Thank You for Your Support

Please be sure to visit the September program page for info on virtual programs (I've highlighted some below as well). The Trailheads Rec Room, to the right on your screen, has examples of online offerings that are available all the time.

Revolutionary War reenactors at Brandywine Battlefield (photo via Facebook)

Today marks the 19th anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. To commemorate those events and the 243rd anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine, Brandywine Battlefield is presenting their annual Remembrance Day program tonight at 6 pm. This year, it will be via Zoom and includes first-hand accounts of the Sept. 11, 1777 battle read by period interpreters. The Facebook event has details and a link to join the program online.

Next Wednesday, September 16, is Ask a Curator Day, a social media initiative engaging museum professionals all over the world. Curators at Drake Well Museum and Park and the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum are planning a Zoom/Facebook Live collaborative event at 4 pm (check the Facebook event for details). As I hear about other plans on the Trails of History, I'll add them here as well.

Facebook event graphic for Drake Well Museum and PA Lumber Museum Ask A Curator Day event, Sept. 16 at 4 pm EDT (via FB)

Other events in the coming week include:

• Sept. 12, 10 am-4pm, Railroad Museum of PA: "Railroad Heritage Day" features presentations and virtual tours focused on the history of railroad stations (check the Facebook event for details and registration link)
• Sept. 13, 2 pm, The State Museum of Pennsylvania: "53rd Annual Art of the State Exhibit" will be launched in its online form and the award winners chosen from among participating artists will be announced (check the Art of the State landing page for details)
• Sept. 14-18, noon-1:30 pm, Pennsylvania State Archives: "Community History Dialog," a series of lunchtime discussions (via Zoom) to help community-based organizations learn how to collect and preserve their history (session details and registration)
• Sept. 15, 7 pm, Cornwall Iron Furnace: "Cornwall's Pre-History," presented by Mike Weber via Zoom (link for registration)

You can help...

With the COVID-19 closures continuing on the Trails of History, the nonprofit support groups at our sites are facing very tough times. All of our sites are working hard to continue to meet their missions of preserving and sharing Pennsylvania's rich heritage with the public. Over the past six months (geez, it's been six months already), they have shown a great deal of creativity in moving programs and content online. That creativity will only increase in the months to come, and you'll be seeing more programs that involve multiple sites working together. But the loss of major summer events and fundraisers (not to mention peak summer visitation) is being felt everywhere. If you have a favorite site and can afford to do so, please consider a donation (most can accept these via their websites) or an online museum store purchase. Or check out one of these fundraisers:

• Bushy Run Battlefield: you have until 11:59 pm tonight (sorry) to purchase a raffle ticket to win one of 30 prize baskets (link to purchase tickets). Winners will be announced tomorrow at 1 pm.
• Ephrata Cloister: this year's Apple Dumpling Sale is mostly virtual, but the dumplings are still very real. Proceeds support the site's educational programs. Pre-orders only for pickup Oct. 9 or 10 (see Facebook event for details).
• Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum: the annual benefit auction was canceled in April, but now it's happening online. Proceeds support the Farm Program and Heirloom Seed Project. Auction items available for preview Sept. 20-27, with online bidding taking place Sept. 28-Oct. 5. Visit their Facebook page for details.
• Old Economy Village: the "Fill the Vault" campaign was inspired by museum educator David Miller's post about the Harmonists' money vaults (read more here). The site is making progress toward their goal of $70,000, but you could help them get there quicker (Facebook post with campaign info)
• Pennsbury Manor: donate to support Pennsbury's educational programs by Oct. 31 and your donation will be matched, up to a total of $17,500 (Facebook post has the details)
• Somerset Historical Center: Mountain Craft Days, a signature event in southwestern PA, had to be canceled, but you may still get a taste of some of the wonderful foods, if you can pick them up on Sept. 26. The Everything Apple Grab-n-Go package includes apple and pear butter, dried apples and dried corn, a variety of apples, and maple popped kettle corn. And you'll be helping replace some of the lost revenue from the event. Pre-order on SHC's website (ticket link here) to ensure you get your package; a very limited supply of unreserved packages will be available on the 26th for drive-through pickup.