Honoring Veterans and Celebrating our History

STORM UPDATE: Washington Crossing Historic Park reports that a normal operating schedule is back in place for the temporary Visitor Center, historic buildings in the Lower Park, and the Thompson-Neely House in the Upper Park (assuming the nor'easter hasn't changed that). However, the work to restore electrical service to Bowman’s Hill Tower is not yet completed. We’ll keep you posted when the Tower is able to reopen for visitors. As far as I am aware, all other Trails of History sites are operating under their normal schedules for this time of year.

Most sites will be closed this Sunday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day, but Fort Pitt Museum, Joseph Priestley House, Pennsylvania Military Museum, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and Washington Crossing Historic Park (with exceptions noted above) will be open. The Daniel Boone Homestead Spinner’s Guild will present a program on “Plant Fibers in Colonial Times” at 2 pm in the DeTurk Education Center.

Some sites will also be closed on Monday, Nov. 12, due to an adjusted holiday schedule or because they’re closed on Mondays anyway. Repeat after me—always check ahead to make sure the site you want to visit will be open when you plan to be there.

Tomorrow, Nov. 10, the Pennsylvania Military Museum will host the 2nd annual Kids Day, which offers children ages 3 to 13 the opportunity to try on military uniform items, talk to veterans, and explore the museum’s exhibits of military equipment and life in the service. (The Centre Daily Times has some coverage of the event here.) There will be plenty of photo ops, and youth admission is discounted 50%. (You can see photos from last year’s event here.)

This just in: Ship's Company, the US Brig Niagara living history unit, will be among the groups marching tomorrow morning in Erie's Veterans Day parade. And the cover will be going on the ship for the winter--Cover Day was rescheduled from last week.

However you spend this coming weekend, please take a moment to reflect on those who have served our country and on those who work to honor their legacy.