Along the Pennsylvania Trails of History, May 17-30

Many, but not all, Trails of History sites will be open May 27 for Memorial Day. Sites planning to be open on Memorial Day are noted below, but please check ahead with the site you want to visit to make sure they will be open when you want to be there.

Learn about colonial housekeeping chores at Graeme Park's Living History Sunday on May 19 (see below for more information)

Anthracite Heritage Museum
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Brandywine Battlefield Park
May 19: History in the Neighborhood—learn about Brandywine Battlefield Park and other historic sites in the area. Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 25: Bushy Run Market—on the fourth Saturday of each month through September, a variety of vendors and concessionaires will be on hand. There is no charge to visit the market; vendors can find info on the website. 8 am-noon.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
May 26: French and Indian War Militia Drill and Instruction—learn about soldier life in the mid-1700s (more info on website). Included in regular admission. 11 am-3 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
May 18: MEET-U in 5 & 1/2—enjoy a 5-mile or 13-mile (half marathon) run through the grounds of Drake Well Museum and Oil Creek State Park and help the museum’s MEET-U educational outreach program. Registration is required; registration form is on the web. You must register by May 5 to guarantee a race shirt.
May 25: Something More Saturday—special activities in addition to the museum's core and changing exhibits (indoor and outdoor). This month's focus is "Cooking in the Oilfield." Blacksmith demonstrations will also be offered. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
May 24-26: Printmaking Workshop—printmaker Dan Welden will lead a workshop on "solarplate" printing (more info, including how to register, in an article from Lancaster Farming). Fee charged. 10 am-4 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the website for information on events and schedules this month.

Graeme Park
May 19: Living History Sunday—learn what it took to keep a colonial household running. Living history demonstrations are free of charge; admission fees apply to tour the Keith House. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge
May 19: Site open—Hope Lodge is open for tours most Sundays through October; they will be closed on May 26. Admission is charged. Site is open 1-4 pm; guided tours are offered at 1 and 2:30.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
May 25: Blacksmithing Class - Beyond the Basics—this class is for you if you've taken OEV's intro to blacksmithing or already have basic blacksmithing skills and want to move on to an intermediate level (more details). Class is free, but space is limited; please register by May 15 by calling David Miller, 724/266-4500 x110. 10 am-1 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
May 19 and 26: Sunday Programming—May 19, "Open Hearth Cooking: Old Recipes and Old Friends" and May 26, "Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights." Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
May 25: Community Yard Sale—yard sale will be set up near the Route 6 entrance to the museum grounds. Call Bob at 814/435-2652 to register for a space. 9 am-5 pm.
May 27: Memorial Day—open 9 am-5 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
May 19: A Celebration of Service—US Army reunion and memorial service sponsored by the PA National Guard and held on the museum grounds (photos of previous programs). Museum is open 10 am-5 pm (ceremony begins at 12:30 pm, but military vehicles, helicopters, and equipment begin arriving earlier in the day).
May 25: Military Museum Murph—the "Murph" is a Crossfit workout named for Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL killed in action in 2005. This is the Military Museum's first Murph event. Online registration and more info can be found on the museum website. There is a cost to participate but parking for athletes is free. Spectators are welcome ($5 charge for parking). 9 am-3 pm.
May 25-26: World War II Revisited—Allied and Axis WWII reenactors will be bivouacked on the museum grounds portraying field life in the European Theater of Operations, 1944-45. This year's event will include representation of the 111th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) and their role during the D-Day invasion (75 years ago). There will also be several temporary exhibits exploring aspects of WWII, including the role of women (more info in Altoona Mirror article). Grounds will be open 10 am-4 pm each day. There will be a short program followed by a tactical demo at 12:45 pm each day.
May 27: Memorial Day—the museum will be open 10 am-5 pm.
May 27: Allegheny Mountain Region AACA Car Show—kick off summer with pre-war through modern classics on the grounds of the museum. $5 for on-site parking. 9 am-4 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
May 27: Memorial Day—the museum will be open 9 am-5 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Visit the website for a complete schedule of this month's Planetarium shows.
May 29: Documentary—the WITF documentary "Penn's Woods: Cradle of Conservation" will be screened, followed by a panel discussion on Pennsylvania's environmental history (more info on the website). 5-7 pm (reception at 5, screening starts at 5:30).

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the website for information on this month's events and schedules.

Picture This!

Last week's post listed events through next Thursday (May 16) and the full May program page will take you to the end of the month.

Also, don't forget that next week (May 13-19) is @MuseumWeek, an international social media event with daily hashtags and a chance to share with museums worldwide.

You know what they say. I'm saving the thousand words and sharing these images of recent events and happenings on the Trails of History. Also, in what can best be called a "quirky" move, I've added a feature to the About Us section (to your right) called "PHMC Historical Marker Watch" where I can save Facebook posts, tweets, etc. that feature PHMC's blue and gold historical markers. I've noticed that lots of folks use those markers in images of other things to denote that the content is about history. So, to amuse myself if no one else, I decided to start gathering them in one place. There are only two entries on the page as of now, but I'll build as we go. Feel free to add your own examples in the comments. (UPDATE: It's not just me! Yay! Karen Galle, who oversees the PHMC Historical Marker program, pointed me to Laura Klotz's blog, "Marker Quest," that is focused on the markers.)

Photo provided by PA Lumber Museum

Earlier this week, while in the PA Wilds for various meetings, Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), stopped by the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. Dunn (third from right in the photo above) had a chance to visit the Webber Cabin. The relocation of Bob and Dotty Webber's cabin to the museum grounds was made possible by the work and cooperation of many people, including staff from DCNR, PHMC, and the Lumber Museum (site administrator Josh Roth is second from left in the photo) as well as volunteers and board members from the PA Lumber Museum Associates (a Trailheads post from July 2018 has more info). The working relationship between DCNR and the Lumber Museum/PHMC has been extraordinarily productive and has involved all aspects of operations, from structures and trails to exhibits and public programs. Secretary Dunn and other DCNR staff also had a brief tour of the museum's award-winning core exhibit, "Choices and Challenges in Pennsylvania's Forests" (photo below).

Staff and volunteers from Cornwall Iron Furnace took a field trip to the Berks Heritage Center, Canal Museum, and the Gruber Wagon Works to check out how other industrial history sites tell their stories (via Facebook)

Civilian and military reenactors took part in the PA Military Museum's recent Civil War encampment event (more photos of the Civil War event and photos of the World War I event are available on Facebook)

I'll leave you with the following video about a recent project featuring music composed at the Ephrata Cloister. It's about 5 minutes long and well worth your time (you can also go directly to YouTube to watch it).

On the Pennsylvania Trails of History, May 3-16

The full May program page is now available, with info on Memorial Day schedules and events through the end of the month.

PHMC Volunteer of the Year Honorees for Service in 2018, along with PHMC Executive Director, Commissioners, and Site Administrators, April 27, 2019. Read more about our honorees in last week's post (photo by Don Giles)

Anthracite Heritage Museum
May 4: Spring Tea—this year's event is a celebration of the ethnic cultures of the Scranton region and the impact of immigration on the region's past, present, and future. Cost is $20 and includes the program, tea, savory sandwiches, and ethnic confections. Adults and youth ages 12 and up are invited. Deadline for reservations is May 1 (more info on the Facebook event page). 1-4 pm.

Brandywine Battlefield Park
May 11: Encampment Day—learn about the lives of Continental soldiers during the American Revolution (more info on website). Admission charged. Noon-4 pm.
May 12: Kid's Day—enjoy an afternoon of family fun. Kids get in free (regular admission for adults). Noon-4 pm.

Imagine yourself on this trail when you attend the Spring Nature Walk at Bushy Run Battlefield (via Facebook)

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 4: Book Tour and Signing—author Jason Cherry will be at the site to discuss and sign copies of his new book, Pittsburgh's Lost Outpost: Captain Trent's Fort. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and there will be light refreshments (more info on Facebook event page). 10 am-noon.
May 11: Spring Nature Walk—this annual event takes participants on an exploration of the woods and fields around the site; cost is $5, free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society. No registration required; wear sturdy, water-resistant walking or hiking shoes and dress for the weather. 10 am.
May 15: History Speaks Series—stay tuned for updates on topics, speakers, and future programs. 7 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
May 4: Artisans in the Park—a wide variety of artists (including food artisans!) will be on site (detailed lists on the event website). Admission is free, and the event is rain or shine. 9 am-4 pm.
May 5: Living History Sunday—Carol Lash, author of a new book, Magdalena, will be having a reading of her book at 1:30 and 2:30 pm. Stone House History will be on site, there will be a shoemaking demo, and Darius Puff will be talking Native Culture. Admission is free. Noon-4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
May 14: Friends Lecture Series—historian Irwin Richman, research associate at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, will present "Founding Gardeners," a look at gardening and botany in early America (more info). Admission is free (donations are welcome). Lectures are held in Freeman Hall Auditorium at Cornwall Manor Retirement Community. 7 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
May 11: French and Indian War Militia Drill and Instruction—learn about soldier life in the mid-1700s. Blacksmithing demonstration also offered today (more info on website). Included in regular admission. 11 am-3 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
ADDED New exhibit now open—Eckley has just added an exhibit on historic beekeeping to the visitor center offerings. More to learn, more to see. Open during regular hours (and special events) and included in admission.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
May 4 11 (this is the correct date): Little Mates Discovery Day—family-friendly hands-on maritime activities. Cost is $10 per person (free for members). 10 am-noon.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the website for information on events and schedules this month.

Keith House kitchen garden at Graeme Park (via Facebook)

Graeme Park
May 12: Mother's Day Breakfast—enjoy a delicious meal and tour the Keith House. Prepaid reservations are required and can be made online (link to Eventbrite). Seatings at 10:30, 11, and 11:30 am.

Hope Lodge
May 5 and 12: Site open—Hope Lodge is open for tours most Sundays through October; they will be closed on May 26. Admission is charged. Site is open 1-4 pm; guided tours are offered at 1 and 2:30.
May 5: Historian Hour—Sarah Biehl, Friends of Hope Lodge board member and curator of Peter Wentz Farmstead, will present a program on 18th-century Quaker Hannah Callender Sansom (more info). Admission is free. Noon-1 pm.

Joseph Priestley House
May 12: Mother's Day—site closed.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
May 10-11: Herb & Garden Faire—so many plants, plus lectures by gardening experts, garden furniture, herbal products and baked goods, and lots of great food by local groups and caterers. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 ages 6-11 (more info, vendor list, and link for online ticketing). 9 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
May 4-5: Garden Mart and Hands-On History Days—purchase heirloom varieties of plants grown in Old Economy's greenhouse (Garden Mart details) and learn about life in the 19th century through hands-on activities (Hands-On History Days info). Garden Mart is free, Hands-on History Days activities are included in regular admission. Sat. 10 am-5 pm, Sun. noon-5 pm.
May 15: Deadline to register for Blacksmithing Class - Beyond the Basics—this class, offered May 25, is for you if you've taken OEV's intro to blacksmithing or already have basic blacksmithing skills and want to move on to an intermediate level (more details). Class is free, but space is limited; please register by May 15 by calling David Miller, 724/266-4500 x110. 10 am-1 pm.
ADDED May 16: Lecture—Jeffrey Snedden, freelance writer and historical researcher, will present "Streetcar History of Beaver County" in the Visitor Center (more info). Presentation is free. 6-7:30 pm.

Learn about the lives of Quaker women in the 17th century at the May 11 Conversations in History program (via Facebook)

Pennsbury Manor
May 4: Monthly Book Club—this month's selection is Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth (more info). 10-11 am.
May 5 and 12—May 5, "Historic Trades and Sheep Shearing"; May 12, "Living History Theater: Women's Monthly Meeting." Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
May 11: Conversations in History—this month's topic is "Quaker Women in the 17th Century" (more info). Admission charged. 10-11:30 am.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
May 4-5: Civil War Encampment—Civil War-era reenactors will be encamped on the grounds. Members of the 3rd Pennsylvania Volunteers will demonstrate loading and firing artillery pieces as they conduct their annual safety training and recruitment event. 10 am-4 pm.
May 5: Friends’ Lecture Series—CDR Richard L. Bigelow, USNR (ret.) will lead a discussion of the Korean War and how it has shaped modern North and South Korea, including a discussion of the current nuclear crisis with North Korea. 2-3 pm.
May 16: Presentation—historian Jared Frederick will present his new book, "Dispatches of D-Day: A People's History of the Normandy Invasion." Event is free. 7-9 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
May 11: Fraktur Fest—this is an opportunity to learn more about your Pennsylvania German fraktur pieces and have them documented. Art consultant Jean Woods will present a brief lecture at 10 am. Museum staff will scan fraktur for further study and possible exhibition (more info). You may bring fraktur for documentation anytime between 10 am and 2 pm.
May 11: Baseball Lecture—a speaker from the Heinz History Center will present "Growing Up with Baseball in Pittsburgh." 2-4 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Visit the website for a complete schedule of this month's Planetarium shows.
May 3: StoryTime—this month's story is Showtime for Flip-Flop by Janice Levy (more info). The program is designed for children 3-5 years of age with an adult. Included in regular admission. 10:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the website for information on this month's events and schedules.