Summer is Flying By

Posted by Amy Killpatrick Fox on Friday, July 28, 2023
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Summer is Flying By
A child in a pink 17th-century style dress and white headscarf and two other children wearing wide-brimmed straw hats stand around a sheep, who is eating something out of the first child's open hand.
Pennsbury Manor's summer camp includes opportunities to meet the farm animals who live on site (photo via Pennsbury's Facebook page)


Summer camps on the Trails of History have pretty well wrapped up as of this week, and our summer interns are beginning to wind down their assignments as they get ready to head back to their colleges and universities. (You can read a bit about some of our interns on websites and social media of their host sites: Ephrata Cloister, Drake Well Museum & Park, and Erie Maritime Museum and Pennsbury Manor.) As we head into peak summer weather, don't forget that we have air-conditioned museums and visitor centers as well as cool shade and green space to help you enjoy the outdoors without roasting (be sure to hydrate).

Up Next

Today, July 28

  • A Place for All Tour (in-person); 11:30 am and 1:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Discover three stories of integration in Pennsylvania during the Civil Right movement. Hear the stories of the men and women whose courageous steps helped change our state. Included in regular admission (A Place for All Tour info).
  • Returning the Wild to the Wilderness (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Thomas Keller, Furbearer Biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, will share the history of wildlife loss within the Commonwealth, the legacy of rewilding, and the possibility of returning the American marten to the forests of the state. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Returning the Wild program info and registration).

Saturday, July 29

  • Mapping Mammal Hall (in-person); 10-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Did you know that the dioramas in Mammal Hall are based on real locations in Pennsylvania? Locate each of these spots on the giant map of Pennsylvania and discover some interesting facts about our state mammals. Included in regular admission (Mammal Hall program info).
  • Garden Tour (in-person); 11 am-noon; Old Economy Village
    • Enjoy a tour of OEV's extraordinary gardens, learning about how the Harmonists shaped the land around Old Economy to combine aspects of medieval cloistered gardens, Germanic traditions, and American flora. Explore George Rapp's use of biblical imagery and discover its hidden features. Included in regular admission (OEV Garden Tour info).
  • Highlights Tour (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Pennsylvania is the only state named for both its people and the place, “Penn’s Woods.” Discover how this relationship of people and place shows throughout the history, art, and science of the Commonwealth with a tour of featured exhibits on each floor. Included in regular admission (July 29 Highlights Tour info).

Sunday, July 30

  • Animals at Pennsbury (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Meet the furry, fuzzy, and feathered inhabitants at Pennsbury and discover the important role their 17th-century predecessors played in daily life. Included in regular admission (Animal program info).

Wednesday, August 2

  • State Symbols: Milk (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Explore why milk is Pennsylvania’s State Drink. Learn why the dairy industry is so important to our state. Test your taste buds and see if you can tell different types of milk apart. Included in regular admission (Milk program info).
  • Victorian Toys & Games (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Discover and play with the toys, games and puzzles from Victorian Pennsylvania. Test your skills at Graces, unlock the mysteries of mechanical toys and play a round of Old Maids. Included in regular admission (Toys & Games program info).

Thursday, August 3

  • Storytime in the Garden (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
    • Enjoy a story, then stay to explore the garden, visit the farm animals, or have a snack by the river. Admission is a $3 Grounds Pass (additional fee to tour the Manor House). Suggested for ages 4 to 8, but all are welcome (Pennsbury Storytime info).
  • Great-Horned Owl (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Join us to learn about the Great-horned Owl. Learn about its life, habitat, and the adaptations that make it a top predator. Stay to craft your own paper and feathered owl to take home. Included in regular admission (Owl program info).
  • Highlights Tour (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Pennsylvania is the only state named for both its people and the place, “Penn’s Woods.” Discover how this relationship of people and place shows throughout the history, art, and science of the Commonwealth with a tour of featured exhibits on each floor. Included in regular admission (Highlights Tour info).

Friday, August 4

  • StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Join us in the Life Through Time Gallery for a reading of My Mastodon by Barbara Lowell with illustrations by Antonio Marinoni. Discover the story of the Peale family living in a museum in Philadelphia. Create your own admission ticket and souvenir. Included in regular admission (State Museum StoryTime info).
  • Family Gallery Tour: Paleontology (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm and 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Join us to explore the flora and fauna in Pennsylvania from the Carboniferous Period to the present. Learn about the habitats and environments that existed long ago and get hands-on with various fossils of these extinct species. Meet in Nature Lab on the 3rd floor at 11:30 am or 1:30 pm. Included in regular admission (Paleontology Tour info).
  • First Fridays (in-person); 5:30-8:30 pm; Somerset Historical Center
    • Enjoy an evening of music, family games, tractor rides, and food trucks. Some covered seating is provided, but feel free to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Parking is $5 per car, but there is no admission fee (First Friday program info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
  • The Colemans and Martic Forge (hybrid); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
    • Jim Polczynski will present a program centered on the ownership of Martic Forge by three generations of the Coleman family (who also owned Cornwall Iron Furnace). You can attend the program in person at Freeman Hall, Cornwall Manor Retirement Community, or virtually via Zoom (Martic Forge lecture info and registration).
  • Captain Vicary and Life in Beaver County (in-person); Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6-7:30 pm; Old Economy Village
    • Brenda Applegate, executive director of the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation, will present a program based on the journal of Captain Vicary, a transplanted Philadelphia sea captain who settled in Beaver County as a gentleman farmer. The program will provide glimpses into everyday life in the county as well as Vicary's interactions with the Harmonists. The program is free, but registration is required (Captain Vicary lecture info and registration).
  • The "Dead" of Summer (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 19, 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
    • Experience a reenactment of an early 20th-century seance focused on the period when many had lost loved ones to the 1918 flu pandemic or World War I and were susceptible to this form of entertainment. Tickets are limited and will be available online (Dead of Summer info and tickets).
  • Exploring the Armor (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 26, 2-4 pm; PA Military Museum
    • Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles, but we will walk outside on the grounds, so please dress for the weather with appropriate footwear (Exploring the Armor registration).

Mid-Summer Snapshots

Posted by Amy Killpatrick Fox on Friday, July 21, 2023
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Mid-Summer Snapshots
Field of yellow buttercups (ranunculus) with wooden buildings of logging camp in the background
Ranunculus (buttercups) blooming in the logging camp at Pennsylvania Lumber Museum (photo via PLM Facebook page)


Here in the northern hemisphere, we've just passed the mid-point of summer (meteorologically speaking), and the gardens and landscapes on the Trails of History are in peak form. Sites have been posting photos, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from the past week or so. Please check out the calendar below for programs but also remember that you don't need a special program to enjoy our sites. Pick one that's close to you and pay them a visit. I hope you have a great week.

Four sunflowers in varying stages of bloom are lined up along a wooden fence. One end of the two-story stone barn at Graeme Park is visible behind them.
Sunflowers in the garden at Graeme Park with the stone barn (visitor center) in the background (photo via GP Facebook page)


Variety of vegetables, including some very large cabbages, growing in raised beds surrounded by a white picket fence at Ephrata Cloister. The Sisters' House and Meetinghouse are visible in the background.
Ephrata Cloister's traditional German four-square garden with vegetables in the center beds and herbs around the fence line (photo via EC's Facebook page)


Part of the red-painted barn and log-built blacksmith shop are visible looking out through a multi-paned window. A blue sky with puffy white clouds are at the top of the frame and white picket fence runs across the lower edge of the view.
View of the barn (left) and blacksmith shop from inside the Boone House at Daniel Boone Homestead. A project to apply UV-filtering film to the Boone House windows was recently completed by PHMC staff (photo via DBH Facebook page)

Up Next

Today, July 21

  • It's ALIVE! (or maybe not): Living and Non-Living Things (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Younger visitors are invited to explore living and non-living things and the properties that something needs to exhibit to be alive. Included in regular admission (Living & Non-Living Things program info).
  • Family Gallery Tour: Geology Hall (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Get hands-on with the rocks and minerals of Pennsylvania. Learn about Pennsylvania’s landforms and resources. Meet on the 3rd Floor Balcony for this presentation. Included in regular admission (July 21 Geology Hall tour info).

Saturday, July 22

  • Life Under the Canopy: The Vietnam War (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Military Museum
    • 2023 closes the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Join museum staff and living history volunteers in our final event of the anniversary. Immerse yourself in the controversial conflict that defined the second half of the twentieth century; walk through a military camp and experience life on the front in Southeast Asia. Explore how conflict often falls on the shoulders of youth, changing the lives and perspectives of many young Americans in the 1960s and 1970s. Encampment is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Regular admission rates apply to tour the Museum Gallery (Vietnam War program info).
  • Storytime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Hear a reading of Birds by Kevin Henkes, learn about the many colors of birds, and paint with bird feathers. For ages 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (State Museum StoryTime info).
  • Explore PA Industry with the Giant Map (in-person); 1:30-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Travel across the Giant Map of Pennsylvania to discover the industries that shaped our state. Included in regular admission (PA industry program info).

Sunday, July 23

  • Beer Brewing & Garden Highlights (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Explore and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the recipes and plants that fed the early residents of Pennsbury. Included in regular admission (Brewing & Gardens program info).
  • Discovering Dioramas (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Observe how the art in the Mammal Hall dioramas blends light, color, and sculptural elements to capture a moment in time and connect with Pennsylvania mammals and wild places. Discover close looking and use your new knowledge and creativity to design your own paper diorama! Included in regular admission (Dioramas program info).

Tuesday, July 25

  • Garden Workshop Series (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
    • Today's workshop is about preserving produce. Geared for ages 12 and up. Registration required - $35 for non-members, $30 for members. Call 215/946-0400 (July Garden Workshop info).

Wednesday, July 26

  • State Symbol: Fossil (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • On December 5, 1988, the fossil of an extinct arthropod, Phacops rana, was chosen to represent the state of Pennsylvania. Now re-classified as the species Eldredgeops rana, this trilobite once dwelled in the water that covered Pennsylvania during the Cambrian period. Learn more about this fossil and make a “fossil” to take home. Included in regular admission (State Fossil program info).
  • Giant Map of Pennsylvania (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Challenge your knowledge of the geography of Pennsylvania while exploring the giant map of the state. Included in regular admission (Giant map program info).
  • Music on the Lawn (in-person); 7-8:30 pm; Joseph Priestley House

Thursday, July 27

  • What's Cooking (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Visit the Summer Kitchen in Village Square to discover cooking in the early 1900s, featuring innovative items from the industrial revolution. Test your skills with hands-on tools and take home some period recipes. Included in regular admission (Summer Kitchen program info).
  • Highlights Tour (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Pennsylvania is the only state named for both its people and the place, “Penn’s Woods.” Discover how this relationship of people and place shows throughout the history, art, and science of the Commonwealth with a tour of featured exhibits on each floor. Included in regular admission (Highlights Tour info).

Friday, July 28

  • A Place for All Tour (in-person); 11:30 am and 1:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Discover three stories of integration in Pennsylvania during the Civil Right movement. Hear the stories of the men and women whose courageous steps helped change our state. Included in regular admission (A Place for All Tour info).
  • Returning the Wild to the Wilderness (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Thomas Keller, Furbearer Biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, will share the history of wildlife loss within the Commonwealth, the legacy of rewilding, and the possibility of returning the American marten to the forests of the state. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Returning the Wild program info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
  • The Colemans and Martic Forge (hybrid); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
    • Jim Polczynski will present a program centered on the ownership of Martic Forge by three generations of the Coleman family (who also owned Cornwall Iron Furnace). You can attend the program in person at Freeman Hall, Cornwall Manor Retirement Community, or virtually via Zoom (Martic Forge lecture info and registration).
  • Captain Vicary and Life in Beaver County (in-person); Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6-7:30 pm; Old Economy Village
    • Brenda Applegate, executive director of the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation, will present a program based on the journal of Captain Vicary, a transplanted Philadelphia sea captain who settled in Beaver County as a gentleman farmer. The program will provide glimpses into everyday life in the county as well as Vicary's interactions with the Harmonists. The program is free, but registration is required (Captain Vicary lecture info and registration).
  • The "Dead" of Summer (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 19, 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
    • Experience a reenactment of an early 20th-century seance focused on the period when many had lost loved ones to the 1918 flu pandemic or World War I and were susceptible to this form of entertainment. Tickets are limited and will be available online (Dead of Summer info and tickets).
  • Exploring the Armor (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 26, 2-4 pm; PA Military Museum
    • Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles, but we will walk outside on the grounds, so please dress for the weather with appropriate footwear (Exploring the Armor registration).

Summer Camp Programs (camps are in-person)

  • Brandywine Battlefield Park (Brandywine camp info)
    • Step Into the Past Week (grades 5-6), July 25-28, 9 am-2 pm
  • Old Economy Village (OEV camp info)
    • July 24-28, Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm

Things to Do, Read, and Watch

Posted by Amy Killpatrick Fox on Friday, July 14, 2023
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Things to Do, Read, and Watch
Two rows of men dressed in dark blue Civil War US Army uniforms holding long guns and listening to their commanding officer whose back is to the camera. Several cavalry soldiers on horseback can be seen behind them. The photos of modern reenactors but is displayed as a black-and-white photo.
Living historians portray U.S. Army soldiers during Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's Civil War event in 2019 (photo via Landis Valley's Facebook page)

Summer continues on its way to fall, with lots of activities on the Trails of History. Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's Civil War Weekend has a little something to interest the whole family and gives you a sense of what a small village was like during that era. If outdoor theater is more your thing, Conrad Weiser Homestead is hosting three performances of The Tempest by Reading Community Players. You can also learn about butterflies and moths at The State Museum of Pennsylvania. That's just the weekend, please see below for the week ahead and for summer camp listings (many are still taking enrollments).

Cornwall Iron Furnace, which just marked the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Cornwall Ore Mines, has released a new book, Always More Production, by museum volunteer, frequent speaker, and retired geologist Mike Weber. Mike drew heavily on research collections at the museum, including monthly reports sent from the mines in Cornwall to the main office of Bethlehem Steel. The book presents a detailed history of iron mining activities in Cornwall from 1737 to 1973. You can check Cornwall's Facebook post for details on how to get your copy.

The Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead have produced a new history video focused on Conrad Weiser and his home. Copies on DVD are available in the Museum Store. This video project was in addition to Conrad Weiser Homestead's participation in the PA History to Go series. Those videos are available to stream on PHMC's PA History to Go website.

Up Next

Today, July 14

  • Family Gallery Tour: Mammal Hall (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Touch furs, hold antlers, view skulls and ask questions during a tour of Mammal Hall. Included in regular admission (Mammal Hall tour info).
  • Chill and Build (in-person); 1-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Unwind with the family on a Friday afternoon. Choose the colors and shapes to make your own creation or follow the pattern on the design cards to make a tree, rocket and more using building blocks. Included in regular admission (Chill and Build program info).
  • The Tempest (in-person); Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 6-9 pm; Conrad Weiser Homestead
    • Reading Community Players will present William Shakespeare's The Tempest on the grounds of the Homestead for three nights, starting tonight at 6 pm. The event is rain or shine (under a tent, with chairs provided). Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and may be purchased ahead or at the door (The Tempest at CWH info).

Saturday, July 15

  • Butterflies and Moths (in-person); 10 am-Noon and 1-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
  • Civil War Weekend (in-person); Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, and Sunday, Noon-4 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
    • A wide array of military and civilian activities will be offered, including drills and firing demos, vintage baseball, and displays about Civil War-era medicine on and off the battlefield. Regular admission charged; please start at the Visitor Center to purchase tickets (Civil War Weekend info).
  • Acting Workshop (in-person); 2-4 pm; Joseph Priestley House
    • Laurie McCants, co-founder of the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble, will lead a two-part workshop for students age 8 to 12. Actors will choose a historical figure, research their life, write a script, and reenact them. Second session takes place July 22 (Acting Workshop info and registration).
  • Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 3-4 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Join the Planetarium Director for a live chat exploring what you can see in the sky tonight. Learn about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events that are coming up in the next month. Admission and planetarium tickets must be purchased at least 5 minutes before showtime.

Sunday, July 16

  • Open-Hearth Cooking (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Stoneware crocks, bladders, vinegar, gally pots, and sugar will abound as the cooks start preserving the harvest for the winter to come. Included in regular admission (Open-Hearth Cooking program info).

Wednesday, July 19

  • Family Gallery Tour: Geology Hall (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Get hands-on with the rocks and minerals of Pennsylvania. Learn about Pennsylvania’s landforms and resources. Meet on the 3rd Floor Balcony for this presentation. Included in regular admission (July 19 Geology Hall tour info).

Thursday, July 20

  • Storytime in the Garden (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
    • Enjoy a story in the garden and then explore the grounds of Pennsbury Manor. Cost is a $3 grounds pass (additional fee to tour the Manor House). Suggested ages 4 to 8, but all are welcome (Pennsbury Storytime info).
  • State Symbol: Brook Trout (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • In 1970, the brook trout was chosen as the official state fish of Pennsylvania. Learn more about its selection, biology and create brook trout fish art, Gyotaku, the traditional Japanese method of printing fish. Included in regular admission (Brook Trout program info).

Friday, July 21

  • It's ALIVE! (or maybe not): Living and Non-Living Things (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Younger visitors are invited to explore living and non-living things and the properties that something needs to exhibit to be alive. Included in regular admission (Living & Non-Living Things program info).
  • Family Gallery Tour: Geology Hall (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Get hands-on with the rocks and minerals of Pennsylvania. Learn about Pennsylvania’s landforms and resources. Meet on the 3rd Floor Balcony for this presentation. Included in regular admission (July 21 Geology Hall tour info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • Garden Workshop Series (in-person); Tuesday, July 25, 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
    • Today's workshop is about preserving produce. Geared for ages 12 and up. Registration required - $35 for non-members, $30 for members. Call 215/946-0400 (July Garden Workshop info).
  • Returning the Wild to the Wilderness (virtual); Friday, July 28, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Thomas Keller, Furbearer Biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, will share the history of wildlife loss within the Commonwealth, the legacy of rewilding, and the possibility of returning the American marten to the forests of the state. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Returning the Wild program info and registration).
  • Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
  • The Colemans and Martic Forge (hybrid); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
    • Jim Polczynski will present a program centered on the ownership of Martic Forge by three generations of the Coleman family (who also owned Cornwall Iron Furnace). You can attend the program in person at Freeman Hall, Cornwall Manor Retirement Community, or virtually via Zoom (Martic Forge lecture info and registration).
  • The "Dead" of Summer (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 19, 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
    • Experience a reenactment of an early 20th-century seance focused on the period when many had lost loved ones to the 1918 flu pandemic or World War I and were susceptible to this form of entertainment. Tickets are limited and will be available online (Dead of Summer info and tickets).
  • Exploring the Armor (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 26, 2-4 pm; PA Military Museum
    • Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles, but we will walk outside on the grounds, so please dress for the weather with appropriate footwear (Exploring the Armor registration).

Summer Camp Programs (camps are in-person unless marked otherwise)

  • Brandywine Battlefield Park (Brandywine camp info)
    • Live the Battle Week (grades 5-6), July 18-21, 9 am-2 pm
    • Step Into the Past Week (grades 5-6), July 25-28, 9 am-2 pm
  • Drake Well Museum & Park (Drake Well camp info)
    • Discovery Days Camp (ages 8-12), July 20 & 27, 9 am-4 pm
  • Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
    • A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm
  • Old Economy Village (OEV camp info)
    • July 17-21, Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm
    • July 24-28, Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm

While We're Away

Posted by Amy Killpatrick Fox on Friday, July 7, 2023
Labels: , , , , , , / Comments: (0)
Kinetic sculpture (stabile) made up of leaf-shaped pieces of cast glass with different sizes and textures attached to stainless steel rods hanging from a central structure
Learn about this art installation at The State Museum of Pennsylvania on Sunday (photo via SMOP calendar)

NOTE: Trailheads HQ has been on break this week. The info below was accurate (as far as we know) as of June 30, but it's a good idea to double check (especially weekend events) before heading to a site. Enjoy!

Up Next

Today, July 7

  • Reading Railroad Days, Part 2 (in-person); Friday and Saturday, 10 am-4 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Event highlights the historic Reading Railroad with an enormous, detailed HO scale model train layout of the Reading Railroad, operated by members of the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. Visitors also may view historic Reading Company equipment from the Museum’s premier collection. Included in regular admission (Reading Railroad Days info).
  • StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Hear a reading of Birds by Kevin Henkes, learn about the many colors of birds, and paint with bird feathers. For ages 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (State Museum StoryTime info).
  • Travel by Land, Air, and Water (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Discover how the Scotty Trailer, Piper Cub and the Cowell Runabout changed recreational travel in Pennsylvania and beyond. Choose an adventure and create a travel itinerary and discover the items you would need along the way. Included in regular admission (Travel program info).
  • First Fridays (in-person); 5:30-8:30 pm; Somerset Historical Center
    • Enjoy an evening of music, family games, tractor rides, and food trucks. Some covered seating is provided, but feel free to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Parking is $5 per car, but there is no admission fee (July First Fridays info).

Saturday, July 8

  • Kids Day: Working Animals (in-person); 9 am-3 pm; PA Military Museum
    • Learn how the military has used working animals throughout the centuries, from cats to carrier pigeons (Kids Day info).
  • Mapping Mammal Hall (in-person); 10 am-Noon; The State Museum of PA
    • Did you know that the dioramas in Mammal Hall are based on real locations in Pennsylvania? Locate each of these spots on the giant map of Pennsylvania and discover some interesting facts about our state mammals. Included in regular admission (Mammal Hall program info).

Sunday, July 9

  • Living History Theater (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Join the townspeople of Philadelphia in the summer of 1700 as they discuss how to handle their newfound problem with pirates and rid themselves of these unwelcome intruders. Included in regular admission (Living History Theater info).
  • Moving Art (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Explore Continuum, a large-scale cast glass and stainless-steel kinetic sculpture by Robin Stanaway. The sculpture uses different elements working together to form a visual poem of Pennsylvania. Discover close-looking techniques and use your new knowledge and creativity to design your own movable work of art. Included in regular admission (Art program info).

Wednesday, July 12

  • State Symbol: Firefly (in-person); 10-11 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Pennsylvania is home to more than 15 species of fireflies and this nocturnal insect family was chosen as a state symbol to represent Pennsylvania in 1988. Learn more about this bioluminescent beetle, how it communicates and why it was selected as a state symbol. Included in regular admission (Firefly program info).
  • Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 2-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Join the Planetarium Director for a live chat exploring what you can see in the sky tonight. Learn about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events that are coming up in the next month. Admission and planetarium tickets must be purchased at least 5 minutes before showtime (Stargazing program info).

Thursday, July 13

  • Giant Map of Pennsylvania (in-person); 10 am-Noon; The State Museum of PA
    • Challenge your knowledge of the geography of Pennsylvania while exploring the giant map of the state. Included in regular admission (Giant Map of PA program info).
  • Storytime in the Garden (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
    • Enjoy a story in the garden and then explore the grounds of Pennsbury Manor. Cost is a $3 grounds pass (additional fee to tour the Manor House). Suggested for ages 4 to 8, but all are welcome (Pennsbury Storytime info).
  • Chemistry (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • This family-friendly program offers and basic introduction to chemistry. Learn about the basic components of the matter around us, the elements and periodic table, and create your own compound to take home and play with. Included in regular admission, but space is limited. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Chemistry program info).

Friday, July 14

  • Family Gallery Tour: Mammal Hall (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Touch furs, hold antlers, view skulls and ask questions during a tour of Mammal Hall. Included in regular admission (Mammal Hall tour info).
  • Chill and Build (in-person); 1-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Unwind with the family on a Friday afternoon. Choose the colors and shapes to make your own creation or follow the pattern on the design cards to make a tree, rocket and more using building blocks. Included in regular admission (Chill and Build program info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • Acting Workshop (in-person); Saturday, July 15, 2-4 pm; Joseph Priestley House
    • Laurie McCants, co-founder of the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble, will lead a two-part workshop for students age 8 to 12. Actors will choose a historical figure, research their life, write a script, and reenact them. Second session takes place July 22 (Acting Workshop info and registration).
  • Garden Workshop Series (in-person); Tuesday, July 25, 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
    • Today's workshop is about preserving produce. Geared for ages 12 and up. Registration required - $35 for non-members, $30 for members. Call 215/946-0400 (July Garden Workshop info).
  • Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
  • The Colemans and Martic Forge (hybrid); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
    • Jim Polczynski will present a program centered on the ownership of Martic Forge by three generations of the Coleman family (who also owned Cornwall Iron Furnace). You can attend the program in person at Freeman Hall, Cornwall Manor Retirement Community, or virtually via Zoom (Martic Forge lecture info and registration).
  • The "Dead" of Summer (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 19, 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
    • Experience a reenactment of an early 20th-century seance focused on the period when many had lost loved ones to the 1918 flu pandemic or World War I and were susceptible to this form of entertainment. Tickets are limited and will be available online (Dead of Summer info and tickets).
  • Exploring the Armor (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 26, 2-4 pm; PA Military Museum
    • Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles, but we will walk outside on the grounds, so please dress for the weather with appropriate footwear (Exploring the Armor registration).

Summer Camp Programs (camps are in-person unless marked otherwise)

  • Brandywine Battlefield Park (Brandywine camp info)
    • Step Into the Past Week (grades 3-4), July 11-14, 9 am-2 pm
    • Live the Battle Week (grades 5-6), July 18-21, 9 am-2 pm
    • Step Into the Past Week (grades 5-6), July 25-28, 9 am-2 pm
  • Drake Well Museum & Park (Drake Well camp info)
    • Discovery Days Camp (ages 8-12), July 13, 20 & 27, 9 am-4 pm
  • Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
    • A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm
  • Old Economy Village (OEV camp info)
    • July 17-21, Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm
    • July 24-28, Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm