Anthracite Heritage Museum
Aug. 1: Kids Summer Quest—the Lackawanna County Library System is bringing a Summer Quest to the museum today. Visit the museum anytime between 10 am and 2 pm to take part in fun activities focused on this summer's music theme (more info on the library system website). Admission is free.
Brandywine Battlefield Park
Thru week of Aug. 6: Summer History Camp—check the website for details and contact info to see if space is available in the final weeks of camp.
Bushy Run Battlefield
Aug. 4-5: 255th Anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run—if you've attended this event before, please note that the schedule has changed. The reenactment of the first day of the battle will take place on the afternoon of Aug. 4, with the 2nd day reenactment on the afternoon of Aug. 5 (see the website or Facebook event page for details). You'll also find military camps, period craftspeople and musical performances, and food vendors at this annual event. Admission is $10 for ages 13+, $5 for ages 4-12; a two-day pass is available for $15 (adult) and $7 (child). 10 am-4 pm both days.
Aug. 25: Bushy Run Market—it's the 4th Saturday of the month, so that means a variety of vendors will be on site for your shopping enjoyment (more info on the website). Free for visitors and vendors. 8 am-noon.
Conrad Weiser Homestead
Aug. 5: Living History Sunday—learn about life in Berks County in the mid-18th century. Guided tours offered. Free admission. Noon-4 pm.
Sneak preview/programming note—the Patriotic Concert event originally scheduled for July 1 and postponed due to the heat has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 2, at 5 pm.
Cornwall Iron Furnace
Aug. 14: Lecture—Pat Freeland will present "Virtual Tour of Cornwall Iron Furnace." Part of the Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace lecture series, the program takes place in the auditorium of Freeman Community Center at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.
Aug. 17: Blast!—this event features local breweries and wineries (more info on Facebook), music by jazz keyboardist Wayne Fox, and catering by Hess Barbecue (pulled pork sandwiches, marinated chicken, sides, and dessert). You must be at least 18 years old to attend and 21 to sample alcoholic beverages. Advance tickets are $40; designated driver and under 21, $25. On the day of the event, tickets are $45 ($30 for DDs and under 21). Advance tickets may be purchased at the furnace or by calling 717/272-9711 to charge by phone. 6-9 pm.
Daniel Boone Homestead
Wednesdays in August: Sawmill Operation Days—subject to staff availability, there will be demonstrations of the site’s water-powered sawmill at 11 am and 2 pm.
Aug. 25: Lecture/demonstration—Revolutionary War interpreter Paul Trainor will present "18th-Century Medical Practices," which includes a display of period medical instruments. Included in regular admission. 2-4 pm.
Drake Well Museum
Saturdays and Sundays in August: Historic Pithole Open—the visitor center will be open, so enjoy the orientation film and the excellent diorama that shows the town in its heyday. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
Aug. 5: Drake Well Marathon and 1/2—this is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. Both races (full marathon and half marathon) begin and end at the Museum and make use of Titusville streets and the bike path in Oil Creek State Park. Proceeds benefit Drake Well Museum and Park. You must register to participate.
Aug. 25: Drake Day Circus—experience a traveling circus as it might have been during the height of the Pennsylvania oil boom (more info on Facebook event page). Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
Eckley Miners’ Village
Aug. 4-5: 1940s Weekend—learn about life during World War II through home front and military displays, music, food, and more throughout the site. Off-site at 6 pm on the 4th, there will be a Swing Dance at Freeland Public Park Pavilion. Admission charged (separate fee for dance). 10 am-5 pm.
Aug. 25: Back to School at Eckley—explore the village, visit the buildings, and take part in hands-on activities and a scavenger hunt as you go. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
Ephrata Cloister
Aug. 5: Ice Cream Social—ice cream sundaes, music by Ethan Fasnacht, spinning and weaving demos, therapy dogs from KPETS. What a great way to spend an old-fashioned summer afternoon. Admission is $5 per person for ages 5 and up (younger than 5 get in free). 1-4 pm.
Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Aug. 11-12: A Celebration of Life and Work on Our Waterways—the centerpiece of this project is a two-gallery exhibit featuring the work of watercolor artist Daven Anderson and works by members of Erie's BLOOM Collaborative. Anderson will present a gallery talk on Aug. 11 at 2 pm. There will be an opening reception from 1 to 2:30 pm on Aug. 12 (more info). The exhibits continue through Oct. 27.
Aug. 14: Erie Gives—you can support the museum and ship and stretch your donation by participating in Erie Gives Day. Online giving only, 8 am-8 pm, on the Flagship Niagara League's Erie Gives page.
Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on this month's programs and events.
Graeme Park
Aug.
Aug. 20: Living History Sunday—learn about the impact of the American Revolution on the folks living at Graeme Park and environs from some of General Anthony Wayne's soldiers. Admission charged. Noon-3 pm.
Hope Lodge
Sundays in August: Site open—enjoy the grounds and take a guided tour of the mansion. Admission charged. 12:30-4 pm (tours at 1:00 and 2:30 pm).
Aug. 22: Movie Night—bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in to watch Darkest Hour (2017), starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. Presented by Whitemarsh Township Parks and Recreation. Admission is free, snacks available for purchase. Starts at dusk. (Raindate is TBD.)
Joseph Priestley House
Aug. 5: Oxygen Day—in honor of Dr. Priestley’s best known scientific contribution, this program features costumed docents throughout the house and chemistry demonstrations (more info on the website). Admission is free. 1-4 pm; chemistry demos at 1:30 and 2:30 pm.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Aug. 7: Hands-On History Day—today's theme is the letter "W": there's a School House lesson about “Washing the Sheep,” historic wooden games, wool working, and making a simple toy. Additional Hands-On History Days are scheduled for October and November (more info and online ticketing on website). Cost per program is $11 per person (FREE for Landis Valley Associate members and kids age 5 and under). Aug. 7 program runs 10 am-3 pm.
Old Economy Village
Aug. 11: Introduction to Woodworking—stay tuned to the website for updates on this workshop. 10 am-1 pm.
Aug. 18: Basket Weaving—stay tuned to the website for updates on this workshop.
Aug. 19: Concert in the Garden—enjoy a summer evening concert by the River City Brass (bring lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic supper). Event is scheduled to take place outdoors; in the event of bad weather it will move into the Feast Hall, so tickets are limited (check the Facebook event page for info on purchasing tickets). Gates open at 4 pm, concert starts at 5.
Pennsbury Manor
Sundays in August: Special programming—8/5, Historic Trades; 8/12, Living History Theater; 8/19, Open Hearth Cooking; 8/26, Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Aug. 4-5: Family History Camp—this 2-day program is designed for families with kids age 10 and older. On Day 1, learn about the history of logging in PA and the skills needed to be a successful "woodhick." On Day 2, help demonstrate those skills at the Cherry Springs Park Woodsmen's Show. Pre-registration is required (visit the museum website for details).
Aug. 18: Build and Sail a Log Raft—a mini log raft, that is. Learn how early loggers built rafts to get logs to market, then try your hand at building and sailing a miniature version. Bring water shoes, because you'll be going into the creek (more info on Facebook event page). 1 pm.
Pennsylvania Military Museum
Saturdays and Sundays: On weekends in August, the 1 pm guided tour is included in museum admission.
Aug. 5: Friends' Lecture Series—local historian and author Bruce Teeple will present "War Fever! How the Government's Anti-German Propaganda Campaign Affected Central Pennsylvania." Donation requested. 2 pm.
Aug. 7: Central PA Civil War Round Table Series—Jared Frederick, history instructor at Penn State Altoona and seasonal interpreter at Gettysburg National Military Park, will present "For the People: A Photographic History of the Gettysburg National Military Park." Donation requested. 7 pm.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Aug. 1: Garden Railway Tour and Swing Dance Tickets on sale—Garden Railway Tour: this year's (self-guided) tour is on Sunday, Oct. 7 (rain or shine). Tickets may be purchased at the museum starting today and will be available at Stauffer's locations in central PA starting Sept. 1. Swing Dance: Saturday night, Nov. 3, will find 1940s dance music and dancers among the trains in Rolling Stock Hall from 7 to 10 pm.
Aug. 18-19: Model Railroading Days—model train layouts from numerous railroading clubs will join the museum's layouts for a weekend of family fun and learning. Included in regular admission. 9 am-5 pm.
Somerset Historical Center
Aug. 4 and 18: Escape Room—two 60-minute games offered each day for up to 10 players. Solve the clues to escape from the barn. Cost is $10 per person. 10 am-2 pm.
Aug. 11 and 25: History on a Hayride—hear local tales and explore the historical center grounds from your seat in a hay wagon. Two rides each day. Cost is $10 per person, $8 for members. 10 am-2 pm.
Aug. 18: Lecture Series—Bill Rump of the Laurel Highlands Bottle Club will present "Bottle Documentation and Identification." Bring along your Somerset County (or other) glass bottles to help the center document local examples. 2 pm.
State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the Planetarium webpage for a full schedule of shows.
Wednesdays and Thursdays thru Aug. 23: Nature Lab and Curiosity Kids programs—a variety of presenters will share their expertise in Nature Lab and lead younger visitors on an exploration of the museum (program details are on the events calendar). Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.
Thru Aug. 24: Summer Fridays—general admission is "pay as you wish" on Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm. Curiosity Connection will have free timed tickets available. Art docents will be on hand in the "Art of the State" exhibit from 11 am to 1 pm. Regular fees apply for planetarium shows. From 12:15 to 12:45 pm, a variety of Learn at Lunchtime programs will be offered (check website for specifics).
Aug. 3: StoryTime—this month's program will include a tour of selected works in the "Art of the State" exhibit and a reading of Art by Patrick McDonnell. Geared for children ages 3-5 with an adult. Included in general admission. 10-11 am.
Aug. 5: Artist's Conversations—take an informal tour of this year's "Art of the State" exhibit with curator Amy Hammond and artist Jo Margolis, whose work on paper, Things Embedded, is featured in the exhibit. Included in general admission. 2-3 pm.
Aug. 17: 3rd in the Burg—the "Great Summer Switch" is on the program. Susquehanna Art Museum director of education Tina Sell will lead a tour of the State Museum's "Art of the State" exhibit at 6 pm. Visitors can then walk up the street to the Susquehanna Art Museum where PHMC Commissioner and artist Ophelia Chambliss will lead a group through their exhibit, "Romare Bearden: Vision and Activism," at 7:15. Admission is free. The State Museum will be open 5:30-7:30 pm.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing website for information on programs and events.
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