The Week Ahead - Sept. 16-22

An inviting garden path at Old Economy Village (via OEV's Facebook page)

This photo makes me want to walk right into it. We have lots of great events and activities on the Trails of History this weekend, including a big band concert in the garden (weather permitting) at Old Economy. If this weekend is full, please mark your calendars for next Saturday, Sept. 24, when participating Trails of History sites will be open free of charge (list of participating sites). We hope you'll join us!

Up Next*

*Please note that calendar info is subject to change; we try to keep this up to date, but it's always best to check.

Today, September 16

• Taurus Star Party (in-person); 8-10 pm; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Learn about 18th-century astronomy and celestial folklore. The program includes identifying constellations, using a star map, and (weather permitting) using telescopes to look at the night sky. Pre-registration is required (Star Party registration).

Saturday, September 17

• Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day; hours vary; several Trails of History sites participating
• Download a ticket good for two admissions to a participating site - you can choose only one museum for Museum Day free tickets
• Ephrata Cloister
• PA Lumber Museum
• Railroad Museum of PA

• "On the Way to Mexico": The NGP Mobilizes in 1916 (in-person); Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-3 pm; PA Military Museum
• The NGP History Project will be on site with an encampment and lectures exploring the history of the National Guard of PA. Encampment is open to the public 10 am to 3 pm each day, with a lecture at 1 pm in the museum theater. Admission is free (NGP Mobilizes program info).

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Read Because of an Acorn by Lola and Adam Schaefer and make an acorn art project. For kids age 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).

• SOLD OUT Colonial Tavern Night (in-person); 6-9 pm; Hope Lodge
• An evening of local brews from Round Guys Brewery, food, music, and history to support the site and its programs. General admission is $60 per person; must be 21 or older to attend. Advance tickets are required (Eventbrite site for Tavern Night tickets).

Sunday, September 18

• Sensory Friendly Visit (in-person); 10 am-noon; PA Military Museum
• Background effects in the gallery will be turned off and the orientation film's volume will be reduced (captions always enabled). Standard admission rates apply. Please sign up for a timeslot in advance; you can pay when you arrive (visit PMM website and select your date and time).

• Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• The cooks will fire up the bake oven to demonstrate the weekly baking of bread and more. Included in regular admission (Open Hearth Cooking info).

• Summer Concert Series (in-person); 2-4 pm; Old Economy Village
• Swingin' Bopcats Big Band, a classic 18-piece big band with two vocalists, will perform in the Rapp House garden (or the Feast Hall if the weather's bad). The concert is free; $5 donation is suggested. Please bring chairs and blankets for seating (Big Band concert info).

Tuesday, September 20

• Sensory Hours (in-person); 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Reduced noise, light, and attendance plus quiet spaces when you want a break. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about several of the historic trains open for visitors. Advance tickets required (Sensory Hours Sept. 20 tickets).

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); 7-9 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Michael Idriss, African American Interpretive Fellow at the Museum of the American Revolution, will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the museum. After his presentation, attendees will have a chance to view Brandywine's exhibit gallery and enjoy some light refreshments. Tickets are $20 (Speaker Series tickets via Eventbrite).

Wednesday, September 21

• Explore! (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn about color theory; how animals use color to survive and communicate; and a printmaking technique using primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. For kids in grades 3-5 and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (Explore! info).

• History Speaks Series (in-person); 7-10 pm; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Michael Doucette, service forester at Forbes State Forest, will present "Land Usage in the Colonial Era." Tickets are $10 (History Speaks tickets).

Thursday, September 22

• Family Gallery Tour: Transportation (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Visit the transportation gallery with museum educators to learn about vehicles that have helped people move across the state. Included in regular admission (Gallery Tour info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Fall Nature Walk (in-person); Sat., Sept. 24, 10 am-noon; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Learn about the plants and animals of western PA on this naturalist-guided walk. Pre-registration is required, but you can pay for your tickets at the door (Nature Walk info and registration).

• ADDED Exploring the Armor (in-person); Sun., Sept. 25, 1-4 pm; PA Military Museum
• Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles including a private look inside the crew compartments. Climb into history and experience our armored vehicles firsthand! Please Dress appropriately for seasonal weather and uneven terrain. Cost is $15 per person, and reservations are required (Exploring the Armor reservations).

• Wine & Paint Night (in-person); Sat., Oct. 1, 5-7 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• General admission tickets include wine sampling and hors d'oeuvres (designated driver tickets available). Ten people can purchase tickets for a private art lesson. Others are welcome to bring their canvasses and paints and set up on the grounds to paint in the evening light. Advance tickets only; must be at least 21 to attend (Paint Night info and tickets).

• Pithole Lantern Tours (in-person); Sat., Oct. 1, 6:30-9:30 pm; Historic Pithole City
• Nighttime tours against the backdrop of the remaining elements of this historic oil boomtown. There are some steep hills and rugged terrain, so please dress accordingly. Advance tickets are required and may be purchased online or at the Museum Store at Drake Well Museum & Park (Lantern Tour online tickets).

• Garden Railway Tours (in-person); Sun., Oct. 9, 1-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Enjoy a self-guided tour of operating model trains in various outdoor and garden settings at 7 stops around Lancaster County. Masking and social distancing may be required or requested a venues. Tickets are $10 for ages 6 and up, available only via Eventbrite. Location info will be sent after you purchase your ticket (Garden Railway Tour tickets).

• The Farms of the Gettysburg Battlefield (virtual); 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Tom Lehman will explore the stories of civilians in and around Gettysburg and how their lives were changed the Civil War battle on their doorsteps. Site administrator Mike Emery will moderate a brief discussion. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Gettysburg lecture registration).

On the Trails of History, September 20-October 3

This week's post provides info on events through the end of September (it's officially Fall as of the 23rd) and teases a couple of events at the very beginning of October. The full October program page will be up and running next week (I'll update this with a link).

Tomorrow, Sept. 21, is Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day, and several PA Trails of History sites are participating, as noted below.

Bushy Run Battlefield offers their Fall Nature Walk tomorrow, Sept. 21 - details below (photo via Facebook)

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Sept. 21: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day—people who present a Museum Live! ticket will receive two free admissions. Visit the Museum Day website to download your ticket.

Brandywine Battlefield
Sept. 24: Revolutionary Dining Series—this month's dinner and lecture are planned in conjunction with a new exhibit at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia (Sept. 28, 2019-March 17, 2020). "Cost of Revolution: The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier" focuses on Richard St. George, veteran of the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Held at The Gables at Chadds Ford, the cost is $50 per person (includes salad, entree, dessert, and lecture). Check Brandywine's website for reservation info. 6-9 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Sept. 21: Fall Nature Walk—learn about the flora and fauna of the woods around the battlefield with herbalist Lindsey Praksti (more info on Facebook event page). Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Cost is $5 per person, free for members. 10 am-noon.
Sept. 26: Historic Sewing Workshop Series—this four-part series is open to people at all skill levels. Each workshop will have a one-hour of formal instruction on 18th- and 19th-century techniques, followed by an hour of open studio time to work on your own projects or practice in a group setting. Additional dates are Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12. See the Facebook event page for details on how to register. 6-8 pm.
Sept. 28: Bushy Run Market—this is the last market day for the season. There will be a variety of vendors, and the concession stand will be open. 8 am-noon.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Sept. 28: Artisans in the Park—enjoy a wide variety of craft demonstrations and displays. Food vendors will be on hand and the historic buildings will be open (self-guided only). 9 am-4 pm.

Scene from the 2018 Cast Iron Cooking Demo at Cornwall Iron Furnace

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Sept. 21: Cast Iron Cooking Demo—cast iron cooking demonstrations will be presented by several members of the Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace. 11 am-3 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Sept. 28: Heritage Day—all kinds of activities will take place throughout the site. Cooking, baking, dancing, magic, and much more (details on the calendar of events.) Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
Sept. 21: Fall Gas Up—the museum hosts the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society's display of antique gas engines, oil field and farm equipment, and more. Included in regular admission. 9 am-4 pm.
Sept. 28: Something More Saturday—this month's program is "Hands-on Oil Labs" (check the Facebook event page for more info). Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
Sept. 21: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day—people who present a Museum Live! ticket will receive two free admissions. Visit the Museum Day website to download your ticket.

Temporary exhibit of hymnals and music manuscripts at Ephrata Cloister (photo via Facebook)

Ephrata Cloister
Sept. 21: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day—people who present a Museum Live! ticket will receive two free admissions and enjoy a special program on music written at Ephrata. Visit the Museum Day website to download your ticket. Site is open 9 am-5 pm; special Museum Day music presentations at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please check the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on programs and events this month.

Graeme Park
Sept. 26: Homeschool Day—activities include tours of the Keith House, open-hearth cooking, colonial games, and typical chores (program flyer). Cost is $6 per person; students must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 10 am-2 pm.

Hope Lodge
Sept. 22 & 29: Site open—enjoy the grounds and take a guided tour of the mansion. Admission charged. 1-4 pm (tours at 1:00 and 2:30 pm).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Sept. 21 & 28: Fall Workshops—visit the workshop page on LVM's website for details on workshops in Sept., Oct., and Nov.
Sept. 21: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day—people who present a Museum Live! ticket will receive two free admissions. Visit the Museum Day website to download your ticket.
Sept. 28: "Escape" Landis Valley—it's 1777 and the British have invaded Philadelphia. Can you solve the puzzles to help the Continental Congress get through Lancaster on their way to York? You must register ahead of time if you want to find out. Program times are 10 and 11:30 am, 1 and 2:30 pm. Tickets are $35 for adults ($30 for LVA members) and $25 for children age 10 and under (light refreshments included). Contact Jamie at 717-581-0590.

Old Economy Village
Sept. 21: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day—Old Economy is participating in Smithsonian magazine's annual Museum Day. Visit the Old Economy website for a link to download a ticket good for free admission for two people. 10 am-5 pm.
Sept. 26: Lecture and Booksigning—Dr. Eileen Aiken English will present "If These Walls Could Talk," exploring stories of The Harmony Society (see Facebook event page for details, including how to register). Dr. English will also sign books (available in the Museum Store for purchase). 7 pm.
Sept. 28: Introduction to Blacksmithing—this is a basic intro taught by John Frankowski and Ben Delaney, who regularly demonstrate blacksmithing at Old Economy. The class is free, but there are only 8 spaces. You must pre-register by Sept. 18; contact David Miller at 724/266-4500 x110 or davmiller@pa.gov. 10 am-1 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
Sept. 22 & 29: Special Sunday Programming—Sept. 22, Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights will find the brewers working on a traditional fall beer; Sept. 29, Meet the Animals that make Pennsbury their home. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Sept. 27: Escape Room—there are two different storylines (one beginner level, the other advanced), each offered 3 times during the evening. Not recommended for children younger than 13. Space is limited and reservations are required. Visit the event page for details and links for ticket purchase (please read carefully to be sure which you wish to purchase). 6-10 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Sept. 21: Hometown Science Festival—folks from the Lumber Museum will be on hand at this event in Wellsboro to demonstrate some simple machines from the "for use" collection (details on the Facebook event page).
Sept. 21: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day—people who present a Museum Live! ticket will receive two free admissions. Visit the Museum Day website to download your ticket.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Sept. 29: Exploring the Armor—this special 2-hour guided tour begins in the museum theater, then takes you inside some of the military equipment on the grounds. Space is limited, and reservations are required (reserve online). Cost is $15 ($5 for museum members). 2-4 pm.
Oct. 1: Central PA Civil War Roundtable Series—David MacLean will present "Calcium Lights and Optical Entertainment in Civil War and Peace." 7-8:30 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Sept. 21: Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day—people who present a Museum Live! ticket will receive two free admissions. Visit the Museum Day website to download your ticket, then present it at the Railroad Museum for admission. 9 am-5 pm.
Sept. 28: Members Day—a full slate of activities and speakers is planned for Friends of the Railroad Museum (and it's not too late to join). Full info on the website.

Somerset Historical Center
Sept. 20: Writers Workshop—SHC will host "Historical and Contemporary Research for Fiction: Shape Your Characters, Turn Your Plot & Bring Your Setting to Life," part of the 2019 Festival of Books in the Alleghenies. Registration is required and is being handled by Festival of Books (info and registration links). 2-3:30 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please check the Planetarium page for updates on this month's programs.
Sept. 26: Nature Lab—learn more about two familiar PA birds, the ruffed grouse and the wild turkey. Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.
Oct. 1-4: Archaeology at Fort Hunter—this season's excavations by the State Museum archaeology team wrap up this week. You can drop by between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm to see what's up.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit Washington Crossing's Calendar of Events page for info on park and historical programming.