger that bore William Penn’s initials. (See news article here.)

Pennsbury’s staff, still in shock and taking it personally, moved quickly to get the word out. They called on local law enforcement, and the FBI was also brought in. Assuming that the thieves intended to sell the items rather than start a rival historic house museum, they notified arts and antiques dealers throughout the Philadelphia area. (I remember assembling a list of dealers in central PA and forwarding Pennsbury’s notice from our Harrisburg office.)

A week to 10 days after the burglary, the three began to panic and, with the help of several female accomplices, dumped most of the loot into the Delaware River (not a good environment for historic artifacts). In perhaps the most cinematic twist in this story, the thieves were arrested soon after when they attempted to steal a 400-pound safe from a local coffee shop (ironically, the safe contained only $120).

With information provided by the guilty parties, divers began searching the Delaware and recovered about two-thirds of the stolen artifacts, including the pewter charger. The staff were exuberant when the items returned home and could eventually be put back on public view (see article here.) The thieves pleaded guilty (here and here) and were sentenced under the 1994 Theft of Major Artworks statute (Pennsbury’s theft was the first case prosecuted under this new federal law).

Wittman (and Pennsbury staff) can tell the story much better than I, so for details about the lecture, go here. I’ll be working on my screenplay; any casting suggestions?

New and Noteworthy

2011-10-07T07:51:00.006-04:00

Reminders: our “This is My History” photo campaign is still going; if you want your photos to be considered for inclusion in the Statewide Preservation Plan, they must be submitted by Oct. 31. The deadline for receipt of nomination materials for PHMC Historical Markers is Dec. 1.

Well, it’s here. PHMC’s new mobile website launched earlier this month. Accessing the site is easy—if you visit www.patrailsofhistory.com using a smartphone you will be magically connected to a website optimized for mobile devices (which you already know if you use a smartphone—can you guess that I don’t, yet?). As we print new Trails of History brochures, they will include QR codes to make finding visitor info on the fly even quicker (your download times may vary).

To mark this new venture, sites on the Trails of History are offering a $2 discount on adult general admission tickets between now and the end of October. You must show the person at the front desk the website on your mobile device to take advantage of this; the discount is not valid for special events and can’t be combined with other discounts (we do, after all, need to pay the bills).

CCC Veterans Andrew Majorsky, George Pryslak, Austin Carr, Bill Roberts and James Franklin, Sr., with Mike Wennin, Lumber Heritage Region Executive Director, at CCC Worker Statue Dedication [photo by Amanda Jones, Bradford Era]

On Sept. 25, as part of the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum Associates (PALMA), about 100 people gathered to unveil a statue honoring the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-42). The Lumber Museum exhibits include a cabin built in Potter County in 1936 by CCC enrollees and moved to the museum grounds in the 1990s as a memorial to the thousands of young men from Pennsylvania who served their communities in “the Cs.” The statue adds a human figure to the scene and is part of a project by the National CCC Legacy Association to erect statues in all 50 states.

On the same day, the museum also showcased a new birch still, which was built by staff and volunteers of the state Bureau of Forestry. Birch stills are used to distill oil from birch bark; birch oil has had various uses, including as an ingredient in Bengay ointment (according to an article in the Wellsboro Gazette on Sept. 21). The museum will demonstrate the still several times during the year (it takes two days to produce a quart of birch oil), including the ever-popular Bark Peelers Convention in July. (Many thanks to Amanda Jones of the Bradford Era, Mike Wennin of the Pennsylvania Lumber Heritage Region, and David Brooks of the Potter County Visitors Assn. for sharing info and photos for this post.)

Watch the full episode. See more The War of 1812.

Way back in 2009, we had a post about the filming of a documentary for public television. The producers spent a couple of days onboard Niagara, with the ship’s crew and the Erie Maritime Museum "Ship’s Company" interpreters cast as their historical counterparts. Two years later, The War of 1812 will premiere on PBS stations across the country on Oct. 10. You can preview it online (the clip above includes Niagara) or wait for the larger screen (I’m presuming). Anyway, it’s great to see a project like this come to fruition. (Thanks to Linda Bolla at Erie Maritime for the info and for including a link to the Trailheads post in the Flagship Niagara League e-newsletter.)

Feels Like Fall?

2011-09-30T07:18:00.022-04:00

If the weather doesn’t quite feel like autumn (as I write this, we’ve been going back and forth), October’s programs on the Trails of History certainly point to the change of seasons. Most sites will be closed on Oct. 10 in observance of Columbus Day, but Ephrata Cloister, Fort Pitt, and the Railroad Museum will be open.

Image: Julie A. Wenskoski / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Brandywine Battlefield
Oct. 30, Halloween Eve—check the website closer to the date for details.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Oct. 1, Fall Nature Walk—local naturalist George Heasley leads a walk through the woodlands around the battlefield
Oct. 8, Fall Tea—enjoy tea and treats in the Stone Room of the Visitor Center. Make reservations by Oct. 7, 724/527-5584 x102.
Oct. 22, Haunted History Hayride—take a wagon ride through historical scenes from Pontiac’s War. Reservations are required and will be accepted only after Oct. 1; call the site at 724/527-5584 x102.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Oct. 23, Fall Park Walk and Tours-reenactors will be on hand to talk about life for colonists and Native Americans in 18th-century Berks County.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Oct. 11, The Art of Blacksmithing—Fred Eberly will present this latest offering of the Friends Lecture Series. Eberly has practiced and taught blacksmithing for more than 30 years, participating in craft programs at many historic sites, including Ephrata Cloister and Landis Valley. Lecture is free and will be held in the Freeman Hall auditorium at Cornwall Manor retirement community.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Oct. 16, Heritage Day—experience 18th-century life with hands-on activities and demonstrations, learn about traveling in the 1700s, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride around the Homestead.
Oct. 30, Halloween at the Homestead—storytelling, face-painting, 18th-century toys and games, and trick-or-treating are all on tap for the day (admission fee varies according to activity).

Drake Well Museum
Oct. 9, Sunday Family Fun—learn some traditional recipes from the oil boom era; reservations and fee required, 814/827-2797.
Oct. 29, Saturday Family Fun—turn plastic bags, old clothes, and hats into an old-fashioned scarecrow for your family’s garden; reservations and fee required, 814/827-2797. Oil Valley Blacksmiths will also be on site for their monthly demonstrations (blacksmith demo included in regular admission).

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

Ephrata Cloister
Oct. 7-8, Apple Dumpling Sales and Day of Music—a traditional Pennsylvania German treat of apples, cinnamon, and flaky pastry supports the Back to the Cloister Fund (which helps return original artifacts to the site); on Saturday only, the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform at 2, 3, and 4 pm. Admission fee required if you’d like to attend the choral performance (and tour the site), but not if you’re just there for the food.
Oct. 9, Behind the Scenes Tour—visitors will have an opportunity to tour the rarely seen upper floors of the Sisters’ House. Reservations are strongly recommended; a fee of $10 is required for this special program. Physical accessibility on the tour is very limited due to steep and winding stairs.
Oct. 14-15, Mysterious, Melancholy, and Macabre—stories of early Lancaster County, ripped from the headlines of local newspapers, presented in a dramatic storytelling format; reservations suggested, 717/733-6600.
Oct. 21, Community Days—students of all backgrounds and grade levels visit learning stations at their own pace to learn about the thriving community of Ephrata in the 18th century; reservations strongly encouraged, 717/733-6600.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
Oct. 15, Speaker Series, “The Dynamic Dozen – 13 Lake Erie Shipwrecks”— divers Georgann and Mike Wachter will share images and stories of wrecks in the fresh waters of Lake Erie.
Oct. 15-16, 22-23, 29-30, Ghosts Afloat—Niagara will be the setting for local lore (drawn from the ship’s history) in this new program offered in partnership with Mercyhurst College. Tickets must be purchased in advance (online or at the museum store).

Fort Pitt Museum
Oct. 2, RAD Day—enjoy free admission in honor of Pittsburgh’s Regional Asset District.
Oct. 15, Wild Resource Festival in Point State Park—costumed reenactors from the Museum will be set up in the park to interpret 18th-century hunting, fishing, and construction practices.

Graeme Park
Oct. 1-2, World War II Weekend (rescheduled from late Sept.)-period reenactors and equipment will be on site, encamped for the weekend; enjoy the West Chester Swing Kings concert Saturday evening. Admission charged, no fee for WWII veterans.
Oct. 8, Dog Faire—a chance to meet and greet, visit vendors, and learn about area rescue organizations.
Oct. 21 and 28, Moonlight Tours—Living History Theater presentation explores the history of the Keiths, Graemes, and Fergussons and relates various ghostly stories; reservations required, 215/343-0965.

Hope Lodge
Oct. 1, Whitemarsh Township History Tour—Hope Lodge is a featured stop on the tour; choose a bus tour or a self-guided driving tour, then contact the township for info and to reserve your spot, 610/828-7276.

PHMC/Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
Oct. 8-9, Harvest Days Festival—traditional Pennsylvania German harvest activities and more than 80 demonstrators bring the village and farms to life; at the Pumpkin Patch you can choose your own orange gourd, decorate and carve it, and take it home.
Oct. 13 and 27, Hands-on History Days—activities help children of all ages experience a taste of 18th- and 19th-century PA German life
Oct. 29, Bus Trip to Winterthur Museum—a full day of exhibits, tours and curator presentations; reservations are required by Oct. 19, contact Cindy Reedy at 717/581-0591 or c-creedy@pa.gov.

Old Economy Village
Oct. 8, Oktoberfest—Penn Pilsner beer, German food, and lively music on a fall evening; reservations required, 724/266-4500 x101.
Oct. 15, Historic Trades Workshop-Five classes to choose from: blacksmithing, broom making, penny rugs, tinsmithing, and wreath design. Registration required by Oct. 3, call 724/266-4500 x101.

Pennsbury Manor
Oct. 2, Historic Trades—the joyner and blacksmith will be plying their trades (wood- and metalworking, respectively).
Oct. 9, Living History Theater—“The Sotcher Wedding” celebrates the traditional Quaker ceremony uniting John Sotcher, Penn’s steward, and Mary Lofty, head housekeeper. Who doesn’t love a wedding?
Oct. 16, Open Hearth Cooking—Pennsbury cooks will recreate a 17th-century baking day, with the aroma of bread (and other good things) filling the air.
Oct. 23, Cider Making—in the fall, colonial households would press apples and put the cider up to ferment (makes winter so much nicer). You can sample the unfermented product as part of the program.
Oct. 30, Living History Theater—“Witch Trial” presents the 1684 case of Margaret Mattson, accused by her neighbors of witchcraft; William Penn presided over the trial. You get to be the jury and hear the evidence—is she guilty or not? There will also be family-friendly trick or treat activities during the afternoon.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Oct. 8-9, Heritage Days Antique and Collectibles Show—food, door prizes, plenty of parking, and loads of antiques and collectibles; consignment items are welcome, contact Pete Folk, 814/435-8216.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Oct. 4, Central PA Civil War Roundtable Lecture—“Fort Sumter: First Blood in South Carolina,” with speaker Joe Mieczkowski (a Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide), explores the beginning of the Civil War 150 years ago.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Oct. 7-9, Model Railroad Days—program (included in Museum admission) features operating layouts in various scales from model railroad clubs and historical groups, plus hands-on sessions and informational presentations. Oct. 9 is also Garden Railway Tours at private homes around Lancaster County; separate ticket required, available at the Museum or at Stauffer’s locations. (Video from the 2010 event is here.)

Scranton Iron Furnaces
Oct. 21, Bonfire and Celtic Samhain Harvest Festival—this fundraiser supports the annual Arts on Fire program held at the Furnaces (see cool photos here.)

Somerset Historical Center
Oct. 22, Natives in Pennsylvania—visit the website closer to the date for details.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Oct. 2, Indian Day at Fort Hunter—the State Museum archaeologists will be at Fort Hunter (north of Harrisburg) talking about recent excavations and evidence of native American activity on and near the site.
Oct. 12, National Fossil Day—visit the website closer to the date for details.
Oct. 21, 3rd in the Burg—the museum participates in downtown Harrisburg’s monthly party, this month sponsored by Harrisburg Young Professionals.
Oct. 22, Great Pumpkin Day—a wonderful way for families to prepare for Halloween, with crafts, activities, and food.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Oct. 15, Harvest Day-living historians will demonstrate blacksmithing, period cooking, and handwriting; there will be a military encampment, and the historic buildings will be open for tours.

September (some of it) in Review

2011-09-23T06:58:00.011-04:00

September has been pretty eventful, what with the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, plus Tropical Storm Lee (while the aftermath of Hurricane Irene was still fresh), record flooding, power outages, etc. The Trails of History were affected by all of those to one degree or another. None of our sites suffered catastrophic damage, as far as I know, but many will be cleaning up and drying out for some time to come (as, I’m sure, will many of you). As September draws to a close, though, I thought I’d show you a few of the less dramatic (though no less interesting) events that took place.

PHMC/Scranton Iron Furnaces

Last weekend’s Family Fun Day at the Scranton Iron Furnaces got some nice local coverage. The goal of the program was to bring more visibility to the site (which is open on a fairly limited schedule due to staffing) and invite local kids to learn something about the history of their city. Tour guide Dominick Azzarelli was quoted in the Times Tribune article: “The furnaces are the reason why Scranton is Scranton today.” The site also worked with other community groups, who were on hand to help with local history and fire safety information for families who stopped by (which explains the guy in the photo above, between director Chester Kulesa and board president Bob Savakinus).

Washington Crossing Historic Park was featured in an article on Phillyburbs.com last week on the top 10 ways to enjoy fall foliage in Bucks County. The article suggested a stroll through the park to learn the history and a visit to Bowman’s Hill Tower for a birds-eye view of the county’s beauty. Another article on Phillyburbs.com profiled the site’s new curator, Kimberly McCarty, who previously was curator at Pennsbury Manor (welcome back, Kim!).

PHMC/PA Military Museum

Another "Then & NOW" has come and gone at the Pennsylvania Military Museum and they’ve posted lots of photos on Facebook (there are also photos of other programs held this summer). This annual encampment and bivouac showcases reenactors and military equipment from the American Revolution to the present, offering visitors a timeline of over 200 years of military history. (If you’re not interested in Facebook, photos from past years are on the website.)

Those of you following the schedule for the Civil War Road Show know that its appearance at the Bloomsburg Fair (like the Fair itself) was cancelled due to severe flood damage. Two new venues have been added to finish out the season. The traveling exhibit will spend this weekend (Sept. 24-25) at Linvilla Orchards in Media (Delaware County) and next weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska (Bucks County). Visit the Road Show website for details.

Training Opportunities through Save Pennsylvania’s Past

2011-09-16T07:49:00.009-04:00

This week’s guest blogger is Lee Price, Director of Development at the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) in Philadelphia. CCAHA, in partnership with PHMC, the PA Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations, and LYRASIS, is leading a statewide effort to preserve the millions of objects and historic artifacts that shape the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s history and define our nation.

Save Pennsylvania’s Past, a two-year initiative to improve collections care throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, celebrates the state’s great historic collections. Save Pennsylvania’s Past calls upon the state’s leaders, both public and private, to support the work of preservation. It will streamline information regarding available resources. And, most importantly, Save Pennsylvania’s Past will offer training for staff and volunteers, with registration starting now.

Three traveling educational programs are being offered in 2011-2012. For each of these programs, full-day sessions will be offered at locations in Erie, Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Boalsburg/State College (at the Pennsylvania Military Museum), Allentown, Scranton, Philadelphia, and York.

Jessica Silverman, Paper Conservator and

Preservation Consultant at the CCAHA, leads an educational

program at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Preservation Best Practices for Optimal Collections Care
Archivists, collections managers, librarians, curators, and other staff members involved in collections care must manage a variety of tasks, including implementation of collections management plans and policies, management of environmental controls and storage conditions, and provision for safe use and exhibition of collections. This program will provide participants with an overview of the preservation standards for the many aspects of collections care. Speaker: Laura Hortz Stanton, Director of Preservation Services, Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. Workshops are scheduled between Oct. 6, 2011, and Jan. 13, 2012; the details are here.

Digitization Basics
Every institution struggles with pressure to be visible on the web and to make its collections accessible to wider audiences, and many face daunting hurdles to implementing digitization programs. This program will cover basic issues in digital preservation, including an introduction to digitization, and will provide information on handling guidelines for digitization, selection of materials, conducting pilot projects, creating access to digitized materials, funding sources, and the benefits of collaborating with other institutions. Speaker: Thomas F.R. Clareson, Senior Consultant, Digital & Preservation Services, LYRASIS. Workshops are scheduled between Feb. 21 and Apr. 25, 2012; the details are here.

Jessica Keister, Mellon Fellow at the CCAHA, with program

participants at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Understanding Archives: An Introduction to Archival Basics
Proper archival procedures enable safe and effective management of collections. Participants will learn about the fundamentals of archival appraisal, acquisition, and access; proper storage materials; and the most common preservation problems associated with paper-based archival collections. This program will touch briefly on processing, arrangement, and description. Volunteers, historians, and those with archival responsibilities in addition to other duties may find themselves in the position of "archivist" without formal training in the profession; this program offers an introduction to best practices in the field. Speakers: Beth Bensman, Certified Archivist, and Dyani Feige, Preservation Specialist, Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. Workshops are scheduled between May 9 and July 16, 2012; details are here.

Additional information and registration materials for all three workshops are available at CCAHA’s website.

Civil War 150: Update

2011-09-09T07:33:00.006-04:00

During this first summer of the 150th anniversary commemoration of the American Civil War, the Trails of History have been buzzing with activity. And speaking of buzzing—you can now buy coffee, along with other CW150 merchandise, at ShopPAHeritage.com (clearly, my product placement strategy for Trailheads isn’t very sophisticated, yet). Anyway, the end of summer (metaphorically, if not officially) seems like a good time to reflect on recent activities.

The Civil War Road Show’s stop at Somerset Historical Center August 26-28 was a big success. Some 2,400 people visited the grounds of the Historical Center over the course of 3 days that included an encampment, a lecture, door prize drawings, and a members-only opening. People waited in line to tour the Road Show exhibit, once again proving that history is not dead. There are lots of photos on the Historical Center’s Facebook page, and The (Somerset) Daily American also posted photos. The video is from the Tribune-Democrat in nearby Johnstown.

PHMC/Eckley Miners' Village

The previous weekend (Aug. 20-21) Eckley Miners’ Village offered a living history program that brought the Civil War to a coal patch town. In addition to Union and Confederate reenactors encamped and offering demonstrations of military drills, Eckley’s living history troupe staged a funeral for a Union soldier killed in the war (as well as a wedding to lighten things up). Read an article from The (Wilkes-Barre) Times Leader here and find some wonderful photos on Eckley’s FB page.

Labor Day and Beyond

2011-09-02T07:30:00.006-04:00

Editor's note, Sept. 15: Last week's flooding has affected some programming--the Gallery Walk activities at the State Museum (listed below for Sept. 11) are now happening Sept. 18; the Bloomsburg Fair (the last week of the month) has been cancelled, which I assume means the Civil War Road Show won't be visiting the area either (I'll post updated info as I get it). Please check ahead with sites to make sure the event you want to attend is still going on.

Most sites on the Trails of History are open Sept. 5 for Labor Day, so please consider spending some of your holiday with us. But if you can't, the rest of the month has some great stuff.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Sept. 23-24, Hunter-Trapper Education—check website for more info.
Sept. 25, Under the Lackawanna Moon—a theatrical presentation using monologue, dialogue, and music to tell stories of settlers and early residents of the Anthracite region; reservations requested, call 570/963-4804.

Brandywine Battlefield
Sept. 11, Commemoration Ceremony—remembering the Battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11, 1777, and the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Sept. 10, Lecture—Dr. John Boback, director of education at Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village, will talk about the lifestyle and subsistence strategies of prehistoric American Indians (free to members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society).

Civil War Road Show
Sept. 2-4, Crawford County Fairgrounds, Meadville—hosted by Crawford County Civil War Roundtable.
Sept. 9-11, Grant St. between Sutton-Ditz Museum and Memorial Park, Clarion—hosted by Clarion County Historical Society.
Sept. 17-19, Ephrata Public Library, Ephrata (Lancaster County)—hosted by Ephrata Public Library in partnership with PA Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau and Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley.
Sept. 24-Oct. 1, Bloomsburg Fair, Bloomsburg (Columbia County)—hosted by Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau and Bloomsburg Fair Assn.

PHMC/Conrad Weiser Homestead

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Sept. 11, Interpretive Sunday—learn about women’s work on the 18th-century frontier, and ask questions about Native American life; program is free to the public.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Sept. 13, Lecture—Jim Schucker will present a talk on the Union Canal Tunnel; check the website or contact the site for more details (lectures are held in Freeman Hall at Cornwall Manor).
Sept. 17, Cast Iron Cooking Demonstration—contact the site for more info.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Sept. 11, Band on the Run 5k Run & 1-Mile Fun Walk—held in conjunction with Daniel Boone High School Music Boosters (go here for details).
Sept. 18, Nature Program—check website for details.

Drake Well Museum
Sept. 11, Sunday Family Fun—“Uncovering the Past” will allow families to learn about the work of archaeologists through a mock excavation; limit 10 people, fee charged (call 814/827-2797 for reservations).
Sept. 17, Fall Gas Up—enjoy antique engines on the grounds of the museum; admission charged.
Sept.24, Saturday Family Fun—“Oil Spill Clean-up” looks at how to handle a spill (you can earn your Boy or Girl Scout badge through this program); there will be 2 sessions, limit 10 people per session, fee charged (call 814/827-2797 for reservations). Also on Sept. 24, Oil Valley Blacksmiths will be on-site for their monthly demonstration day.

Eckley Miners’ Village
Sept. 11, The Story of Big Mary—presented by Regina R. Dasher, this program explores the aftermath of the Lattimer Massacre and the labor movement that resulted.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

Ephrata Cloister
Sept. 10, Founders’ Day—the historic site celebrates the birth of the modern borough of Ephrata with $1.00 general admission and activities highlighting Ephrata’s first residents (special tours of the upper levels of the Sisters’ House will be available for $10.00--$8.00 for members of Ephrata Cloister Associates and PA Heritage Society).

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
Sept. 24, Speaker Series-Bayfront historian Jerry Skrypzak's talk will explore Erie's docks and commercial fishing industry. Skrypzak's presentation is based on extensive research and photography of Erie's waterfront with David Frew; the two have co-authored a book, Fortune and Fury, A History of Commercial Fishing in Erie, which is available in the museum store. The talk is free and open to the public.

Graeme Park
Sept. 21, Homeschool Day—homeschool families are invited for a day of educational activities.
Sept. 24-25, World War II Weekend—encampment of WWII-era reenactors, demonstrations, and a swing concert in the evening.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25, Ice Cream Sundays-Enjoy ice cream sundaes (make your own for $1) and music by the Lancaster County Folk Music & Fiddlers Society (and watch for a "live" report from me, I hope, later this month).
Sept. 22, Hands on History Day—an opportunity for children of all ages to experience history up close and personal through activities and demonstrations.

Old Economy Village
Sept. 10, Wine Tasting Party—visit the wine cellar at Old Economy and taste wines from around the world; call 724/266-4500 x101 for reservations.
Sept. 24-25, Erntefest Harvest Festival—see how the Harmonists celebrated the harvest and prepared for winter; enjoy site tours, Harmonist music, and lots of family-friendly activities.

Pennsbury Manor
Sept. 4, Historic Trades—the blacksmith and joyner will be on hand for their monthly demonstration of metalworking and woodworking skills.
Sept. 11, Living History Theater—“The Departure” brings community members (and visitors) to Pennsbury to bid farewell to the Penn family as they prepare to return to England in 1701.
Sept. 18, Open Hearth Cooking Demo—“Is it Pudding Yet?” explores the 17th-century meanings and forms of “pudding.”
Sept. 26, Garden Highlights—visit the fall garden and experience its colors and textures.

PHMC/Pennsylvania Military Museum

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Sept. 6, Lecture (and picnic)—“Not Frail Flowers: Six Pennsylvania Women Who Made a Difference in the Civil War,” with speaker Linda Estupnian Snook. Presented by Central PA Civil War Roundtable; attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share.
Sept. 17-18, Then & NOW—this popular living history timeline program brings together military equipment, uniforms and reenactors from the colonial period through the present.
Sept. 28, Friends of PMM Speaker Series—“Vikings: the Evolution of Attack,” with Prof. Ben Hudson, Penn State University, whose talk will trace the progression of Viking military actions culminating in the important Battle of Clontarf, fought in Ireland in 1014 against the legendary Irish high king Brian Boru.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Sept. 24, Members Day—lectures, book-signings, and films are among the day’s activities, open to members and guests of Friends of the Railroad Museum (it’s never too late to join).

Scranton Iron Furnaces
Sept. 17, Family Day—check website for details.

Somerset Historical Center
Sept. 9-11, Mountain Craft Days—visit the 42nd Annual folk festival with over 125 craft artisans and demonstrators; great local food (trust me on this) and activities for kids.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Sept. 10, New Planetarium shows—“Star Stories of the Native Americans” and “Ultimate Universe.”
Sept. 11, Gallery Walk Activities—last day for Art of the State exhibit and IdeaZone: Experience the Arts; Artist Conversation with Best of Show winner Lydia Panas and awards juror Ricardo Viera; reception for Doshi Gallery exhibit opening; Susquehanna Art Museum’s VanGO!
Sept. 18, Grand opening for new museum store—as part of Harrisburg’s 3rd in the Burg monthly celebration, see the new store and enjoy a “Mad Men” themed reception.
Sept. 28, HomeSchool Day—gallery talks and demonstrations highlight the museum’s varied collections and programs.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Sept. 18, Open Hearth Cooking Class-food historian Connie Unangst will teach how to stew, boil, roast, and bake using 18th-century techniques and recipes. Space is limited and you must be at least 12 years old to participate; registration and fee required, call 267/475-2353.

The Little Old Economy That Could

2011-08-26T07:34:00.008-04:00

This summer, as the Keystone intern at Old Economy Village, Hilary Lewis worked closely with curator and acting site administrator Sarah Buffington. Hilary shares her perspective with us as a graduate student of Public History at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

History blankets the state of Pennsylvania, a state with so many stories to share. This summer I discovered the hidden treasure of our state, Old Economy Village of Ambridge, Pennsylvania. It is a historical site and museum so rich with history but so ridden with budget cuts. Old Economy is a fabulous example of how history stays alive even during these times of economic austerity. With our nationwide struggle to balance budgets, many fields across the board have been hit hard, and Public History is no exception. Yet even though these budget cuts have been coming for years now, they have managed to persevere and keep that history alive.

The Harmony Society was a unique part of Pennsylvania’s history and could easily be lost if not for Old Economy Village. They manage an extensive site with a trove of artifacts and only a handful of employees. How do they survive, some might ask? I have seen Old Economy at work, and I can say that they persist because of passion and central goal. The individuals I worked with this summer have an unexplainable love for what they do and where they work, and even though money and resources are tight they succeed by working together. They taught me how a historical site can push through difficult times. I witnessed a selflessness while I was at Old Economy Village that showed me how they reach their goal of bringing the Harmonist past to the present.

My major project this summer was to put together an exhibit for the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. The theme of the exhibit was a celebration of the efforts of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and the Harmony Society’s involvement. This project was new and exciting for me. I was given the opportunity to research, write and mount a complete exhibit. The Civil War is a large area of study that many people are interested in and it was no easy task to determine what we should display. We had to figure out what areas we wanted to convey and how best to do it. With so much to do in so little time, we felt like it might never get done. Regardless, we kept on working and when push came to shove, everyone pitched in to help make our exhibit a reality.

Some students may go to an internship and never get dirty, never feel the pressure, never sweat, and never taste the fruits of their labor. This was not the case at Old Economy. Every day brought a new experience and a helpful lesson. My major project may have been creating a Civil War exhibit, but I was able to participate in a little bit of everything. You always had to be prepared to get a little dusty while working on the site. Some afternoons you might have to help in the gardens, other days you might be cleaning collections or working in the archives, and many times you might be lending a hand setting up for a special site event for the community.

The highlight of the internship was watching the PHMC employees, Friends group, and volunteers work together to put on a successful Civil War event. Working that day was a Public Historian’s dream come true. For the first time I was able to see the public enjoying the exhibit that I worked all summer to create. The volunteers, friends and staff helped throw an engaging and educational event for the public. I met so many visitors both young and old that day that had never been to Old Economy but could not wait to come back. [Editor’s note: the Sewickley Herald posted photos of the event here.]

Even in times of economic struggle and stress, history never halts. Historical sites like Old Economy Village keep history alive for the public by working tirelessly to make sure that the past is not lost and the doors are kept open into the future, and they do so by working together, one exhibit at a time.

News Round-up

2011-08-19T07:37:00.008-04:00

Who says nobody’s interested in history anymore? Probably no one who bothers to read Trailheads, but allow me a rhetorical question. Sites on the Trails of History are always in the news (as are other historic sites and museums), and I’ve selected 3 recent stories to highlight this week.

In 2009, the world celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first successful well drilled for oil, which is commemorated at Drake Well Museum, one of the sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History. This past week, the McClintock Well #1 celebrated its 150th birthday, surrounded by friends and well-wishers (I did actually write that without intending the pun—I swear—but now that I see it, I’m keeping it—sorry). McClintock has been producing oil continuously since 1861 and has belonged to the Commonwealth since 2000, when it was donated as an icon of the oil industry. It produces roughly 40 barrels a year, some of which is bottled for sale at Drake Well Museum. You can see local tv coverage here.

The Hazleton Standard Speaker featured an article last week about the successful completion (or soon-to-be completion) of a major restoration project at Eckley Miners’ Village. Ten historic worker houses have had asbestos removed, chimneys and foundations stabilized, and new (but historically accurate) siding installed. Guest blogger Bob Quarteroni reported on the project on Trailheads last January, and I just found (through a link on Eckley’s website) a news report from WNEP-TV 16 that I think is worth sharing.

On August 8, the Philadelphia Inquirer website featured a quick video interview (by Ginny Smith) with historian Irwin Richman, talking about the traditional German four-square gardens at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. Dr. Richman has written and lectured extensively on Pennsylvania German gardens (and many other topics of interest); he explains in the interview that the religion of the gardener helped determine the content of the garden—which links nicely to PHMC’s 2011 theme on religious diversity (see posts here and here).

This is My History, Among Other Things

2011-08-12T07:20:00.013-04:00

PHMC has launched a new photo campaign called “This is My History.” You can take part by submitting photos of historic buildings, landscapes, streetscapes, archaeological excavations (to name a few) in your community. Photos submitted by Oct. 31 will be considered for inclusion in the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan for 2012-2017. But even the photos not selected for the plan (and those submitted by the final deadline of Dec. 31) will be available for history and preservation-minded folks to enjoy via PHMC’s Flickr account (that’s where you submit your photos). More information is available here, including a nifty (did I say nifty?) sign you can include in your photos.

Speaking of preservation (smooth, huh?), we had told you about the International Preservation Trades Workshop happening in Lancaster last week. There were lots of conference sessions and workshops, including a project to put a new slate roof on the bake oven at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. (More photos of IPTW are available on Preservation Trades Network’s FB page.)

PHMC/Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum/photo by Cindy Reedy

PHMC/Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum/photo by Cindy Reedy

Staff and volunteers at Somerset Historical Center are getting ready for a visit from the Civil War 150 Road Show, August 26-28. They opened a temporary exhibit earlier this summer and hosted a review of military and civilian clothing from the Civil War era. Now they’re (that’s Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County volunteers Carl Kahl, Chris Zanoni, and Gary Burkett) hoisting the banners to get ready for a weekend of encampments, programs, and the traveling exhibit.

PHMC/Somerset Historical Center/photo by Mark Ware

Pennsylvania Military Museum has posted photos on their Facebook page of two recent events--Vietnam Revisited and Boot Camp for Kids (a new program this year where kids got a taste of basic training and military service from people who’ve lived it). I had to pick one boot camp photo to share here (notice the heavy downpour?), but if you visit their page, or this article in the Centre Daily Times, you’ll see lots more.

PHMC/Pennsylvania Military Museum

All Shapes and Sizes: Summer Internship with The State Museum of Pennsylvania

2011-08-05T07:24:00.013-04:00

Our guest blogger this week is Lynn Rice, a Keystone Intern in the Education and Outreach Department at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. A graduate student in public history at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Lynn described her internship to me as follows: "This department works hard to keep the museum doors open from day to day by teaching classes, escorting school groups and working with the community and local organizations to make the museum a central space for functions. Working here has opened my eyes to what a museum can do for a community." Thanks, Lynn, for your work, being willing to blog about your experience, and the photos (the captions are mine).

Lynn Rice in IdeaZone

Though not everyone in this department would consider themselves a public historian, they certainly reach the public. Mostly when I ask the question “Do you consider yourself a public historian?” many pause, give me a puzzled look and say, “I guess in some ways.” Due to the newness of this sect in the history field, many historians who fall under other titles do not think of themselves as public historians. In reality most historians who work at all these sites, parks and museums are public historians in some sense. Public historians come in many shapes and sizes. From the lighting coordinator for exhibits, school group coordinators to the museum director, public historians are found on all levels. Interning with museum educators this summer has been rewarding. These people work daily with the public making Pennsylvania history interesting and available. In my definition and those classes I pay for, that is a public historian.

Lynn with her intern mentor, Cherie Trimble, museum educator

My project this summer has been to put together IdeaZone. This is an interactive space for families to explore and learn about this year’s theme, the arts in Pennsylvania. In some ways, this project was a test of my abilities, in that I have almost no education background, and in other ways this project felt like the back of my hand, as I have much performing arts experience. The point of the theme is to bring light to the idea that the arts are not just paint to canvas, but stretch across mind and stage. Many of the arts stretch to other fields like architecture and communications. In many ways IdeaZone and concepts like IdeaZone touch on several forms of public history. This internship has helped me see the connection between what I study in class and this practical museum work experience. A main concept I have taken from my graduate studies so far is “space for dialogue.” It encompasses the idea of an exhibit or room where people can have open conversation with the public historian and each other to gather their own individual experience. In IdeaZone people can do just that.

Community Art Wall outside IdeaZone

With my time working in IdeaZone, I see a three-fold public history experience. First, creating the exhibit takes an understanding of the audience, a focus of content and creativity of the historian. Second, in the space the audience has a place they feel the interaction with the content, whether it be hands-on artifacts or activities for families. And third, by being in the exhibit to direct it, I act as the go-between of the public and the exhibit. This is in an attempt to pinpoint what the audience wants to take away from the exhibit. In many ways, IdeaZone is the ultimate public history experience for both the intern and the families.

State Museum staffers Chris Shope (standing) and Amy Whiting

reenact (sort of) the FAO Schwartz scene from Big

Public historians can come in all shapes and sizes, even in the simplest sense. Overall, the public historian comes alive with the warm summer months. Coming out of ivory-tower hibernation, the public historian can work in creative and mysterious ways to bring history to these summer visitors.

Two Years and Counting

2011-07-29T07:12:00.020-04:00

Can you believe that Trailheads is two years old this month? Well, it is. Thanks to all of our regular readers and to all of our irregular, um, less-frequent readers. Please share us with your friends and help promote the Trails of History. Show them all the fun things they can do in August. Such as…

Brandywine Battlefield
Weekly through August 12, Summer History Camp—week of August 8 is full, but check to see if there’s space August 1-5. Visit the website for details.

Bushy Run Battlefield
August 6-7, The Battle of Bushy Run—248th anniversary reenactment of the battle that pitted British troops against Native American forces; event also includes military camps, craftspeople, and other special programs.

Civil War 150 Road Show
August 5-7, Kittanning Riverfront Park, Kittanning (Armstrong County)—hosted by John T. Crawford Camp #43, Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and Auxiliary.
August 12-14, Garnet Valley Middle School, Glen Mills (Delaware County)—hosted by Concord Township Historical Society and co-hosted by a slew of local historical organizations (visit website for full list).
August 19-21, Penn Park, York—hosted by York County Heritage Trust.
August 26-28, see listing for Somerset Historical Center below.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
August 6, Guided Evening Tours—this living history program will introduce you to Conrad Weiser’s life and times, some of his friends, and the place he lived; a tour guide will accompany you to various spots on the site (program is 6-8:30 pm with the last tour at 8 pm).

Cornwall Iron Furnace
August 9, Monthly Lecture Series—“A History of Lebanon’s Water Supply,” with speaker Mike Trump (board member, educator, and recent co-recipient of Cornwall’s Volunteer of the Year award). Check the website closer to the date for details.

Daniel Boone Homestead
August 10, Junior History Workshop—well-known living historian Clarissa Dillon will conduct a workshop on Hearth Cooking and Dairying for kids in grades 3-6; registration is limited, a copy of the brochure is here.

Drake Well Museum
August 14, Sunday Family Fun—“Building Stories” will teach you the components of telling the perfect story; storyteller Bill Stumpf will lead the way (Bill was recently featured on the blog “Milliver’s Travels"). Reservations and program fee required, 814/827-2797.
August 27, Saturday Family Fun—“Portraits in Plastic” lets you explore artists’ techniques from the 19th century as you create family or individual portraits. Reservations and program fee required, 814/827-2797. Oil Valley Blacksmiths will also be on hand for their monthly demonstration (that’s included in regular admission).

PHMC/Eckley Miners' Village

Eckley Miners’ Village
August 20-21, Living History/Civil War Weekend—experience patch town life in the 1860s with living history demonstrations, Civil War encampments, and other period events.

Ephrata Cloister
August 20, Family Day—learn about families and their historic role at Ephrata Cloister, while taking part in hands-on activities that recreate 18th-century skills and interests (included with regular admission).

Fort Pitt Museum
August 13, Teachers Open House—contact educator Andrew Gaerte for details.

Graeme Park
August 1-5, Colonial Adventure Camp—it may be too late to register, but check here quick.
August 21, Yellow Fever Program—this living history theater presentation explores the impact of the 1793 Yellow Fever epidemic on the residents of Graeme Park.

Hope Lodge
August 10, Summer Movie on the Lawn—Whitemarsh Township Parks and Recreation presents National Treasure at dusk (rain date is Aug. 11).

International Preservation Trades Workshop
August 6, Community Day—the annual conference, designed for people who teach, practice, and are interested in historic building trades, will be held August 2-6 at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster (more info here). On Saturday morning, August 6, activities and demonstrations for families and anyone else who wants to partake will be offered for folks not registered for the rest of the conference (details here).

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
August 2, Hands-on History Day—children of all ages get to take part in hands-on activities from 18th- and 19th-century Pennsylvania German culture (also offered in Sept., Oct., and Nov.).
August 13, Storytelling Day—storyteller Pennsylvania Jack will present “Tales of our Ancestors” and “Pennsylvania People and Places”; hands-on activities, other storytelling sessions, and visits to a one-room schoolhouse round out this day-long event.
August 27, The Weathervane Art Show—Landis Valley’s museum store hosts a day of local artists and craftspeople demonstrating and selling their wares; live music and food will also be available.

PHMC/Old Economy Village

Old Economy Village
August 13, Garden Party—check website for more information.
August 28, Gertrude Rapp’s 203rd Birthday Ice Cream Social—celebrate the birthday of the granddaughter of Harmony Society founder George Rapp and a force in her own right.

Pennsbury Manor
August 7, Historic Trades—the joyner and blacksmith will be showing their skills with wood and metal.
August 14, Living History Theater—“Penn Mead Trial” illustrates the 1670 trial of Quakers William Penn and William Meade for causing a riot in London; learn about how this trial shaped the American judicial system.
August 21, Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration—“Summer in the 17th Century” shows you how the cooks worked with the summer’s harvest to prepare meals for the Penn family.
August 28, Garden Highlights—spend some time in the kitchen garden, meet the gardeners, and help out with chores (if you like).

Pennsylvania Military Museum
August 6, Boot Camp for Kids—this new one-day summer camp experience is designed for boys and girls ages 8 to 13; instructors include prior service soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Registration and prepayment required, contact Joe Horvath.
August 31, Friends of PMM Speaker Series—check the website for details.

Railroad Museum of PA
August 12-13, Hogwarts Express Parties—enjoy this program (recommended for ages 8 and up) inspired by the popular Harry Potter books (activities include reading from one of the books inside a historic railcar); limit 20 children per party (morning and afternoon parties each day), registration (by dropping off or mailing the form) is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Somerset Historical Center
August 26-28, Civil War 150 Road Show—SHC hosts the traveling exhibit for a weekend; local events include an encampment, an evening lecture on Aug. 26, a dinner on Aug. 27, and SHC’s continuing exhibit, “The Civil War in Somerset County.”

Teachers Travel on the Trails of History

2011-07-22T07:51:00.008-04:00

This week’s guest blogger is Rhonda Newton, managing director of the Pennsylvania Heritage Society and project coordinator for PHMC’s Teaching American History initiatives.

PHMC has been involved with the Teaching American History program, a grant program funded by the US Department of Education, since its inception. Since 2002, teachers from central Pennsylvania have spent a week at the State Museum and State Archives as part of three grant projects in partnership with Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), which is based in Lewisburg.

The participants in Keystones of the Federal Union, our current project, are K-6 teachers or librarians from the CSIU region as well as Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties. Last month, twenty-eight teachers spent three days in Harrisburg learning about colonial government, religion and politics in the American experience, and the French and Indian War. Then, we hit the road to learn about daily life in colonial America by visiting historic sites in Pennsylvania.

On June 23, we started at Ephrata Cloister to learn about daily life in one religious community. Museum Program Coordinator Andrea Glass-Heffner and Museum Educator Michael Showalter led us through an exciting and interesting morning, starting with the “Little Sister” program in the Saal. The program introduced the Cloister by following one sister through her day, from getting dressed in appropriate clothing to sleeping with that wooden pillow. Next, we broke into groups to explore the print shop with Andrea and colonial medicine with Michael.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister, photo by Rhonda Newton

Finally, our teachers debated what they would pack in their chests if immigrating to America. Michael created this activity by assigning point values to each of the different things an immigrant might bring from Europe like food, nails, cloth, a clock, and the like. Each chest is limited to 100 points so participants have to prioritize what they think is most important. He then surprised us by quoting from a letter written back to family in Europe with advice on what to bring – things that weren’t readily available in the colonies so could easily be sold for cash on arrival!

PHMC/Graeme Park, photo by Rhonda Newton

We next journeyed on to Graeme Park to explore daily life in the country home of a colonial governor. Teachers toured the house, complete with trying on reproduction clothing, and learned about residents Sir William Keith and Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson. Breaking into smaller groups, they played colonial games, learned about firing a musket, and tried their hand at writing with a quill pen.

PHMC/Graeme Park, photo by Rhonda Newton

It was a long and exciting day! Everyone was happy to get on the bus to head for our overnight stay in Bethlehem, where we toured the Colonial Industrial Quarter and Burnside Plantation on June 24.

Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who made our short journey on the Trails of History so interesting (and fun)!

William Penn’s Legacy: Another Look

2011-07-15T07:20:00.012-04:00

Back in February, we talked about PHMC’s 2011 theme, “William Penn’s Legacy: Religious and Spiritual Diversity” and promised to keep you updated as theme-related stuff rolled out. So, here we go.

The theme website has launched and includes loads of resources for learning more about the complex roles of religion in Pennsylvania’s fascinating history. The Trails of History page, in particular, features information on and links to the PHMC sites that are most closely tied to this year’s theme.

The Winter, Spring, and Summer 2011 issues of Pennsylvania Heritage magazine are filled with articles on various aspects of Penn’s religious legacy, including an article in the Summer issue by former PHMC staffer (and friend of Trailheads), John Robinson, focused on Trails of History sites. (In a tangential but not unrelated note, the summer issue also includes a new Trailheads feature that will appear quarterly until they tell me to stop.) Links to some of the theme-related articles, as well as other interesting reading, are here.

A brief commercial break: You can purchase individual copies of Pennsylvania Heritage at PABookstore.com or receive a subscription as part of your Pennsylvania Heritage Society membership (we now return you to our regularly scheduled programming).

The Pennsylvania Military Museum has a temporary exhibit that explores the topic of religion and military conflicts, highlighting objects, images, and information from the museum’s collections. As the PMM website explains, “Special exhibit labels discuss the organization of the U.S. chaplaincy corps, religious and mystical symbology, the rationalization of warfare through religious beliefs and the impact of faith through the spirituality of individuals throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.”

Oh, and if anyone other than John Robinson played “Name That Zoom” a couple of weeks ago, PA Military Museum was, indeed, the answer.

Award-Winning Projects!!

2011-07-08T10:57:00.005-04:00

Two PHMC projects were among the 59 recipients of Leadership in History Awards from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), recently announced by the organization.

“Soldiers to Governors: Pennsylvania’s Civil War Veterans Who Became State Leaders,” a publication written, designed, and published by PHMC staff, and “William Penn: Seed of a Nation,” the visitor orientation exhibit at Pennsbury Manor that was based on years of research by staff and consulting scholars, were recognized for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

Congratulations to all the folks involved with these projects on this national recognition.

Four other Leadership in History award recipients are from Pennsylvania: Jefferson County History Center, Brookville; Wharton Esherick Museum, Paoli; Fairmount Park Art Association, Philadelphia; and the City of Philadelphia Department of Records.

Declare Your Independence from Boredom and Ignorance

2011-07-01T07:12:00.023-04:00

Here’s wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and safe Independence Day weekend—may it include a stop at the historic site of your choice. Many, but not all, sites on the Trails of History will be open on July 4th from 9 am to 5 pm. Please check ahead to make sure the site you want to visit is open for business. If the hot dogs, watermelon, and fireworks keep you too occupied, there are plenty of opportunities to visit the rest of the month.

PHMC/Anthracite Heritage Museum

Anthracite Heritage Museum
July 12-15, Pieces of the Past: Our Heritage Valley—annual summer camp for kids ages 7-12; registration form is here, and the deadline is TODAY (July 1).

Brandywine Battlefield
Weekly through August 12, Summer History Camp—weeks of July 25 and August 8 are already full, but spaces may remain for the other weeks. Visit the website for details.

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 10, Bushy Run Trail Run 5K Race & Walk—this race/walk (you choose) passes through the scenic trails of Bushy Run Battlefield; contact Penn-Trafford Area Recreation Commission for details or to register.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
July 3, Ringgold Band Concert—this annual event honors all military veterans. Concert is at 1:30, veterans who stop by the registration table between 1 and 1:30 will receive an American flag, compliments of the Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead. Womelsdorf Fire Company will be on hand with food sales starting at noon.

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 4, Independence Day Program—military and civilian reenactors, guided tours of the Boone House, craft demonstrations, camp cooking and more; bring a picnic and enjoy the lovely grounds.
July 19-21, History Day Camp—visit the website for more information.
July 27, Junior History Workshop—check here for more info (also offered August 10).

Drake Well Museum
July 10, Sunday Family Fun, Recycled Rockets—come for a program on water rockets; limit 20, please call 814/827-2797 to reserve your spot.
July 30, Saturday Family Fun, Old Time Tastes—try old-fashioned recipes to make and share lemonade, bake bread and cookies, and churn butter. Yum! Limit 20, call 814/827-2797 for reservations.
July 30, Oil Valley Blacksmiths will be on hand for their monthly demonstration day (included in museum admission).

PHMC/Eckley Miners' Village

Eckley Miners’ Village
July 16-17, Armed Forces Tribute Weekend—this program honors those who have served their country from the Civil War to the present day; reenactors, food, and special activities will be on hand both days. Children will have the opportunity to color drawings to be included in care packages for men and women currently serving overseas.

Graeme Park
July 16, Celtic Festival—15th annual celebration of the Scottish heritage of the Keith, Graeme, and Fergusson families connected to Graeme Park; vendors, entertainment, and food are part of the fun.
July 24, Shakespeare in the Park—Theatre Horizon of Norristown stages As You Like It on the grounds.
August 1-5, Colonial Adventure Camp—kids who will be entering 4th through 7th grade this fall can still sign up for camp, but time is running out.

Joseph Priestley House
July 27-29, Summer History Camp—students who have completed 1st through 5th grade participate in hands-on activities to learn about the life and times of Dr. Priestley and his family. Contact Cindy Inkrote, Northumberland County Historical Society, for details and registration, director@intunewireless.net.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
July 9, Civil War Day 1863—come see how life in a rural Pennsylvania village is affected by the presence of Union troops encamped in the area; reenactors will bring the crossroads back to 1863 for this program.

Old Economy Village
July 16, Civil War Day—encampments, programs about soldiers’ daily lives, medical demonstrations, food, and activities for children will enliven the site. You can find more info here.

PHMC/Pennsbury Manor

Pennsbury Manor
July 3, Historic Trades—meet the blacksmith and the joyner as they demonstrate their metalworking and woodworking skills.
July 10, Living History Theater—play tavern games and catch up on current events with the locals (I understand there’s news to be had about pirates).
July 11-15 and July 25-29, Colonial Camp—designed for students who have completed 1st through 6th grade, the program includes lots of hands-on activities that teach about life in the 17th century. Check here for details.
July 17, Open Hearth Cooking—the cooks are already thinking about preserving the summer’s bounty to last through the winter, and they’ll show you how they do it.
July 24, Garden Highlights—the fragrances and colors of the summer garden will delight your senses.
July 31, Animals at Pennsbury—meet the horse, oxen and sheep who call Pennsbury home.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 2-3, Bark Peelers’ Convention—37th annual presentation of this popular event that showcases the historic and modern skills of woodhicks and lumber camp workers; crafts, food, contests, and bingo are just part of the festivities.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
July 5, “Hoofbeats and Cold Steel, A Night with the Cavalry”—the Central PA Civil War Roundtable presents 2nd US Cavalry reenactor Charlie Doutt as he recounts the life and times of a Union cavalryman.
July 14-17, People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts—annual event showcasing arts and crafts of central PA; food and entertainment are also available; fee for parking on Museum grounds.
July 23-24, VIETNAM Revisited—living history program portraying American support and combat troops during the late 1960s; go here for more info and photos of previous years’ events.
July 27, “Deserter Country: Civil War Opposition in Pennsylvania”—speaker is Dr. Robert Sandow, Assoc. Prof. of History at Lock Haven University; his presentation is part of the Friends of PMM monthly Speaker Series.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Railroad Museum of PA
Through July 4, Reading Railroad Days (began June 29)—special tours, model railroad displays and other activities highlight one of the most important historical transportation systems in eastern Pennsylvania.
July 11-15 and July 25-29, Barons & Builders Day Camp—all spaces are filled for this summer’s camp, but you can find out more info here and plan ahead for next year.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
July 6, 13, 20, and 27, Fossil Day Camp—this new program will be repeated on Wednesday mornings in July; the program is designed for children ages 9 to 11 and explores the Museum’s new paleontology exhibits and the adjacent Dino Lab. More info is here, including details on registration.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
July 4, Independence Day Celebration—the program features crafts demonstrations, tours of historic buildings, an encampment, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Selected Short Subjects

2011-06-29T10:00:00.004-04:00

It’s midweek and I thought I’d try to liven things up a bit to stave off the early summer doldrums (although I have to admit that June has really flown by for me). Anyway, I’m going to give the "Name That Zoom" game another try (many thanks to irishshamrocks for playing the first round).

Since we’re heading into a holiday weekend, I’m giving you an easy one. Name that zoom (use the comments feature to play along).

And while we’re taking things easy, here are a couple of YouTube videos you might enjoy. The first shows the Civil War Road Show trailer being set up (man, they’re fast) and the second is from the Pennsylvania Military Museum’s World War II Revisited program on Memorial Day weekend. Happy viewing!

Don’t say you weren’t given any hints. (I’ll post the answer next week.)

Civil War 150 on the Trails of History, Summer 2011

2011-06-24T07:14:00.010-04:00

But first, the results of National History Day 2011 are in. The national contest concluded last week in College Park, Maryland, and a Pennsylvania student, Gabe Schroeder of St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, won first place in the Senior Paper category. Eight other Pennsylvania entries made it to the final round and you can find the complete results here. Congratulations to all of the Commonwealth’s history competitors (results of the state contest are here), their teachers, and their families—you rock!

As the Pennsylvania Civil War Road Show continues its tour around the state (you can follow on Facebook here) and with summer officially solsticed, it seems like a good time to see what else is happening on the Trails of History during the next couple of months, Civil War-wise. (I think that free milkshake from the Penn Ag Industries Assn. has affected my brain. Anyway.)

PHMC/Eckley Miners' Village

On August 20-21, Eckley Miners’ Village will present its “Living History/Civil War Weekend.” There will be encampments, reenactors and other living history programs portraying aspects of daily life in an anthracite patch town in the 1860s.

At “Civil War Day 1863” at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum on July 9, military and civilian reenactors will bring the crossroads to life and show the impact of the war on rural communities throughout Pennsylvania.

Old Economy Village’s July 16 “Civil War Day” will feature military encampments, medical demonstrations, military food preparation, civilian activities, and a band playing 19th-century music.

Two upcoming lectures at the Pennsylvania Military Museum will shed light on the history of the Civil War in Pennsylvania. On July 5, the Central PA Civil War Roundtable presents 2nd US Cavalry reenactor Charlie Doutt and his program, “Hoofbeats and Cold Steel, A Night with the Cavalry.” As part of the Friends of PMM Speaker Series on July 27, Dr. Robert Sandow, Assoc. Prof. of History at Lock Haven University, will present “Deserter Country: Civil War Opposition in Pennsylvania” (this talk is also part of PA Humanities Council’s “Humanities on the Road” program).

Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County

The Somerset Historical Center recently opened a new temporary exhibit, “The Civil War in Somerset County,” which features a variety of artifacts from around the county. They also organized a fashion show of civilian and military styles from the Civil War era (see photo above) and will host a visit from the Road Show, August 26-28.

We’ll do another update in a couple of months. Meanwhile, feel free to post a comment with info on Civil War-related events or programs you’d like to share.

Volunteers of the Year, Part 4

2011-06-17T07:49:00.015-04:00

This is the final installment in a multi-part tribute to PHMC’s Volunteer of the Year honorees for 2010.

Way back at the end of April, PHMC honored a wonderful group of volunteers for service at sites on the Trails of History in 2010. Periodically, Trailheads has shared a bit of information about them (here, here, and here), and today we conclude our salute for this year (click on the name to read more info). The volunteers who participate in the work of our sites make it possible for us to serve the public in ways we could not without their help. So, once again, thank you all for your dedication and devotion.

Between the two of them, Chuck and Eileen Coxson have supported just about every major program at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with their time and enthusiasm. From craft projects for summer camp to guiding school tours to building projects in the education center (and lots more), they have shared their energy with visitors young and older.

At the Somerset Historical Center, Roy Phillips has made a significant contribution to the crafts program through his demonstration of tinsmithing, which he initially studied as part of Somerset’s apprenticeship program. He continues to develop his skills while also assisting with school groups, distance learning programs, and anything else that needs doing.

Kevin Dermody, a devoted volunteer in the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Dino Lab, made news this spring when a fossil he uncovered in the lab in 2004 was confirmed as a new dinosaur.

As co-chair of the Grounds Committee at Washington Crossing Historic Park, Rudy Blair helps to maintain the park’s more than 500 acres and 50 buildings. His efforts have led to the reclamation of Delaware River viewpoints and park areas that had become overgrown and inaccessible.

Each site on the Trails of History recognizes a Volunteer of the Year. In addition, nominations are received for an Outstanding Service Award to honor those who have had a long-term, sustained commitment to a site. This year, Gloria Harris was recognized for her 38 years of service to the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum.

Inaugurated last year, the Chairman’s Special Award recognizes volunteer service in the area of fundraising. For her work at Bushy Run Battlefield, which has included raising money to secure additional portions of the battlefield and to renovate the orientation theater in the visitor center, this year’s recipient is Jean Loughry.

Thank you again to all of our volunteers. We look forward to recognizing next year’s honorees.

USCG Veteran Makes “On the Great Lakes” Opening a Night to Remember

2011-06-10T07:08:00.014-04:00

This week’s guest blogger is Linda Bolla of the Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara. Thanks to Peter Repoff, John Baker, and the US Coast Guard Art Program for the images.

As a proud USCG veteran, Pete Repoff remains interested in any news regarding the Coast Guard, so at the opening reception for the Coast Guard Art Program exhibit last month, Pete and his wife, Carol, were among the first guests to arrive. He came hoping that someone in the Erie Maritime Museum could give him information about the current status of a ship he had served on, too.

Pete joined the United States Coast Guard in January, 1956. After graduating from Boot Camp, he was stationed at the USCG Station in Buffalo, NY, then transferred to Old Fort Niagara at Youngstown, NY. He went to school for Damage Control later that year, and in November, was assigned to USCG Cutter Mackinaw (WAGB-83).

USCG Cutter Mackinaw in dry dock (1957) shows
the screw at the bow of the ship (photo by Peter Repoff)

When first commissioned in 1944, the Mackinaw was the most powerful icebreaker in the world. The ship had one screw at the bow, and two screws at the stern. If the cutter had difficulty moving forward through the ice, it could reverse and then thrust forward again, using both rear screws. At the conclusion of her career in 2006, the Mighty Mack was still the largest United States Coast Guard Cutter assigned to the Great Lakes, and set the standards by which other icebreakers are measured. “Old Mack” was succeeded by another Mackinaw (WLBB-30), and is now the centerpiece of the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum in Michigan.

“Mighty Mack” had two screws at the stern (photo by Peter Repoff)

Pete was advanced to Third Class Damage Control Man (Third Class Petty Officer) in 1957. In 1958-59 he was reassigned to the Cutter Kukui (W-186) at the USCG Station on Sand Island, Honolulu, HI. His assignment on this maintenance ship had him touring throughout the Pacific islands, including Okinawa, Saipan, Guam, Manila, and Hong Kong, to name just a few. His service on Sand Island merited another promotion, and found him supervising 6 -8 men as Damage Control Man Second Class. In January 1960, he was honorably discharged from the U. S. Coast Guard in Cleveland, OH.

Pete was looking for information about the Mackinaw Museum in Michigan when he arrived at the Erie Maritime Museum and was absolutely delighted to find that one of the paintings in the current exhibit shows his Cutter Mackinaw in action, cutting a channel through the ice on the Great Lakes as a grain ship follows close behind.

Upward Bound, Whitefish Bay, Michigan by Thomas Muchow
(courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Art Program)

The Museum staff followed up with Pete and Carol Repoff after the exhibit, sharing information about the Mighty Mack’s new role as a museum ship, and collecting information about his USCG service for this article.

Peter P. Repoff in 1958 (courtesy of Peter Repoff)

Pete Repoff at the opening of the Coast Guard Art exhibit (photo by John Baker)

“On the Great Lakes: The Coast Guard in Action” remains on exhibit in the Erie Maritime Museum West Wing Gallery through September 16, 2011.

Volunteers of the Year, Part 3

2011-06-03T07:48:00.011-04:00

This is part three in a multi-part tribute to PHMC’s Volunteer of the Year honorees.

On April 30, we honored volunteers of the year from all of the sites on the Trails of History at a program and lunch at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. In two previous blog posts, we introduced you to a dozen of this year’s award recipients; this week we feature six more (click on the name to read a fuller description). I continue to be amazed at and grateful for the time and energy these wonderful people contribute to our collective work. Thank you again.

At Joseph Priestley House, board member Cindy Inkrote stepped in to help keep the site open to the public after budget cuts in 2009. In addition to opening and closing the property, she is also on call for emergencies and works both behind the scenes and with the public.

Russell Eaton has worked for several years to organize Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum’s postcard collection, one of the museum’s largest artifact groups. Russ has curated several themed exhibits of the collection and has helped to identify postcards with Landis Family correspondence among the vast array.

A volunteer at Old Economy Village since 2005, John Voss contributes a great deal of time in the maintenance shop, stopping by at least weekly to see what needs to be done. His cooking skills have also benefited the staff and volunteers, both as part of public programs, but also in the brownies he shares on his frequent visits.

As President of the Pennsbury Society, Michael Hall has devoted his attention to board recruitment and development at Pennsbury Manor. He has worked with the local community and other museums to find resources and direct them in support of the site’s mission.

Jean and Pete Folk work together and separately in a variety of ways to support the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. From chairing the spring and fall Heritage Days shows to greeting visitors at the front desk, they show their dedication to the museum and set an example for others.

At the Pennsylvania Military Museum, Lucille Fuller found an outlet for her scrapbooking and sewing skills, helping to organize the site history files and mending flags, clothing, and other fabrics. Her willingness to turn her hobby interests into a volunteer commitment are greatly appreciated.

In two weeks, we’ll wrap up our salute to volunteers for this year.

Ah, June

2011-05-27T07:08:00.019-04:00

Most of the sites on the Trails of History will be open May 30 for Memorial Day. As always, summer is our busiest season and there are programs planned just about everywhere during the month of June. So what are you waiting for? (Sneak preview: our tribute to volunteers of the year continues next week!)

Brandywine Battlefield
June 20-24: First week of Summer History Camp—weekly camps continue through Aug. 8-12; click above for more details and information on registration.

Bushy Run Battlefield
June 18: “The Seven Years War”—speaker is Kristopher White, historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park; free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society, $5 for non-members.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
June 5: Colonial Craft and Demonstration Day—visitors will have the opportunity to see numerous 18th Century craft demonstrators from a bookmaker to weaving. Learn about the historical context, materials and equipment of the mid to late 18th century.

PHMC/Cornwall Iron Furnace

Cornwall Iron Furnace
June 15: “Architecture of the Cornwall Area”—speaker is Bryan Van Sweden, of the PHMC’s Bureau for Historic Preservation; this is the annual meeting and dinner of the Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace, cost is $30 per person and deadline for reservations is June 7 (call 717/272-9711).
June 26: Mrs. Buckingham’s Lawn Party—celebrate an old-fashioned summer Sunday with refreshments and outdoor activities (Margaret Coleman Freeman Buckingham was the great granddaughter of furnace owner Robert Coleman and donated the property to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1932).

Daniel Boone Homestead
June 10-12: Patriot Days Encampment—Youth groups gather for a weekend of camping, crafts, and geocaching (new this year) on the grounds; for details and registration, go here.
June 18: Evening on the Green—Experience summer leisure activities as the Boones and other colonial families did and take a candlelit tour of the Boone Homestead.

Drake Well Museum
June 12: Historical Hikes—Sunday Family Fun program features a 5-mile hike (it’s a loop) through the Oil Creek Valley.
June 25: Herb Gardens to Go—Saturday Family Fun program includes planting a family herb garden and making “dirt” sundaes (yum). Also, the Oil Valley Blacksmiths will be on site for their monthly demonstration.

PHMC/Eckley Miners' Village

Eckley Miners’ Village
June 18-19: Patch Town Days—celebrate the customs and traditions of the anthracite coal region through music, dancing, food, living history presentations, artisans, crafters, and other period activities.

Ephrata Cloister
June 19: Father’s Day—free admission for dads today.

Graeme Park
June 11: Paranormal Investigations—part of the site’s monthly series with various groups; reservations and pre-payment required, call 215/343-0965.
June 19: Father’s Day Lunch—there will be colonial trades and military skills demonstrations and, of course, food. Call the site (phone number above) to make reservations.

PHMC/Joseph Priestley House

Joseph Priestley House
June 19: Grand opening of the new exhibit in Joseph Priestley’s laboratory—join in the celebration of a new effort to interpret the laboratory wing at Priestley’s Northumberland home, where he identified carbon monoxide and the science behind carbonation.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
June 14-17: 55th Annual Summer Institute—traditional craft classes, lectures, open hearth cooking are the heart of this long-standing program; a copy of the registration booklet with class descriptions and more is here.
June 14-17: Summer camp, “The Life of a Farm Child, 1700s to early-1900s”—two- and four-day options available.
June 21: Hands-on History Days—dozens of hands-on workshops for all ages (this program will be repeated monthly through November, check the website for details).
June 24-26: Convergence of Tinsmiths and Coppersmiths—a regional meeting of the Early American Industries Association will bring together people with an interest in metalwork, tools, and history. Anyone interested in early trades and crafts is welcome; a copy of the program flyer is here.

Old Economy Village
June 11: Big Red Fire Truck Day—view Old Economy’s historic fire pumpers in the newly renovated Carriage House. Local fire companies will be on hand as well to display more recent fire fighting equipment; games, water pumper contests, and activities for children will also be part of the day.
June 25: Wine Tasting Party—visit one of the Harmonist wine cellars and taste wines from around the word; reservations are required, call 724/266-4500, x101.

Pennsbury Manor
June 5: Historic Trades—the blacksmith and the joyner will demonstrate their skills.
June 12: Living History Theater—“The Voyage of the Submission” invites you to take a seat on a 1682 sea voyage to the American colonies and learn about the lives of some of the passengers.
June 19: Open Hearth Cooking—learn about dairying as Pennsbury’s cooks make cheese and share receipts (recipes) that include cheese and butter.
June 26: Garden Highlights—meet the gardeners and explore the Pennsbury gardens as they come into their summer beauty.

Pennsylvania Heritage Society
June 21: Signature Series lecture, “Religion and Politics in the American Experience”—speaker is Dr. Jon Butler, Yale University, in conjunction with PHS Teaching American History teacher institute and in support of PHMC’s 2011 theme, “William Penn’s Legacy: Religious and Spiritual Diversity.” Lecture will be presented in the Auditorium of the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Weekends in June: Discount--Visit the museum wearing an Armed Forces-themed t-shirt and receive a guided tour at 1:00 pm for $4.00.
June 14: Flag Day Celebration—local veterans organizations and the State College Elks Lodge will host a Flag Day Service and U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony at the 28th Division Shrine; the public is invited to bring U.S. flags that are no longer serviceable for proper disposal.
June 29: “Soft Underbelly, the Italian Campaign of WWII”—speaker is Capt. Jim Bloom, U.S. Navy, ret., who will discuss the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy, present anecdotes of Army and Navy operations, and share modern photos of key battlefields; part of the Friends of the PA Military Museum monthly Speaker Series.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
June 3-5: Pennsy Days—three days of author presentations, Pennsy rolling stock and locomotives, model railroad displays, and much more, recalling the history and impact of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
June 29-July 4: Reading Days—annual program highlighting the museum’s Reading Railroad equipment and including a model train layout of the Reading Company’s operations in eastern Pennsylvania.

PHMC/Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton Iron Furnaces

Scranton Iron Furnaces
June 3-4: Fire at the Furnace and Arts on Fire Festival—Fire at the Furnace takes place Friday evening; tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door (patron level tickets also available). Arts on Fire Festival on Saturday is free. Call Anthracite Heritage Museum at 570/963-4804 for details or to purchase tickets. For a taste of last year's inaugural event, go here.

Somerset Historical Center
June 11: Exhibit opening, “The Civil War in Somerset County”—artifacts from all over the county will help to tell their stories. To mark the exhibit opening, a dinner and Civil War-era fashion show will also take place off-site; check the website for details.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Through June 19: DŌSHI Gallery show (in conjunction with Susquehanna Art Museum) and National History Day in Pennsylvania exhibit of winning student entries from 2010 statewide competition.
June 18: Fatherhood Family Festival—presented by Nate Gadsden’s Writer’s Wordshop; free museum admission day.
June 19 (through Sept. 11): Art of the State—annual juried exhibit of works by established and emerging artists from around Pennsylvania; presented in cooperation with The Greater Harrisburg Arts Council.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
June 10: Groundbreaking for new visitor center--go here for more info.

International Preservation Trades Workshop 2011

2011-05-20T07:40:00.011-04:00

This week’s guest blogger is Barry A. Loveland of PHMC’s Division of Architecture and Preservation

The deadline for early registration for one of the largest gatherings of preservation and traditional trades people and enthusiasts in the world is June 1, 2011. Don't let this opportunity slip by to save money on your registration fees. The deadline for hotel registration to take advantage of discounted group rates is July 1.

The 15th annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) will be held August 2-6, 2011 on the campus of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, 750 E. King Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This exciting event is being sponsored by the Preservation Trades Network, Inc., the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology's Preservation Trades Technology Program.

IPTW 2011 will bring together hundreds of the best preservation and traditional trades crafts people, as well as preservation architects, preservation consultants, building trades contractors and others from the US, Canada, Europe and beyond, who are interested in learning more about preservation and traditional trades techniques, tools, materials and practices. For those who work in the preservation and traditional building trades, this is a gathering of their “tribe.” For others, it offers a unique opportunity to see some of the finest crafts people at work and learn more about how historic building preservation is accomplished in construction.

More than 50 presentations and in-depth hands-on demonstrations will showcase the talents of some of the world's best preservation and traditional crafts people in such diverse crafts as masonry restoration, slate, wood shingle and metal roofing, decorative painting, stained glass repair, timber framing, restoration carpentry and much more.

There will also be two-day in-depth pre-conference workshops in the Preservation and Repair of Porches and Painting Historic Buildings, a one-day Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair and Painting EPA certification course, and a five-day course in timber framing.

Special pre-conference tours will include a trip to the Mercer Museum, Fonthill and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. Another tour will include a demonstration of a water powered vertical saw mill at Daniel Boone Homestead, a behind the scene tour of the Ball and Ball Hardware workshops and a tour of the Wharton Esherick home and studio.

PHMC/Daniel Boone Homestead

The Slate Roofing Contractors Association of North America will also hold their annual meeting and workshops in conjunction with IPTW 2011.

A highlight of IPTW 2011 will be Donovan Rypkema's keynote address which will document the important contribution to a local economy provided by the preservation trades, and also the role of historic preservation in comprehensive sustainable development.

Conference and workshop sessions are eligible for American Institute of Architects continuing education units.

Opportunities still exist for event sponsorships, product and service exhibitors, non-profit and educational exhibitors, demonstrators, and student scholarships.

Visit the web site http://www.iptw.org/ for more information and registration. Or email info@ptn.org with your questions. You can also reach the Preservation Trades Network at 866-853-9335.

Volunteers of the Year, Part 2

2011-05-13T07:47:00.009-04:00

This is part two in a multi-part tribute to PHMC’s Volunteer of the Year honorees.

Last week, we introduced you (briefly) to 6 of this year’s Volunteer of the Year award recipients. All of our award winners were recognized at a ceremony at the State Museum of Pennsylvania on April 30. If you click on the name of the volunteer, you can read a bit more about his or her accomplishments. We thank them for their dedication to our historic sites and museums and for their many hours of service to the public.

As an advisor to Drake Well Museum’s Mobile Energy Education Training Unit (MEET-U), Dave Cook devoted more than 1,000 hours of his time in 2010. MEET-U covered over 7,000 miles as it traveled around Pennsylvania; Dave was behind the wheel for most of those and now serves as the chairperson for the mobile education program.

Bryan Dunnigan, a resident of Eckley Miners’ Village, is a leader in maintaining its historical integrity. He created and now interprets the Village’s blacksmithing operation, bringing life to the time-honored trade and delighting visitors; he also lends considerable support to the Traveling Trunk program for schoolchildren of all ages.

Willing to tackle many different jobs at Ephrata Cloister, Jane Woodruff assists with visitor services, guides tours (including bus groups), volunteers for the Community Days educational program (as well as other school programs), substitutes for other volunteers when needed, and provides home-baked treats for the monthly volunteer meetings.

Melanie Scott dedicated hundreds of hours to the Flagship Niagara League’s first ever Tall Ships Erie Festival, which raised more than $225,000 to support the sailing program. Drawing ships and visitors from throughout the Great Lakes, Tall Ships Erie was a huge success for the Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara.

An active member of the Friends of Graeme Park for over 10 years, Dr. Bruce B. Rader has served as a board member and active program volunteer. Whether behind the scenes or on the front lines portraying Dr. Benjamin Rush, Dr. Thomas Graeme, or (above) Blackbeard, he lends his support to every event and program.

M.J. Fischer supports Hope Lodge in many ways. For more than 25 years, she has been a board member, assisted with interior painting, organized special events, and worked in the garden. She works extensively on the annual reenactment of the 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment and has served as a historic weapons safety officer for the event.

We’ll introduce you to more honorees in future posts.

Volunteers of the Year Part 1

2011-05-06T07:16:00.018-04:00

Go here for the answer to the May 4 “Name That Zoom!”

This is part one in a multi-part tribute to PHMC’s Volunteer of the Year honorees.

On April 30, staff and volunteers from Trails of History sites all over the Commonwealth gathered with Harrisburg staff to celebrate all the wonderful people who volunteer their time and energy to preserving Pennsylvania’s heritage and making it come alive for visitors. As we have done every year for many years now, we honored a Volunteer of the Year from each site for their service in 2010. The ceremony and lunch were hosted by the State Museum of Pennsylvania. Today and in the coming weeks, Trailheads will highlight our honorees and share with you some of their accomplishments (and give you a link to a fuller description). We can never say “thank you” enough for the support these folks provide, but we can try.

Linda Schuller began her service at the Anthracite Heritage Museum in 2009 and has been a driving force behind the museum’s summer camp and carboniferous fossils workshop.

At Brandywine Battlefield, Rich Bowers and George Thorpe were recognized for their efforts to keep the site open to the public following the severe budget cuts of 2009.

Dave Mohr volunteered 225 hours at Bushy Run Battlefield in 2010, guiding tours, helping in the gift-shop, serving as a safety officer for the annual battle reenactment, and telling stories on the Haunted History Hayride.

A regular visitor to Conrad Weiser Homestead over the years, John Miller committed to the site as a volunteer with the Friends and the 1st Battalion PA Regiment reenactment group and never looked back. His work behind the scenes for site events may go unnoticed at times but is greatly appreciated.

In addition to lots of other volunteer work at Cornwall Iron Furnace, Don Rhoads, Jr., and Michael Trump collaborated on the research and production of a highly successful (sold out 2 printings) 2010 calendar featuring Robert H. Coleman, one of the owners of the historic iron plantation.

History professors (and sisters) Jill Greene and Jodi Greene-Kelly, along with their children Annie, Tara, and Jared, have devoted themselves individually and as a group to supporting and promoting programs and events at Daniel Boone Homestead. From research to poster design to weekly cleaning, their passion for history has been translated into action on the site’s behalf.

Stay tuned for future posts to meet the rest of our Volunteers of the Year.

Mid-Week Updates are Back!!

2011-05-04T07:35:00.005-04:00

Trying something out here—a new game called “Name that Zoom!” Here’s a close-up of an image from one of the sites on the Trails of History. If you know what it is, leave a comment (click on the number next to “Comment” above and follow the instructions). I’ll include the answer in Friday’s post. I’m sure you’ll all be sleepless until then.

Name That Zoom!

While I have you here, I’ll just remind you that Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum’s Herb and Garden Faire is this Friday and Saturday—not to be missed if you like plants, garden stuff in general, or food. I went last year for the first time and am going back again for more herbs from the Heirloom Seed Program.

Bushy Run's annual Spring Nature Walk is Saturday. Sunday is Mother’s Day (but you knew that)—Moms get in free at Ephrata Cloister; Graeme Park has breakfast planned (reservations required); and there’s a fundraising walk at the Pennsylvania Military Museum for a local organization that helps single mothers.

Herb and Garden Faire, 2010

The Bureau for Historic Preservation has planned a series of meetings around the state to get input on the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan. There’s a meeting this afternoon in Titusville, as part of the Northwest Commission Connect to Communities Conference, and tomorrow afternoon in Moon Township (outside Pittsburgh). For details on these and other dates, go here.

The Pennsylvania State Archives open house that was postponed and then cancelled due to serious water problems in Harrisburg a couple of weeks ago has been rescheduled for Monday, May 23, 10 am to 3 pm.

What To Do When Royal Wedding Fever Breaks

2011-04-29T07:14:00.018-04:00

Okay, so most of you probably aren’t that worked up about the big wedding “across the pond,” but I’ll do anything legal (and free) to grab a keyword search. My alternate title for this post is “Where Did April Go?” because that’s how I feel. It seems like we just started the month and it’s already flown by. Maybe it’s the change in weather—the high temp in Harrisburg on April 1 was 45 degrees and as I write this we’re headed for 80-degrees plus. From winter to summer in four weeks. Ugh.

Anyway, there are all kinds of activities on the Trails of History in May. Sites will be open on Memorial Day, but there’s no need to wait until then.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
May 27-28, Anthracite Heritage Conference—Friday’s session is “Why Study Anthracite: A Primer for Educators” and Saturday will continue with a variety of scholars and topics. Registration is required; there are discounts for members and for people who register for both days. You can find more details here.

Brandywine Battlefield
May 14, Craft Day—join in a day of 18th-century crafts and domestic activities.

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 7, Annual Spring Nature Walk—local naturalist George Heasley will lead a walk through the woods and explore the beautiful setting.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
May 1, 18th-century Interpretive Sunday—visit with reenactors to talk about life in the 18th century and enjoy guided tours of the site (not to mention the beautiful park).

Cornwall Iron Furnace

May 10, Steam Coffin: First Crossing of the Atlantic by a Steamship—speaker is John Laurence Busch, author of “Steam Coffin—Captain Moses Rogers and the Steamship Savannah Break the Barrier”; part of Cornwall’s monthly lecture series held at Cornwall Manor’s Freeman Hall auditorium.

Daniel Boone Homestead

May 1, Children’s Day—learn about young Daniel’s early life in the Oley Valley and people who influenced him most; activities will take place all over the site and there will be special guided tours of the Boone House geared toward kids ages 4 to 15.

Drake Well Museum

May 1, Engine Start-Up Day—the air will be humming and clanging with the sound of steam engines and oil field equipment.
May 28, Oil Valley Blacksmiths monthly demo—repeated the last Saturday of each month, through October.

Eckley Miners’ Village

May 22, Victorian Fashion Show—presented at the Sharpe House; donation requested.

Ephrata Cloister

May 14, Field Trip to Winterthur Museum—Ephrata Cloister Associates invites its members (it’s really easy to become one) on a trip to Delaware to see the exhibit, Paint, Pattern and People: Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania 1725-1850. Two items from Ephrata are in the exhibit and a number of past and present staff of the PHMC have served as resources. The deadline to register is May 1, so call NOW, 717/733-6600.
May 15 and 22, Ephrata Cloister Chorus Spring Concerts—the chorus will perform music composed at Ephrata as well as other early American music at two community venues; more information here.

May 20, Community Day—this popular educational program allows students to explore the history of the Cloister and the people who lived and worked there; reservations are strongly recommended, call 717/733-6600.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara

May 21, Mariner’s Ball—a benefit event in support of the Flagship Niagara, featuring food, entertainment, and a live auction; deadline for reservations is May 2, call 814/452-2744 x223.

Fort Pitt Museum

May 7-8, A Century of Soldiers: Pittsburgh’s Fighting Men in the 1760s and 1860s—reenactors will compare life during the French and Indian War and the American Civil War; held in conjunction with the PA Civil War 150 Road Show’s visit to the Heinz History Center.
May 21, Venture Outdoors Festival—visit Fort Pitt during the festival for 18th-century fishing demos and a hands-on activity area.

Graeme Park

May 1, Battle of Crooked Billet Illumination—this evening program will explore a Revolutionary War battle fought in the nearby town of Hatboro.
May 8, Mother’s Day Breakfast—enjoy breakfast and a tour of the Keith House (there will be a special craft activity for the kids); reservations required.
May 14, Paranormal Investigations—this monthly evening program explores the house and grounds; reservations and pre-payment required.
May 22, Tea for Teddy and Me—children can bring the favorite teddy bear or doll for tea and sweets, and a special kid-friendly tour of the Keith House; reservations required.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

May 6-7, Herb and Garden Faire—this annual event brings together over 70 vendors and artisans offering plants, garden décor, food, and more food. Check out the vendor list here.

May 29, Spring Bus Trip to Historic Cold Spring Village—visit southern New Jersey to learn about life there during the late 18th to mid-19th centuries; registration is required and the deadline is May 21.

PHMC/Pennsbury Manor

Pennsbury Manor

May 1, Sheep Shearing and Historic Trades—watch the sheep sheared by hand and then help wash card and spin the wool; the blacksmith and joyner will also demonstrate their skills.
May 8, Living History Theater—stop into the Best Kitchen to learn about 17th-century medicine and women’s role in caring for the family’s health.
May 15, Open Hearth Cooking—see and smell what the cooks are doing with sugar and spices.
May 22, Garden Highlights—spend some time in the kitchen garden to learn about the gardener and his work.
May 29, Animals at Pennsbury—the sheep, horse, and oxen will help you learn about their 17th-century predecessors.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum

May 21, Heritage Days Antiques and Collectibles Show and Sale—takes place on the grounds of the Museum and includes food and door prizes.

Pennsylvania Military Museum

May 1, A Revolutionary Affair—reenactors will be encamped to the field life of contract soldiers in the service of King George of Great Britain (program begins April 30).
May 8, Bridge of Hope Mother’s Day Walk—walk the parade grounds as part of a fundraiser for single, homeless mothers in Centre County; call 814/466-6156 for information.
May 22, A Celebration of Service: Honoring Pennsylvania Veterans—this annual US Army reunion and memorial service features speakers, military band music, and vehicle displays.
May 28-29, World War II Revisited—American and German WWII reenactors will bivouac on the grounds to recall the European Theater of Operations, 1944-45; the Service Canteen on the afternoon of May 28 will feature The Andrews Sisters Tribute Show.
May 30, Allegheny Mountain Region A.A.C.A. Car Show—the annual summer season kick-off features pre-war through modern classics; visit boalsburgcentral for details.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
May 13-15, Conrail Days—annual program devoted to the history of the Consolidated Rail Corporation, presented in partnership with the Conrail Historical Society; see the complete program here.

State Museum of Pennsylvania

May 1, photography exhibit, Wood on Glass, closes to the public.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
May 14, Washington Crossing Brewfest—food, music, and beer from over 50 national and regional breweries; check the website for details.

Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trails of History

2011-04-22T07:20:00.011-04:00

It’s been a strange week in Harrisburg—if you missed it, there were two water main breaks early this week that wreaked all kinds of havoc. State offices in the Capitol Complex were shut down for the better part of 3 days due to low or no water pressure. The result? For me, yet another reminder never to take indoor plumbing for granted. For you, a really tortured title for this post. (The open house at the Pennsylvania State Archives scheduled for April 18 had to be cancelled due to the water problems; if it gets rescheduled we’ll let you know.)

Many sites on the Trails of History will be closed on April 24 for Easter, so please check ahead before visiting. But there’s still the rest of April…

PHMC is partnering with the African American Museum in Philadelphia to present “Black History in Pennsylvania: A Communities in Common Workshop” on April 29 at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church. Participants will learn about a statewide historic resource survey and context study that documented African American heritage throughout Pennsylvania. For details, go here.

Drake Well Museum

April 30: Program, Oil Valley Blacksmiths Association demo—blacksmithing demos are held the last Saturday of each month through October. For a look at one of last year’s programs, go here.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

(one of the clues on the Spring Search)

Ephrata Cloister
April 23: Children’s program, Spring Search—a variation on the seasonal egg hunt, children 11 and under look for historical clues around the site and collect stamps in their Heritage Passport. There's a nice story in the Lancaster newspaper about the program here.
April 29: Children’s program, Community Days—students explore activities that made the community of Ephrata a thriving center of life in colonial days. Registration is strongly recommended, call 717/733-6600 (program will also be offered May 20).

Fort Pitt Museum
April 30: Exhibit opening, The American Frontier Rifleman: Tall Tales & Truth

Graeme Park
April 30: Program, Revolutionary War Reenactment—learn about life during the winter of 1777-78, when Graeme Park was occupied by the Continental Army.

PHMC/Landis Valley Museum

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
April 30: Workshop, Folk Art and Friendship—sponsored by Weathervane Museum Store; according to their Facebook page, there’s still space available but call 717/569-9312 soon.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
April 27: Program, Training the Iraqi Federal Army—speaker is Lt. Col. John Curwen, USArmy; he will talk about his experiences training the 6th Infantry Battalion of the Iraqi Federal Army in eastern Diyala province. Part of the Friends of PMM monthly speaker series.
April 30-May 1: Event, A Revolutionary Affair—two-day living history encampment on the Museum grounds

Finished Your Taxes?

2011-04-15T06:31:00.007-04:00

If you haven’t finished your taxes, quit reading this and get to work (I’ll have no part in your procrastination ritual)! Otherwise, enjoy an assortment of items selected especially for you (according to the post count on Blogger, this is the 100th post on Trailheads—we’ll be breaking out the streamers and party hats shortly).

As you know from last week’s post Pennsylvania’s (and most of the country’s) commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War took place this Tuesday. Governor Tom Corbett (see his remarks here) and legislative leaders spoke at a kickoff event in the Capitol Rotunda and were joined by historical interpreters from a variety of groups. PA Civil War 150 reported live on their Facebook page and Twitter, so I’ll let you check that out for yourself.

John F. Hartranft

Keeping with the Civil War theme, the Pennsylvania State Archives will host an open house on Monday, April 18, from 10 am to 3 pm. They’ll be showing off their newly renovated Search Room and highlighting interesting documents from the vast archival collections of the Commonwealth. Among the featured items is the 1865 letter book of Gen. John F. Hartranft, who oversaw the imprisonment and treatment of the accused conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In “The Conspirator,” which opens today in theaters, Hartranft is played by Jim True-Frost. (Never heard of him? IMDb says he’s been in some movies, mostly tv series—maybe this will be his breakout role). General Hartranft also went on to serve as Governor of Pennsylvania (1872-79) and is a subject of the recent PHMC publication, From Soldiers to Governors.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Tomorrow, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania opens a new temporary exhibit, “Rail Traffic Control: Managing the Crossroads of Commerce.” The exhibit explores railroad signaling and communications through artifacts, photographs, and videos, as well as an opportunity for visitors to run a simulated rail traffic operation (hands-on isn’t just for kids, after all). The exhibit is in the 2nd floor gallery and will run through December.

PHMC/Railroad Museum of PA

Charlie Fox, director of the Railroad Museum (and, in the spirit of blogger transparency, my husband), recently received an alumni award from the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University. Fox was honored by the Art History Department (he holds bachelor’s degrees in Art History and History) for his professional achievements and for his service to the College (he just finished a third term on the board of the alumni association). During the awards festivities, he had several opportunities to talk candidly with undergrad and graduate students about his experiences at Penn State and his subsequent career in museums.

Commemorating the Civil War in Pennsylvania

2011-04-07T06:45:00.007-04:00

Next week is the official kickoff for Pennsylvania’s commemoration of the American Civil War, which began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter, a Federal fort in Charleston (SC) Harbor (but you know that).

An event planned for the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg (Tuesday, April 12, at 10 am) will feature Civil War military reenactors and an appearance by Thaddeus Stevens (courtesy of Pennsylvania Past Players), in addition to invited speakers First Lady Susan Corbett, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Sam Smith, and State Representative Paul Clymer. They will be joined by PHMC Executive Director Barbara Franco. PHMC and the Pennsylvania Heritage Society are key partners in Pennsylvania Civil War 150; the Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, are the other major partners.

Over the next four years, events will take place throughout the Commonwealth, as organizations large and small explore Pennsylvania’s role during this pivotal time in American history. If you know of an organization that is planning an event, encourage them to list it on the PA Civil War 150 website.

The Civil War Road Show is a signature element in the Pennsylvania commemoration. Sure, there will be lots of attention paid to the Battle of Gettysburg during the sesquicentennial, but the Road Show will visit all 67 counties to emphasize the fact that every part of the state was affected by the war in some way. The 53-foot traveling exhibit trailer will help Pennsylvanians explore the Civil War stories of their communities while learning about other people’s experiences as well. The official launch of the Road Show and the start of the 2011 tour will be May 6-8 in Pittsburgh; to see the 2011 schedule go here.

Trailheads will, of course, continue to update you periodically on the anniversary commemoration.

Trailheads in Final Four!!

2011-04-01T06:51:00.016-04:00

Lots of stuff going on in April—let’s just hope it doesn’t get snowed out. Most sites on the Trails of History will be closed on April 24 for Easter, so it’s a good idea to check ahead before visiting.

PHMC is partnering with the African American Museum in Philadelphia to present “Black History in Pennsylvania: A Communities in Common Workshop” on April 29 at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church. Participants will learn about a statewide historic resource survey and context study that documented African American heritage throughout Pennsylvania. For details, go here.

Anthracite Heritage Museum

April 2: Workshop, From the Ground Up—offered in partnership with Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County, this program covers garden planning, understanding soil, and starting seeds. Reservation and fee required, call Steve Ward, 570/963-6842.
April 3: Program, Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Pancoast Mine Disaster—the Pancoast disaster was a devastating fire that started in the mine’s engine house (learn more here). Program is included in museum admission (free to Museum Associates).

Brandywine Battlefield
April 16: Program, Living History Day—check the website for more info.

Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society

Bushy Run Battlefield
April 1: Bushy Run reopens for the season (open Wednesday through Sunday). Check out the new theater exhibit in the visitor center (photos from the preview event here).

Conrad Weiser Homestead

April 10: Program, Weiser Interpretive Sunday—a living history program for all ages.

Cornwall Iron Furnace

April 12: Program, Pennsylvania German Barn Stars: Celestial Symbolism in Folk Culture—speaker is Patrick Donmoyer, Historic Building Conservator for the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University. Part of museum’s monthly lecture series held at Cornwall Manor.

Drake Well Museum

April 30: Program, Oil Valley Blacksmiths Association demo—blacksmithing demos are held the last Saturday of each month through October. For a look at one of last year’s programs, go here.

Eckley Miners’ Village

April 17: Program, The Rise and Fall of the Crinoline—village resident and volunteer Karen Esak will present an illustrated survey of changes in women’s fashions from the 1840s to the turn of the 20th century.

Ephrata Cloister

April 9: Children’s program, Scout Day—a day filled with hands-on activities and fun for scouts. Registration includes a $1 per person discount over walk-in admission; call 717/733-6600.
April 10: Program, A Musical Visit—join characters from Ephrata’s past to learn about the role of music in the life of the historic community; program includes performances by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus. Reservations required, call 717/733-6600; admission is $10 (Ephrata Cloister Associates receive a discount).
April 23: Children’s program, Spring Search—a variation on the seasonal egg hunt, children 11 and under look for historical clues around the site and collect stamps in their Heritage Passport.
April 29: Children’s program, Community Days—students explore activities that made the community of Ephrata a thriving center of life in colonial days. Registration is strongly recommended, call 717/733-6600 (program will also be offered May 20).

"Secured for all Weather" by Del-Bourree Bach (ID# 200410)

Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara

April 5: Exhibit—Paintings by artists in the U.S. Coast Guard Art Program, which uses fine art as an outreach tool for educating diverse audiences about the Coast Guard. The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 16.

Fort Pitt Museum

April 16-17: Program, Eastern Woodland Indians Conference—check website for more details April 30: Exhibit opening, The American Frontier Rifleman: Tall Tales & Truth

Graeme Park

April 16: Program, Paranormal Investigations—reservations and prepayment required, 215/343-0965.
April 20: Program, Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson Poetry Award—Friends of Graeme Park and Montgomery County’s poet laureate present a local high school student with a $1000 award; location is Ambler Theater.
April 30: Program, Revolutionary War Reenactment—learn about life during the winter of 1777-78, when Graeme Park was occupied by the Continental Army.

Hope Lodge

April 11: Program, 18th-Century Medicine—speaker is Wayne Skilton, 6th Pennsylvania Regiment (program will be held at the Parish House of St. Thomas Church).

April 16: Event, Spring Clean-up Day—join the Friends of Hope Lodge to help get the garden and grounds ready for the spring (a pizza lunch will be served).

Joseph Priestley House

April 3: Program, Meet Thomas Cooper—Cooper was a friend and supporter of Joseph Priestley; he edited newspapers, went to jail, and taught in colleges.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum

Now through the end of the year: Exhibit, At Their Leisure: From Birds’ Eggs to Bicycles to Boats and Black-powder—How the Museum’s Founding Family Took Charge of Their Free Time—exhibit is located in the visitor center.
April 2, 9, 16, and 30: Workshops, Folk Art and Friendship Workshops—sponsored by Weathervane Museum Store; go here for details. April 9 is also the Weathervane’s Spring Open House.
April 17: Event, Spring Benefit Auction—a chance to support the site by purchasing high-quality handcrafted items.

PHMC/Old Economy Village

Old Economy Village
April 2: Workshop, Spring Garden Workshop—this annual event offers lectures, presentations, and hands-on activities; it qualifies as training for Master Gardeners. Tours of OEV’s historic gardens and greenhouse are included. Space is limited and registration is required, call 724/266-4500 x101.

Pennsbury Manor
April 3: Program, Historic Trades—the joyner and blacksmith will demonstrate their skills.
April 10: Program, Living History Theater, The Trial of Judith Roe—Roe was accused of the murder of a traveler who spent the night at her house in 1688; this programs explores the facts of the case.
April 17: Program, Open Hearth Cooking, Spring in the 17th Century—the cooks will be using fresh greens, eggs, and milk to celebrate the coming of spring (which should be here by then)

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
April 1: the Museum reopens for the season.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Opening this month: Exhibit, Religion and Conflict—exploring the 2011 PHMC theme of religion and William Penn’s legacy as it relates to military conflicts throughout our history.
April 16-17: Event, Battery B Drill Weekend—Civil War reenactors from the 3rd Pennsylvania Light Artillery will be encamped for training and will demonstrate proper artillery firing.
April 27: Program, Training the Iraqi Federal Army—speaker is Lt. Col. John Curwen, USArmy; he will talk about his experiences training the 6th Infantry Battalion of the Iraqi Federal Army in eastern Diyala province. Part of the Friends of PMM monthly speaker series.
April 30-May 1: Event, A Revolutionary Affair—two-day living history encampment on the Museum grounds

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
April 2: Program, Railroads of the Civil War: An Illustrated History—speaker is author/artist Michael Leavy, who will also sign copies of his book. Included in museum admission, seating for the talk is first come, first served.
April 16: Exhibit, Railroad Communications & Signaling—learn about rail communications through the museum’s rich collection of photographs, artifacts, and films; try your hand at running a simulated railroad. Exhibit runs through Dec. 31.

Somerset Historical Center
April 4: Program, Pennsylvania’s Oil and Gas History—speaker is Dr. William Brice, professor emeritus, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and author of Myth Legend Reality: Edwin Laurentine Drake and the Early Oil Industry. Drake Well Museum’s MEET-U mobile exhibit will be on site and open for tours.
April 9: Workshop, Beginning Tatting—taught by Rebecca Hollenbaugh, who has 35 years experience with this centuries-old art. Registration is required; contact http://www.blogger.com/c-kcordek@state.pa.us.
April 15-17: Workshop, Annual School of Coopering—this multi-day program teaches participants how to make a traditional maple sugar keeler. Registration is required and you can find more info here.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
April 17: Program, Tree-Vitalization—offered in conjunction with PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources and in support of the exhibit, Wood on Glass (images from the lumber region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries), which runs through May 1.

Wrapping Up March

2011-03-25T06:32:00.004-04:00

As March draws to a close (with various amounts of snow, depending on where you are), here are a few items that might interest.

Tonight’s episode of NBC’s genealogy-themed show “Who Do You Think You Are?” includes a visit to the Pennsylvania State Archives. Archivist Aaron McWilliams meets with award-winning actor Steve Buscemi to help him research one of his ancestors. (Please forgive me, but I can’t help thinking of wood chippers—Fargo is one of my favorite Buscemi movies.) I liked one of the comments I saw on NBC’s website from a man who said he’d learned a lot about researching his own family’s history by watching this show. Even as more and more genealogy sources are available online, we still need repositories and archivists. I like that this show takes the celebs (and viewers) to see the real stuff.

The Anthracite Heritage Museum has reopened to the public, following a two-month hiatus. A major project to overhaul the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems meant that it was best for visitors if the museum closed. But now, things are in shape to open the doors again. Starting in April, the museum will be open 7 days a week.

PHMC/Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

A talk by Michael Emery on Pennsylvania German architecture this Sunday, March 27, will conclude Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum’s (free) March lecture series. Landis Valley has also just launched its new cell phone tours, joining other PHMC sites that use hand-held technology to help visitors learn more about the things that interest them.

We’ve mentioned before that the Ephrata Cloister Associates recently received a Nonprofit Innovation award from the Central Penn Business Journal—here’s photographic proof.
Congratulations, again!

We take our history seriously on the Trails of History, but it doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy ourselves. Take a peek at the staff of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania during a recent commercial shoot for the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau. Thanks to PDCVB for the photos.

Stuff to "Like"

2011-03-18T07:08:00.007-04:00

Yesterday was Picture a Museum Day—go here to see photos from museums around the world.

I have found that the Facebook pages of sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History can be great sources of information on stuff I’d otherwise not know about. Of course, they post updates on programs and exhibits, but it’s the other news that makes these pages a treasure trove.

The Anthracite Heritage Museum started a routine of “museum fact Mondays” where they post items of interest in regional history or coal mining history in general. Currently they also have a Women’s History Month post going and they used Facebook for behind-the-scenes updates on their HVAC project. And, they’re helping to promote the Coal Miner’s Stamp Initiative, which has also been endorsed by the Pennsylvania legislature.

Brandywine Battlefield shares updates on events and fundraising and provides a place for folks with a general interest in the American Revolution to post information.

Ephrata Cloister posts a “word of the week” related to the site’s history and architecture and used Facebook to announce that they had received the 2011 Nonprofit Innovation Award for Management Operations from the Central Penn Business Journal.

PHMC/Graeme Park

Graeme Park mostly posts updates on upcoming events but they’ve also shared news about digitization projects at institutions that hold manuscript collections related to the site (such as Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson’s commonplace book at Dickinson College).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum announces programs and lectures and posts tantalizing images of the site in its winter, spring, summer, and fall beauty. They also share some of the news coverage they receive, such as when their upcoming apple tree grafting workshop (March 26) was mentioned in the New York Times.

Old Economy Village built interest in their reopening for the season (the site closes to the public during January and February each year), their upcoming Garden Workshop and the fact that Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) had nominated Old Economy for a National Medal for Museum and Library Service (five libraries and five museums are recognized each year by the Institute of Museum and Library Services—recipients will be announced this fall).

Pennsbury Manor enticed fans to come on down for Charter Day by sharing frequent posts and they are currently promoting their summer history camp. Previously, they asked friends to post their memories of visits to Pennsbury and gathered some lovely stories, which of course were shared with the rest of us.

PHMC/Pennsylvania Lumber Museum

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum posts contemporary and historical photos and has been including coverage of their impending museum expansion project. In a great show of good humor (in my opinion) they posted a request in early February to have their friends push them over the 100 “likes” mark that weekend; Monday’s post said “well, that didn’t work LOL” (they’re almost there, so let’s see if Trailheads can make the difference).

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania shares posts that provide fans (are we supposed to call them likers now?) with railroad history highlights related to current events or historical anniversaries and the like (currently women in railroading history are the focus). Museum staff also use Facebook to show the progress of various rolling stock restoration projects, such as the Lindbergh engine (more formally known as the 460), or the new geothermal HVAC system installation that is ongoing.

Somerset Historical Center posts event updates and follow-ups, such as for their annual Mountain Craft Days festival in September. I’ve noticed that some folks also post genealogy queries on the wall or use the Facebook page as a way to offer their services for craft demonstrations.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania used Facebook postings to keep visitors updated on the work to renovate the museum’s Paleontology Galleries and install the Marshalls Creek Mastodon skeleton in its new home (the exhibit reopened at the end of February).

Don’t forget that there are Facebook pages for the Pennsylvania Trails of History, Pennsylvania Civil War 150, and the Pennsylvania Heritage Society. If I’ve missed any Trails of History (or related) sites that are on Facebook, please excuse the oversight and leave a comment so I can update my list.

They Say It's Your Birthday

2011-03-11T06:57:00.005-05:00

Every year (for longer than any of us here can recall), we celebrate Charter Day, which marks the payment of a debt, essentially. In 1681, King Charles II of England gave William Penn a charter for the land that we know as Pennsylvania; it was the king’s way of repaying funds that Penn’s father provided to the Crown (yes, I know this is probably a gross simplification). The original Charter (the first page features an elaborate portrait of the ever-modest monarch) is briefly displayed to the public at The State Museum, usually in the company of other important historical documents (see more info below). The rest of the year the Charter is kept safely tucked away in the State Archives, to preserve it for generations to come.

Sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History (almost all of them) are open to the public free-of-charge on what has become our traditional spring kick-off (unless, as sometimes happens, we get hit with a March snowstorm, but it looks like we’re safe this year).

The following sites are open this Sunday, March 13, to celebrate Pennsylvania’s birthday. (All times listed are Daylight Savings Time—remember we lose an hour early that morning.)

Brandywine Battlefield: Programs (noon to 4 pm) feature 18th-century tavern life and the skills of the blacksmith.

Conrad Weiser Homestead: Reenactors from the 1st and 3rd Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment and Regiment de la Reine will present a living history program on site from noon to 4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace: The museum will be open free of charge for tours from noon to 5 pm (the last tour leaves the visitor center at 4).

Daniel Boone Homestead: Spend the afternoon learning about play and work in the 1700s; activities include colonial music and dancing, children’s toys and games, demonstrations of blacksmithing, log hewing, and the Bertolet Sawmill.

Drake Well Museum: Sneak a peek inside the new building and enjoy some refreshments from noon to 4 pm.

Eckley Miners’ Village: Site open noon to 5 pm free of charge; “The Molly Maguires,” starring Sean Connery and Richard Harris (filmed at Eckley), will be shown in the visitor center auditorium at 2 pm.

Ephrata Cloister: Interpreters will be stationed in various buildings at the site, including the Bakery, Weaver’s House, Sister’s House, Physician’s House, Print Shop, and Carpenter’s House. The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal (Meetinghouse) at 2, 3, and 4 pm. Pages from the recently conserved Christian ABC Book will be on exhibit.

Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara: The museum will be open free of charge from noon to 5 pm.

Graeme Park: Join Friends of Graeme Park from noon to 4 pm for an open house and special activities to mark Pennsylvania’s birthday.

Joseph Priestley House: Celebrate Charter Day and Dr. Priestley’s Birthday from 1 to 4 pm. Refreshments in the visitor center; costumed guides and new laboratory exhibits in the house; chemistry demonstrations in the Pond Building.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum: Enjoy skilled craft demonstrations (such as leatherworking, textiles, blacksmithing, open hearth cooking) and wagon rides around the historic grounds. Many of the museum’s historical buildings—the 1900 Country Store, the Landis Brothers House, the 1700s Log Farm—will be open for tours from noon to 5 pm.

Old Economy Village: The site reopens for the season this weekend (admission on Saturday is $1) after being closed for the winter; refreshments will be available.

Pennsbury Manor: The site (the American home of William Penn and his family) will be open from 1 to 4 pm, offering tours of the Manor House, as well as demonstrations of joynery, blacksmithing, and open hearth cooking. Tours of the gardens will also be available and interpreters will be stationed with Pennsbury’s animals to explain what their roles were back in the 17th Century. Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate.

Pennsylvania Military Museum: The museum reopens after being closed for the winter; hours are noon to 4 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: The museum is open free of charge, noon to 5 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State Archives: The original Charter will be on display from March 11-20, along with the Great Law of 1682 and the Penn family bible with which Gov. Tom Corbett recently took the oath of office. A heritage fair featuring historical organizations from the local region will take place from noon to 4 pm. State winners at the 2010 National History Day in PA contest will be on hand and there will be a storyteller, a lecturer from the Bureau of Forestry, and much more.

Washington Crossing Historic Park: The 22nd Regiment of Foot and the 2nd New Jersey Regiment will be encamped at the Crossing, where they will drill, demonstrate 18th-century style military arms, and show the day to day life of a Revolutionary War soldier.

Works in Progress

2011-03-04T07:35:00.007-05:00

I spent most of this week on the road with colleagues working on exhibit plans at the Pennsylvania Military Museum and the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. Since I didn’t write a Trailheads post ahead of time (which, believe it or not, I sometimes manage to do), that’s what I’m writing about.

Major exhibits, as you probably know or can guess, require a tremendous team effort to pull off. Funding for new long-term exhibits is allocated carefully and slowly on the Trails of History and most sites end up raising additional funds to supplement state dollars. It usually takes at least several years from the time planning begins to the time a new exhibit opens. The work is a collaboration between site staff and volunteers, staff from the central office (“we’re from Harrisburg, and we’re here to help”), and outside professionals in exhibit design and fabrication. (I’m one of those “helpful” Harrisburgers, on the off chance that you’re wondering.)

Our latest two projects in the hopper, as I mentioned above, are at the Military Museum and the Lumber Museum. In both cases, we’ve been planning, discussing, thinking on, obsessing over, and worrying about these exhibits for quite some time, as various funding scenarios lined up. We’re at slightly different stages of work, but rest assured that the staff and volunteers at both museums are ready to get on with it.

Bubble diagrams help work out overall space allocation prior to design

At Military, we’re continuing to hash out the best ways to organize a century of Pennsylvania military history (or to be more exact, over a century of Pennsylvanians’ military service) and share it with members of the public, who bring a wide range of experience and interest to their museum visit. So the designers are working with us on different possibilities for using the gallery space (called “bubble diagrams”).

Conceptual designs for Lumber based on previous discussion and review

The design at Lumber is a little further along, so we’re beginning to zero in on defining the exhibit layout and specific elements. But there’s still a lot of work to do deciding how to tell all the stories that need to be told.

Creativity is often aided by sugar and caffeine--we were amply supplied at Lumber

As we continue moving forward with these and other exhibit projects, I’ll try to share some of the behind-the-scenes work. It’s hard to convey the extraordinary amount of energy and attention these projects require of our staff, but I’ll try.

Forward, March!

2011-02-25T07:38:00.009-05:00

As most of you know, March 13 is Charter Day, our annual celebration of Pennsylvania’s birthday (when King Charles II of England granted the land we know as Pennsylvania—and Delaware and New Jersey—to William Penn). There will be a Trailheads post devoted to Charter Day on March 11, so this week is focused on the other stuff going on in March. Enjoy!

PHMC/Anthracite Heritage Museum

Anthracite Heritage Museum

March 19: Event, Museum reopens—the museum is scheduled to reopen following a major project to upgrade HVAC systems; since projects like this sometimes take longer than expected, please check with the museum to confirm they’re open if you plan to visit.

Bushy Run Battlefield

March 19-20: Program, Ohio Country Conference—this annual conference explores a variety of topics related to the French and Indian War and takes place at the Westmoreland County Community College in Greensburg (this year’s program available here).

Cornwall Iron Furnace

March 8: Lecture, Coal Mining Patch Towns of Stony Creek Valley—speaker Brandy Watts will present a program on the lost towns of Rattling Run (Dauphin County), Yellow Spring, Rauch Run, and Gold Mine (Lebanon County), which were all stops on the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad. Ms. Watts is a student at Penn State University and a Cornwall volunteer who has been studying local history since she was a young child.

Daniel Boone Homestead

March 6: Program, Fireside Tales—bring your family to the Wayside Lodge to enjoy a cozy fire and storytime (geared to children ages 4-8); light refreshments will be available.
March 27: Program, Women’s History—watch the Homestead’s website for more details

Drake Well Museum

March 17, 24, 31: Lecture Series, More Oil Men – Famous and Not So—Thursday evening lectures begin with refreshments (March 31 program also includes a celebration of Colonel Edwin Drake’s birthday); check out the Museum’s new multipurpose room!
March 26: Program, Oil Valley Blacksmiths—blacksmithing demos start for the season and continue the last Saturday of each month through October.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

Ephrata Cloister
Thursdays in March: Program, Winter History Class—this popular annual program continues through March with speakers on a variety of topics related to Ephrata Cloister (for a list of sessions go here); single session or multiple session registration is still available, call 717/733-6600 for details.
March 6: Concert, Ephrata Cloister Chorus—the Chorus will perform a concert of 18th- and 19th-century American music at Union Meeting House in Marietta; tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance at Ephrata Cloister (call 717/733-6600 or email c-sshober@state.pa.us).

Graeme Park
March 19: Program, Paranormal Investigations—this monthly program includes a tour of the site and information on reported hauntings and previous investigations; reservations required, 215/343-0965.
March 25-27: Program, School of the Civil War Soldier—reenactors from the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry will be encamped on site, providing firing and drilling demonstrations and teaching about camp life for soldiers and civilians.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
March 2, 9, 16, 23: Program, Homeschool Classes—Wednesday morning programs featuring hands-on activities for students; registration is required, call Sheri Brown, 717/569-0401 x 228.
March 5, 12, 19: Workshops, Folk Art and Friendship—The Weathervane Museum Store offers Saturday afternoon workshops on Rug Hooking (March 5), Wool Felt Candle Mat (March 12), and Beginners Cross Stitch (March 19). Registration is required (series continues into April), contact the Weathervane, 717/569-9312.
March 26: Workshop, Heirloom Seed Project—Backyard Fruit Growers will teach participants how to graft applewood onto rootstock to make two trees. Instruction includes selecting the appropriate applewood (from over 100 varieties) for your yard or orchard and tips for planting the trees. Space is limited and registration is required, call 717/569-0401 x202 or x204.

Old Economy Village
March 12: Event, Site reopens for tours—Old Economy kicks off spring as it reopens for the season; admission will be $1 and refreshments will be served.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
March 30: Lecture, Human Dimensions of Leadership—speaker Lt. Col. Ryan P. Heritage, USMC, will discuss the characteristics and traits needed by military leaders in today’s uncertain and complex environment; part of the Friends of the PA Military Museum monthly Speaker Series.

Spr-abin Fever

2011-02-18T07:04:00.006-05:00

Every once in a while I like to just pull together a compilation of items that I’ve run across on the Trails of History. This, campers, is one of those times. We’re having some “unseasonably warm” weather as I write this and I’m experiencing a combination of cabin fever and spring fever. (Anyone who wants to suggest a better name for it than the title of this post, PLEASE leave a comment.) So, for your short-attention-span pleasure…

We’ve been paying attention here at Trailheads to the visitor center expansion at Drake Well Museum over the past year or more (here, here, and here). According to the latest update, staff will begin the process of moving back into the building next week. I hope to have some pix to share in coming months as the “new” museum comes to life.

PHMC/Flagship Niagara League

Winter is always a season of maintenance for the Flagship Niagara, but this year saw a major project to recaulk the ship’s deck. This is the kind of job that, if left undone, results in huge problems down the road. Niagara’s captain, Wesley Heerssen, shares a thorough explanation of the project here. I’m usually not that interested in technical details, but I found this a really engaging read.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Pennsbury Manor posted excerpts of letters William Penn wrote to Hannah Callowhill during their courtship in England in 1695. William (a widower) was twice Hannah’s age at the time and needed to convince her that he was a good match. (Spoiler alert: He did. Hannah and William were married in 1696.)

PHMC/State Museum of Pennsylvania

Here in Harrisburg, the State Archives Search Room has reopened after a renovation project. And the State Museum’s rejuvenated Paleontology Gallery, featuring the Marshalls Creek mastodon skeleton, will debut to the public on February 27 (a gala reception will be held the night before—tickets are still available, I believe).

Time Travelers

2011-02-11T07:42:00.009-05:00

Many thanks to guest blogger Joe Horvath, museum educator at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, for the text and photos.

Penn State mechanical engineering students recently completed the design, construction and testing of 21st-century technology that will be used to understand the manufacturing principles of the distant past. The Radial Measuring Device (RMD) is designed to image the inside surface of artillery tubes, providing researchers with data on the construction of those Renaissance weapons of war. The RMD successfully scanned a naval artillery tube on its inaugural test run with a real artifact at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, Centre County.

Under a summer 2011 grant from the British Academy, part of the PSU team will travel to museums in Paris, Copenhagen, and Berlin in an attempt to unlock the secrets of design from the fifteenth century, when artillery was just becoming a potent force on the battlefield.

The Radial Measuring Device (RMD)

Luke Gustasfon, Senior/Mechanical Engineering, prepares the RMD for its mission.

PSU Mechanical Engineering students Luke Gustasfon and Keith Martin

receive final instructions from Assistant Professor of

Science, Technology and Society Steve Walton.

PSU Mechanical Engineering majors Keith Martin and Luke Gustasfon

prepare to deploy the RMD into the bore of an 18th century British iron cannon

at the Pennsylvania Military Museum while Professor of

Mechanical Engineering H.J. Sommer looks on.

The RMD, inserted into the muzzle of a British 18 pounder cannon,

sends telemetry to a laptop computer for analysis.

William Penn's Legacy

2011-02-04T07:00:00.010-05:00

Sometimes life and history bring quirky juxtapositions. As you may know, PHMC adopts an annual theme to help focus attention on Pennsylvania’s rich (and wide-ranging) history and heritage. For this year, the theme is religion. Or to be more precise, “William Penn’s Legacy: Religious and Spiritual Diversity.” I spent a pretty good chunk of Tuesday afternoon pulling this blog post together and writing about how the theme relates to the Trails of History. So I thought it was pretty cool when that evening’s episode of CBS’s NCIS (I’m eclectic, what can I say?) included an impromptu lecture by Dr. Mallard (during an autopsy, of course), who described William Penn’s influence on the U.S. Constitution. Nice to see history getting some play in the mainstream (lots more people watch NCIS than, for example, read Trailheads—shocking, but true).

As the year progresses, we’ll be rolling out a special theme website, programs, exhibits, and articles in Pennsylvania Heritage magazine. Trailheads will report on those developments as they shape up. For now, though, let’s take a look at a few offerings already out on the Trails of History.

PHMC/Pennsbury Manor

No discussion of William Penn is complete (Trails-of-History-wise) without mention of his American home, Pennsbury Manor. The current manor house is a reconstruction, but it (along with outbuildings, gardens, and exhibits) provides the setting for a wealth of insights into Penn’s plans and designs for his “Holy Experiment.” Religious toleration was one of the cornerstones of Pennsylvania’s founding, although it was not as simple as we sometimes think. This year’s theme aims to celebrate Penn’s legacy while exploring the complexities of religious freedom both in the past and for those of us in the 21st century. Helping visitors understand the intricacies is something the folks at Pennsbury have been doing for a long time.

PHMC/State Museum of PA, photo by Don Giles

A new temporary exhibit at the State Museum of Pennsylvania ties in beautifully with the 2011 theme. When Gov. Tom Corbett wanted to use William Penn’s 1698 family bible for his inauguration ceremony (the bible was also used by Gov. Richard Thornburgh), the object was placed on loan to the State Museum by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (the bible was given to HSP in 1874 by the subscribers to the Penn Papers). The exhibit, open through March 27, also features the 1682 Great Law, a series of statutes that includes Penn’s direction that Pennsylvania would have no official religion (one of the influences Ducky was talking about). Closer to Charter Day (March 13), Penn’s bible and the Great Law will be joined on exhibit by the original Charter of Pennsylvania, by which King Charles II granted William Penn the land that became our Commonwealth.

PHMC/Ephrata Cloister

The absence of an official church resulted in a great variety of religious practice here, evidence of which dots the Pennsylvania landscape. Ephrata Cloister and Old Economy Village embody the attraction that Pennsylvania held for Europeans whose religious views diverged from the established order. Visitors to these sites experience the built environment, the material culture, and the traditions of groups who lived and worshipped peacefully outside of the dominant religious denominations.

For more on the State Museum exhibit and perceptions of William Penn, check out this article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.