Things to Do, Read, and Watch

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
• Learn more about butterflies and moths in Pennsylvania and make a butterfly craft to take home. Included in regular admission (Butterflies and Moths program info).

• 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
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spots in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (tickets for Aug. 8 Sensory Hours and tickets for Aug. 22 Sensory Hours).

• 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

• Joseph Priestley House (Priestley House camp info)
• Summer History Camp (grades 1-6), July 26-28, 9 am-Noon

• 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

• Pennsbury Manor (Pennsbury camp info)
• Colonial Camp Week (ages 6-8), July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm

• PA Lumber Museum (Lumber Museum camp info)
• History Camp (ages 10-18), August 4-5, 9 am-2 pm

Winding Down April

Photo via Conrad Weiser Homestead Facebook page

Well, it's almost the end of April, so I'm just going to wrap the month by sharing a few photos from Trails of History programs. As is often the case, Pennsylvania's weather is making us play guessing games, but outdoor events are definitely ramping up. Last weekend, Conrad Weiser Homestead hosted "A Sense of History," where visitors were encouraged to use their senses to learn more about life in 18th-century Berks County. The photo above shows a variety of herbs that visitors could experience by touch, smell, and sight. This Sunday, May 1, from noon to 4 pm, they'll host a living history event focused on trade goods (see details below). If you're in the area, it's a beautiful place to spend some outdoor time.

Photo via PA Lumber Museum Facebook page

Last weekend was the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum's annual spring antique show and sawmill demo. You can't run a sawmill without logs, so they also had folks on hand to show how logs get moved around. There was a loader with a forklift, but also some horses who help with log skidding. The picture above is from Saturday; on Wednesday, it was snowing lightly. You just never know.

Photo via Ephrata Cloister Facebook page

It's prom season already? Yes, it is. It's become something of a local tradition in Ephrata to take prom pictures at Ephrata Cloister, another of our Trails of History beauties. While history is why our sites are preserved, our communities value us for lots of different reasons. Helping people make lasting memories is important, too.

Photo via Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum Facebook page

We started with herbs, we'll end with herbs. After a two-year hiatus, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's Herb & Garden Faire is back next weekend. You can support the Heirloom Seed Project by purchasing plants such as those pictured above. A wide variety of vendors will have plants and garden-related stuff, plus there will be food trucks and stands. If you're closer to western PA, Old Economy Village's Garden Mart is also a great source of heirloom varieties and garden beauty. See below for details of both events.

Onward to May!

Up Next

Sunday, May 1

• Living History Sunday (in-person) noon-4 pm, Conrad Weiser Homestead
• Enjoy an afternoon in the park and learn about life 18th-century trade goods exchanged by Native Americans and European settlers. Donations welcome (Weiser Homestead info).

Monday, May 2

• Unlock Your History (in-person), 9 am-4 pm, Old Economy Village
• Learn how to preserve, decipher, and research your family history documents. Offered in association with the Heinz History Center. Cost is $15, which includes a box lunch (Unlock Your History info and registration).

Tuesday, May 3

• Sensory Hours, 3-5 pm, Railroad Museum of PA
• Light and sound levels will be lowered and several historic trains will be open with staff on-hand to answer questions. Cost is $7 per person; please register in advance (Sensory Hours info and registration).

Friday, May 6

• Herb & Garden Faire (in-person), 9 am-5 pm Friday and Saturday, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Shop for plants from the Heirloom Seed Project and other garden-related vendors. Event runs 9 am-5 pm both days. Several community food trucks and vendors will be on-site as well. Advance tickets are available online (Herb & Garden Faire info & tickets).

• JUST ADDED - Stargazing at the Homestead (in-person), 8 pm-?, Daniel Boone Homestead
• Join members of the Berks County Amateur Astronomical Society to view planets and constellations. Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly and to bring their own telescopes, flashlights, and chairs (Stargazing info).

Saturday, May 7

• Garden Mart (in-person), 9 am-1 pm, Old Economy Village
• Heirloom varieties of plants raised in OEV's greenhouse will be for sale, along with other plants and garden-related items. Admission is free all weekend (Garden Mart info).

• Spring Gas Up (in-person), 9 am-3 pm, Drake Well Museum & Park
• The museum hosts the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society, with displays of antique engines, farm and oil equipment, cars, trucks, and models. Included in regular admision; Hydetown Fire Dept. Auxiliary will have food and beverages for sale (Spring Gas Up info).

• Spring Nature Walk (in-person), 10 am-noon, Bushy Run Battlefield
• Learn about the flora and fauna of western PA and explore the grounds. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Pre-registration is required, but you can pay when you arrive (Spring Nature Walk info and tickets).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• The Pennsylvania Military Museum will offer a Sensory Friendly Visit day on Wednesday, May 11, from 10 am to 3 pm. Background sound effects in the gallery will be turned off and the volume on the orientation video will be reduced (captions always enabled). Please register in advance; standard admission rates apply and you can pay when you arrive (Sensory Friendly visit info).
• The next PHMC Virtual Collections Showcase is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, at 7 pm. Staff from five Trails of History sites will present objects on the theme "Health & Medical Devices" and then the audience will vote on their favorite or the one they thought best illustrated the theme. The program is free; register to receive the Zoom link (Collections Showcase registration).
• Railroad Museum of PA's STEAM on the Rails educational experience takes place May 19 from 10 am to 1 pm. The program is for school group students in grades K-6 and features learning stations throughout the Museum - interactive behind-the-scenes tours, a live steam demo, hands-on art activities, and presentations on historic railroading jobs. Ticket sales end May 17 (STEAM on the Rails info and tickets).
• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum will offer living history tours on Saturday, May 21, based on the life and work of local inventor William Chester Ruth. Ruth was born in 1882 in Chester County; his father had been enslaved in South Carolina and his mother was a free woman of color. Ruth will be portrayed by actor Keith Henley of American Historical Theater. Tour times are 9:30, 12:30, and 3; advance tickets are required (William Chester Ruth Tour info and tickets)
• On May 22, Daniel Boone Homestead will host the Trails of History Run, which includes a 5K, 10K, and 1/2-mile fun run. There will be awards for 5K and 10K races, plus special awards for the best-dressed representation of the 1770s era. Advance registration is required (DBH trail runs info). Training runs for new runners start at 10:30 am every Sunday at the DeTurk House (near the front entrance gate off of Daniel Boone Rd).
• Drake Well Marathon, August 14 - this race is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Registration for a variety of categories is now open.

Summer Camps & Activities on the Trails of History

I'll add to this as I get more info.

• Bushy Run Battlefield
• Summer History Club; activity boxes for Ages 8-12 (pick-up to use at home with an accompanying YouTube video); June 19, July 10 & 24, Aug. 7

• Drake Well Museum & Park
• Discovery Days Camp; Ages 8-12; July 7, 14, 21, & 28

• Pennsbury Manor
• Colonial Camp; Ages 6-8; July 11-15
• Time Travelers Camp; Ages 9-12; July 18-22

• Railroad Museum of PA
• Behind the Scenes of Railroading Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; June 28-30
• Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 9-10; July 12-15
• Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 11-12; July 26-29
• A Moveable Feast Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; Aug. 2-4

Trailheads to Be First Blog on Mars

Spring has sprung at Conrad Weiser Homestead, which will be open from noon to 4 this Sunday, April 3 (photo via CWH Facebook page)

As of this weekend, all Trails of History sites have reopened for the season, so it must really be spring! Schedules vary, so please be sure to check websites before heading out for a visit. Guided tours are generally on a set schedule, so it's helpful to know what to expect. Enjoy!

Over the past month, we asked you to vote for Erie Maritime Museum in USA Today's Top 10 History Museums poll. The results were announced last week (after my posting deadline), and Erie came in at number 7! Thank you to everyone who voted. Congratulations to the staff and volunteers who make it a great place to visit.

Up Next

Today, April 1

• StoryTime (in-person), 10:30-11:30 am, The State Museum of PA
• Read Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown and plant a seed to take home and watch it grow. For kids age 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info)

Saturday, April 2

• Pysanky Egg Decorating Workshop (in-person), 9 am-4 pm, Somerset Historical Center
• This is a beginner-level class teaching the basic skills of Ukrainian decorated eggs. Open to anyone age 12 and up (age 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult). As of Wednesday, there appeared to still be tickets available. Cost is $45, which includes materials (Pysanky workshop info and registration)

• National Water Dance Art Preview (in-person), 10 am-noon, Erie Maritime Museum
• Posters and infographics by Mercyhurst Univ. artists spotlighting plastics pollution and threats to the world's coral reefs will be on display in the Orientation Theater. This is a preview for the National Water Dance event on April 23 (EMM info).

• The Great War Remembered: World War I (in-person), 10:00 am-3 pm Saturday and Sunday, PA Military Museum
• Lectures and temporary exhibits mark the 104th anniversary of American combat troops in France and the end of WWI. Included in regular admission (Great War info). At noon on Saturday, author Tom Schalata will present "The Bloody Bucket," detailing his grandfather's service in the 28th Division. On Sunday at 1 pm, Robert Potter will present "Discovering WWI: From Boalsburg to France and Back," based on his travels in rural regions of France. The lectures are free (donations welcome); seating is first come, first served.

Wednesday, April 6

• Explore! (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Learn about PA industries using T.M. Fowler's bird's-eye views of industrial towns. For kids in grades 3-5 and included in regular admission. Space is limited; sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Explore! info).

Thursday, April 7

• Family Gallery Tour: Paleontology (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Museum educators will be in the gallery with hands-on fossils of plants and animals from the Carboniferous Period to the present. Included in regular admission (Gallery Tour info).

Friday, April 8

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Bert Myers from the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection will talk about PA's successful peregrine falcon reintroduction efforts. The program is free; register to receive the Zoom link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Somerset Historical Center's Coopering School for 2022 is fully booked, but there is a waiting list for 2023, or in the event of cancellations this year (Coopering School info and waiting list).
• Rails and Ales: enjoy an evening of craft beer among the museum's historic trains at the Railroad Museum of PA, April 9, 5:30-9 pm; must be 21 or older to attend; variety of ticket options (VIP tickets are sold out), including designated driver tickets (Rails and Ales tickets)
• Tickets are on sale now for Bushy Run Battlefield's Art and Wine with Henry! event on Saturday, April 23. Enjoy some history and view the work of local artists (Art and Wine info and tickets).
• On Wednesday, April 27, Graeme Park will host a lunch and learn program, "Forgotten Heroes - Women and the Fight for the Right to Vote." The program includes continental breakfast, a lecture, and a buffet lunch; tours of the Keith House will be available after lunch. Tickets are $35; reservations are required (Forgotten Heroes info and tickets).
• On Saturday, May 2, Old Economy Village will host "Unlock Your History," a program on researching your family history and deciphering clues in old documents. Cost is $15, which includes lunch (Unlock Your History info and registration).
• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum will offer living history tours on Saturday, May 21, based on the life and work of local inventor William Chester Ruth. Ruth was born in 1882 in Chester County; his father had been enslaved in South Carolina and his mother was a free woman of color. Ruth will be portrayed by actor Keith Henley of American Historical Theater. Tour times are 9:30, 12:30, and 3; advance tickets are required (William Chester Ruth Tour info and tickets)
• On May 22, Daniel Boone Homestead will host the Trails of History Run, which includes a 5K, 10K, and 1/2-mile fun run. There will be awards for 5K and 10K races, plus special awards for the best-dressed representation of the 1770s era. Advance registration is required (DBH trail runs info). Training runs for new runners start at 10:30 am every Sunday at the DeTurk House (near the front entrance gate off of Daniel Boone Rd).
• Drake Well Marathon, August 14 - this race is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Registration for a variety of categories is now open.

Summer Camps & Activities on the Trails of History

I'll add to this as I get more info.

• Bushy Run Battlefield
• Summer History Club; activity boxes for Ages 8-12 (pick-up to use at home with an accompanying YouTube video); June 19, July 10 & 24, Aug. 7

• Drake Well Museum & Park
• Discovery Days Camp; Ages 8-12; July 7, 14, 21, & 28

• Pennsbury Manor
• Colonial Camp; Ages 6-8; July 11-15
• Time Travelers Camp; Ages 9-12; July 18-22

• Railroad Museum of PA
• Behind the Scenes of Railroading Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; June 28-30
• Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 9-10; July 12-15
• Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 11-12; July 26-29
• A Moveable Feast Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; Aug. 2-4

Programs, Programs, Programs

I hope that you had a safe and fun Independence Day yesterday. (The weather forecast as I write this on July 1 is a bit iffy, so who knows?) Last week's post features Trails of History events through July 11, and the July program page will take you through the end of the month.

As we move into the thick of the summer (I've already been complaining about the heat for two weeks now), there are lots of programs going on (see links above to find out more). There's also plenty of activity behind the scenes and out front for visitors exploring our sites. Here are just a few highlights.

Harpist performing at Ephrata Cloister's Summer Fest artisan event on June 29 (photo via Facebook)

Ephrata Cloister partnered with Artisans in the Park to offer their first annual Summer Fest, which brought artisans and musicians to the site for a lovely open air event (luckily the thunderstorm held off until mid-afternoon). Photo above is from Saturday's event; you can see more on Ephrata Cloister's Facebook page. Artisans in the Park has also partnered with Conrad Weiser Homestead on several events and will offer a Harvest Festival there on September 28 (see Facebook event page).

PA Lumber Museum curator Joshua Fox recently shared the post above related to the production of birch oil in the lumber region. The museum has a reproduction birch still built by dedicated volunteers. You can see it in operation this weekend at the annual Bark Peelers' Festival.


This year's Patch Town Days event at Eckley Miners' Village featured Italian heritage and culture, and included performances by students at the Keystone Ballet Academy. One of the parents shared video of the dancers - be sure to turn the sound on to hear the music.


PHMC's Keystone Summer Internship program is in full swing and we have a number of great interns working in Harrisburg and at various sites. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania introduced their Keystone intern, Mitchell Rebuck, in a recent Facebook post (above) and also featured Benjamin Barnhart, an intern from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology who is splitting his time between the Railroad Museum (in the restoration shop) and Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum (in the tin shop and blacksmith shop). We'll try to introduce you to some of the other summer interns before summer is over.

Thoughts on Giving Thanks

All PA Trails of History sites are closed tomorrow (11/22) for Thanksgiving). For information on site schedules for Friday (11/23) and events going on this weekend through Nov. 29, please check out last week's post.

Through December 31, the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation (PHF) and The State Museum of Pennsylvania are excited to offer a "Buy One Get One Free" membership offer. Renew, rejoin, or join, and you can gift a free membership of equal or lesser value to a friend, family member, or co-worker. Memberships included in this offer are Heritage, Individual, and Family (visit PHF website for details or to purchase online). All categories of membership include free regular admission to sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History. (Please note, the gift membership must be for individuals or families who have never held a membership with PHF or The State Museum previously.)

This table setting from Conrad Weiser Homestead's Candlelight Tours last weekend makes me think of Thanksgiving (photo via Facebook)

Coming to you a little early this week to get ahead of the holiday. On behalf of all of us here at Trailheads HQ, I'd like to wish all of you the Thanksgiving that makes you most happy. The traditions you love, the people who make you feel special, a victory for your football team (if you celebrate that way), a winning hand at gin rummy (ditto), a nice glass of Beaujolais Nouveau (ditto ditto). Those of us lucky to have enough (or more than enough) have much to be thankful for, but we should also remember not to take it for granted. If you have the chance to help others this holiday, please take it.

Hope Lodge's Whitemarsh Encampment event earlier this month brought American Revolution reenactors to the site (via Facebook)

Following up on our Veterans Day post, I had a little time to think about some other military-related Trails of History info recently and thought I'd share some of it this week. These items illustrate the span of military history that gets covered on the Trails and the relevance of our sites to the present.

Reaching back to the 18th century, Hope Lodge's annual Whitemarsh Encampment presents the stories of Revolutionary War soldiers and civilians, especially related to the Continental Army's stay in the area during November and early December of 1777. I've shared a photo above, and you can find more on the Hope Lodge Facebook page.

As part of the centennial celebration of the end of World War I, Conrad Weiser Homestead held an Armistice Day event on Sunday, November 11. Speakers included Doug Miller, site administrator at Pennsbury Manor, and state Sen. David Argall (R - Schuylkill and Berks). Military reenactors were on hand as well. (In May of 2017, we showed you some before and after photos of a project to clean a World War I doughboy statue on the grounds at Conrad Weiser Homestead, dating from the 1920s.) The event also honored all local veterans (read more in this Reading Eagle article); keep an eye out for Weiser's annual concert honoring veterans, generally held around July 4.

We've shared info before about military reenlistment and promotion ceremonies at Trails of History sites. Back in October, the Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara hosted members of the United States Marine Corps. Gunnery Sgt. Charles Bays reenlisted in USMC and then he and his wife, Kate, left for his new assignment in South Carolina; Bays was promoted to Gunnery Sgt. onboard Niagara in October 2017. Bryan Johnson and Devin Dominech were promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. (My thanks to Linda Bolla of the museum for the info and photo below.) In other Erie news, the Flagship Niagara League recently announced the promotion of Christopher Cusson to Captain of the U.S. Brig Niagara. Cusson is, among other things, a United States Coast Guard veteran (read more info here).

SSgt. Bryan Johnson (left) receives his new collar insignia from his grandfathers. (I'm not crying, you're crying.) (photo L. Bolla)

Prospective applicants for the U.S. military service academies are interviewed by a congressional panel to determine if they will receive a letter of referral from their U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative, a requirement for admission. Last weekend, the Pennsylvania Military Museum hosted 16 candidates and their families. Yesterday, the museum received a lovely note from a woman who was there with her son, who hopes to attend the United States Naval Academy. She complimented the museum on its well-kept and well-organized facilities and was impressed with the exhibits and displays, comparing them favorably to those at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia. "It is obvious a lot of time and effort has been spent to make this small museum a true gem!" Kudos to the staff and volunteers at the museum for their work and thanks to Tyler Gum, site administrator, for sharing the info.

On a related but somewhat more somber note, the PA Military Museum has been working with the Jana Marie Foundation, which is devoted to bringing attention to and addressing mental health issues in the Centre County region where the museum is located. The Foundation's STOMPERS Project was developed to embody their goal of stomping out the stigma that often surrounds talking about mental health. STOMPERS are made from shoes and boots on a life-size frame and have different themes depending on their host organization. As a participant in the initiative, the museum is now home to a STOMPER titled "SERVE," which is focused on issues of depression, suicide, and well-being among military veterans and their families. The goal is to help foster conversations between civilian and military communities, between veterans, and among families. This is another way the museum is honoring the military service of Pennsylvanians and recognizing the sacrifices of military families.

"SERVE," part of STOMPER Project, at PA Military Museum (photo AKF)

Welcome...Enjoy Your Visit

With a new month just around the corner, the August program page is up and running. Stay tuned for update posts on August 3 and August 17. Events scheduled for this weekend and next week are listed below.

This new kiosk welcomes Railroad Museum of PA visitors to Rolling Stock Hall and helps them find their way around the museum. The kiosk is part of a major project that is adding interpretive exhibits to the world class collection of railroad locomotives and other rolling stock (photo via Facebook)

Summer is the busiest time for most sites on the PHMC's PA Trails of History, with school tour seasons (fall and spring) close behind. People show up for special events and regularly scheduled guided and self-guided tours. Many sites have expanded hours during the late spring and summer to accommodate more visitors. Families of various shapes and sizes make sites a destination or stop in on their way to other vacation spots. This past month, I took note of quite a few social media posts about different ways visitors are experiencing our sites.

Staff, volunteers, and visitors harvest flax at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum (via Facebook)

In early July, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum put out a call on social media for help with the annual flax harvest. This living history opportunity drew a great public response and provided lots of new hands to assist staff and regular volunteers with the work. The site reported that a visitor from England heard about the project while touring on one of the work days and returned in the evening to help. The helpers were well cared for and also visited the museum's textile exhibit building to take a break and learn how the flax plants they were harvesting would be turned into linen thread and cloth. The photos from the two work events are wonderful; I've shared one above, and you can find others in a photo album on Landis Valley's Facebook page.


Several Trails of History sites were visited in July by groups with an artistic interest in the landscape and buildings. In addition to Cornwall Iron Furnace in the post above (you can see some of the group's paintings in a follow-up post), Graeme Park and Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum also hosted plein air painters. Landis Valley was also the venue for a workshop taught by Jennifer MacNeill Photography.

Emergency vehicles in the parking lot at Ephrata Cloister, but everything was OK (via Facebook)

As part of emergency planning and preparedness, historic sites and museums often work with their local fire companies to familiarize first responders with their collections and historic structures. Earlier this month, more than 60 volunteers from the Pioneer, Akron, and Lincoln Fire Departments in Lancaster County visited Ephrata Cloister for a special training session. In addition to the training, it gave the site an opportunity to thank these volunteers for their service to the larger community.

Other special guests at Trails of History sites this month included: descendants of Dr. Joseph Priestley's brother Timothy at the doctor's home in Northumberland and PHMC's 2018 Keystone summer interns (some of them at least) at Conrad Weiser Homestead and Ephrata Cloister. (On a side note, Old Economy Village and Pennsylvania Lumber Museum posted photos of their summer interns for #NationalInternDay on July 26).

At the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton, summer campers returned to open a time capsule that they had filled five years ago. Sarah Hofius Hall from the Times-Tribune covered the event and noted that the items in the capsule, which documented their craft projects, field trips, and other camp activities, brought back some memories for the students who attended (read Hall's article online). The camp has not been offered for several years, but it had an impact. Hall quotes Abby Robson, now 16, talking about her three years attending the camp: “It gave us all a sense of knowing where we came from.”

The week ahead...

Monday, July 30, marks the 300th anniversary of the death of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. As you probably know, PA Trails of History site Pennsbury Manor interprets Penn's multi-faceted legacy as well as what it was like to live and work on a late-17th- to early-18th-century estate. (Read about Penn's legacy in this article from Pennsylvania Heritage.) As part of the anniversary observance, Pennsbury will host a panel discussion and luncheon on September 29, featuring Gov. Tom Wolf and former governors Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, Ed Rendell, and Tom Corbett (read more from PhillyVoice.com). Tickets are available now on the Pennsbury Manor website. Proceeds from the event will support educational programs at the site.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Aug. 1: Kids Summer Quest—the Lackawanna County Library System is bringing a Summer Quest to the museum. 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.

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 28: Bushy Run Market—this open air market features a changing variety of vendors. The concession stand will have drinks and light fare. Free for visitors and vendors. 8 am-noon.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Aug. 1: Sawmill demonstrations—the site's water-powered up-down sawmill will be demonstrated at 11 am and 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
July 28-29: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
July 28: Something More Saturday—in addition to the regular offerings, there will be hands-on activities for fun and learning. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.

Graeme Park
Aug. 2: Happy Hour with the Historian—Charlotte Filiciatto will present "The Quaker Response to the Civil War," exploring Graeme Park's Penrose family and their neighbors during the American Civil War. Admission is $5, free for members. Food and drink available for purchase starting at 6 pm; lecture starts at 7. UPDATE: this event is cancelled (per GP Twitter acct); there is another scheduled for Aug. 30 (see August program page for details).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
July 28-29: Civil War Weekend—the site is transformed into a rural Pennsylvania village during the Civil War, with reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians (more info). The event takes place rain or shine (online tickets are not refundable). Admission charged; tickets are available online from Brown Paper Tickets. Food will be available for purchase at the museum store. (Check out Landis Valley's Facebook page for posts on what to expect at the event.) 10 am-4 pm both days.

Pennsbury Manor
July 29: Special Sunday Programming—meet some of the animals that call Pennsbury home. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 28: Trail Work Bee—as reported in the July 13 Trailheads post, the museum grounds now include the Webber Cabin, home to Bob and Dotty Webber for many years. Bob Webber was known for many things, among them his work to establish numerous hiking trails in Pennsylvania's forests. A new trail will connect the Webber Cabin to the museum's existing Sustainable Forestry Trail. The work to develop that trail is being done by hand and help is needed. If you are willing and able to assist, please call the museum at 814/435-2652 to sign up.

Somerset Historical Center
July 28: History on a Hayride—hear tales of local characters and enjoy the museum grounds (more info on the Facebook event page). Cost is $10 per person, $8 for members. 10 am-2 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
July 27: Summer Fridays—Fridays are "Pay as You Wish" this summer during regular hours, 9 am-5 pm. Also today, 12:15-1:15 pm, staff from the Bureau of State Parks will present a Learn at Lunchtime program, "Discover PA Songbirds and Cavity-nesters."

Upcoming Trails of History Events, July 6-19

So much to do...This list covers today, July 6, through July 19. Visit the July program page for events later in the month.

Weaving demonstrations are often part of living history programs at Conrad Weiser Homestead (via Facebook)

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 7: Annual Classic Car Cruise—classic and custom cars, live music, food, drink, and more. Event is free; regular admission applies to visit the exhibits. 11 am-3 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
July 8: Living History Sunday—enjoy a summer afternoon at the homestead learning about life in the Tulpehocken. Admission is free. Noon-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 11, 18: Sawmill demonstrations—the site's water-powered up-down sawmill will be demonstrated at 11 am and 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
Saturdays and Sundays: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
July 12, 19: Discovery Days—children age 8-12 will experience nature, perform experiments, discover history through artifacts and exhibits and so much more. Fees charged and registration is required (program brochure and registration form). Deadline was late June, so contact the site to see if space is still available. 9 am-4 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
Through August 17: Tall Ship Summer Camp—sail on board the schooner Lettie G. Howard and learn all kinds of nautical skills. Week-long camp sessions are still booking, geared for ages 10-14--except for Tall Ships Summer Camp RETRO week (July 2-6), which is designed for grown-ups! Details and registration info are on the website.
July 16: Annual Flagship Niagara Golf Open—details and registration are on the website. Part of your registration fee is tax-deductible and supports the Flagship Niagara League's programs. Must be at least 21 years old to attend.

Graeme Park
July 15: Living History Sunday—explore the sympathies and arguments of loyalists and revolutionaries as Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson decides what she must do (more info on the website). Noon-3 pm (presentation at 2).

Hope Lodge
Sundays in July—the site is open for tours every Sunday, through mid-October. Admission is charged. 12:30-4 pm, with tours at 1 and 2:30.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
July 7 and 11: Lend a Hand on the Farm—there's flax to be harvested and Landis Valley needs some helping hands to pitch in. Learn how flax becomes linen and help with the first step in the process, pulling the flax plants out of the ground. No tools will be used (no cutting) but those interested should bring good garden gloves and plenty of sunscreen. Landis Valley will provide water and snacks (more info on Facebook). 7/7, 9-11:30 am; 7/11, 6-8:30 pm.

Old Economy Village
July 15: Historic Fashion Show and Discussion—curator Sarah Buffington will present a program on 18th- and 19th-century clothing using antique and reproduction pieces (more info on Facebook event page). 6-8 pm.
July 16-20: Summer History Camp—kids ages 6 to 12 will explore the village and learn about life and work in the community (more info and registration form. Register by July 5. 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
Special Sunday Programming—Pirates in the Tavern! (living history theater) (7/8) and see what the cooks are up to in the kitchen (7/15). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 14: Yoga/dance classes—no experience is required to enjoy this combination of various types of dance and yoga movement. Two classes are offered - Shake Your Soul (10-11 am) and Shake Your Seat, where movements center around a chair (noon-1 pm). Click on the class you want for more info on registering. Cost is $10 per class.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 7-8: Annual Bark Peelers’ Festival—this hugely popular event recreates the 4th of July celebrations of Pennsylvania’s early 20th-century lumber camp workers and “woodhicks.” The schedule for this year's event is now available online. Admission is charged. 9 am-5 pm (events start at 10 am). NOTE: on June 7 at noon, a dedication ceremony for the relocated Webber cabin will be held (read more about the cabin project).

Pennsylvania Military Museum
July 10: Central PA Civil War Roundtable Series—the program is "Zouaves: America's Forgotten Soldiers." Donation requested. 7-8 pm.
July 12-15: Annual People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts—celebration of arts and artisans held on the museum grounds (visit the festival website for details). Festival is free, $5 charged for on-site parking at PMM; regular museum admission applies to tour the indoor exhibits. Thurs-Sat, 10 am-9 pm (museum open 10 am-5 pm); Sun., noon-5 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Through July 8: Reading Railroad Days—offered in conjunction with the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society, this program features an enormous HO-scale model railroad and highlights Reading Company rolling stock in the Museum’s collection. Included in regular museum admission during regular hours.

Somerset Historical Center
July 7: Escape Room—work as a team (of up to 10 people) to solve your mission and escape the barn. Two 60-minute games offered per day. Cost is $10 per person. 10 am-2 pm.
July 14: Exhibit opening—"Answering the Call: Somerset County in the Great War" explores the impact of World War I from the home front to the front lines. Included in regular admission. On view through Nov. 11.
POSTPONED July 14: Historic Hayride—hear stories of the local region while you tour the grounds by wagon. Two rides offered each day. Cost is $10 per person, $8 for members. 10 am-2 pm. Due to equipment and trail issues, this event is postponed. Keep an eye on Somerset's Facebook page for updates.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Through Aug. 24: Summer Fridays—Fridays are "Pay as You Wish" this summer.
For the full listing of July programs, including planetarium shows, Nature Lab programs, StoryTime, and Learn at Lunchtime, please visit the museum's calendar of events.

February Roundup

If you're a planner, be sure to check out the list of Trails of History sites that will be open on Charter Day, March 11. The full March program page should be up next week (which is a good thing, since March starts next week.)

A week with a Monday holiday plus two days of training and meetings equals...say it with me...a Trailheads roundup!

Garden at Eckley Miners' Village (photo by AKF)

The folks at Eckley Miners' Village have installed a new lobby exhibit to supplement their long-term orientation exhibit. You can view the new exhibit, which focuses on daily life in the Village, in the Visitor Center during regular operating hours.


The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum posted about the role of African Americans in the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1942). Like the U.S. Army on which its structure was modeled, the CCC was racially segregated. It is estimated that roughly 10 percent of the 194,500 men who served at CCC camps in Pennsylvania were African American. You can read a much more detailed account in the post below (or find it on the museum's Facebook page).

Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead President David Sonnen (via Facebook)

Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead board members David Sonnen (above) and Lynn Otto (who I'm guessing took this photo) recently sat down with Jo Mercer of Y102 IHeart Radio in Reading. They were guests on Mercer's "Roundtable" program to talk about the upcoming season at the Homestead, which will reopen on Charter Day.


Okay, this isn't Trails of History as such, but he's still our only Pennsylvania President. The Library of Congress has announced that the papers of Lancaster's own James Buchanan (@POTUS15) and Harriet Lane Johnston, who served as her uncle's official White House hostess, have been digitized and are now available online.

This weekend...

Interior exhibit at Drake Well Museum and Park (via Facebook)

Tomorrow, Feb. 24, Drake Well Museum and Park offers this month's "Something More Saturday," which provides family-friendly activities in addition to the regular exhibits (see above). The theme is Games, so you know it will be fun. All activities are included in regular admission. The program runs 10 am-3 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum has a half dozen workshops and programs on their "Winter Learning for Adults" schedule for tomorrow (Feb. 24). Space is still available, as far as I can tell from the website. You'll find the details and online registration on the website. Hurry!

February 28 is the last day to view the Anthracite Heritage Museum's African American History Month exhibit, "Granville C. Smith: African-American Business and Community Leader." The exhibit documents Mr. Smith's career in Scranton over a 34-year period as owner-operator of the G.W. Brown Company and influential member of numerous community organizations. The temporary exhibit is located in the museum lobby and is free of charge; regular admission rates apply to view the rest of the exhibits.

On this Day in History - February 23

• 1868 - W.E.B. DuBois is born. DuBois wrote his first major book, The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study, in 1899 while teaching at the University of Pennsylvania; it was the first sociological case study of an African American community.
• 1910 - The first radio contest takes place in Philadelphia. This national contest involved wireless telegraphers in "tests of speed and accuracy in receiving and transmitting American Morse telegraphic code signals via radio."
• 1954 - Children at Arsenal Elementary School, Pittsburgh, are the first to receive Dr. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine.

More Farm Show and Other Stuff

The January program page has this weekend's events. Please note that most Trails of History sites will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The Railroad Museum of PA will be open (although they are generally closed on Mondays Nov.-March).

More PA Farm Show!!

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum volunteer Karen Gunderson with visitors at the 2018 Pennsylvania Farm Show (via Facebook)

Last week's post was focused on the various PHMC activities going on at the 102nd Pennsylvania Farm Show. I might also have mentioned the food. The Farm Show continues through tomorrow, January 13, so there is still time to learn about farm technology and agriculture or to search for your family's roots (and eat donuts).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum has shared photos of visitors to their booth in the Main Hall, and PHMC posted video of our executive director, Andrea Lowery, demonstrating a piece of farm technology on display. You can also find photos and video of the State Museum's Archaeology display and the State Archives and State Historic Preservation Office "Find Your Story" booth (see below).

And Other Stuff...

Only because the weather is temporarily warming up am I willing to share this photo of the springhouse at Conrad Weiser Homestead. Although the site is closed to the public for the winter, they are posting periodically. This photo from their Facebook page shows that even though the weather last week was abysmally cold and the water bucket had a ring of ice, the spring was still flowing. I can only image how cold that water felt.

Source: Conrad Weiser Homestead Facebook page

Thanks to the Friends of Hope Lodge for the following: "On Wednesday morning, January 11, Historic Hope Lodge was featured on Philadelphia’s NBC10. The Morning Team's 'On the Road' segment was in Fort Washington, Montgomery County, to discuss businesses and organizations that make the area thrive. The short feature included video of both the interior and exterior of the historic mansion and included a brief interview with Friends of Hope Lodge board member and Volunteer Coordinator, Diane Horan, on the role the property played during the American Revolution and video from the annual 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment reenactment." I tried to find a video clip of the Hope Lodge visit but was only able to find the piece that introduced the overall segment (plus their visit to a local Wawa). The Friends provided a photo of Diane being interviewed.

Diane Horan explains Hope Lodge's place in the history of the American Revolution (photo Hope Lodge)

And finally a reminder that Museum Selfie Day (@MuseumSelfieDay) is coming up next week. On Wednesday, Jan. 17, museums and historic sites around the world will participate in this popular social media event. We're encouraging staff and volunteers at Trails of History sites to take part and hope that our visitors will as well. Please use #MuseumSelfie and tag the site and @phmc so we can share in the fun. On a related note, the Google Arts & Culture app now includes a feature that matches your selfie to works of art to find your doppelganger. It might be a fun thing to try on Museum Selfie Day. DISCLAIMER: I have not tried the app (yet) and am not responsible for your venture into facial recognition technology.

I found my own doppelganger on Museum Selfie Day 2017 with this portrait of Hannah Penn at The State Museum of Pennsylvania