Stuff to Do Next Week

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.