Trailheads in Final Four!!

Lots of stuff going on in April—let’s just hope it doesn’t get snowed out. Most sites on the Trails of History will be closed on April 24 for Easter, so it’s a good idea to check ahead before visiting.


PHMC is partnering with the African American Museum in Philadelphia to present “Black History in Pennsylvania: A Communities in Common Workshop” on April 29 at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church. Participants will learn about a statewide historic resource survey and context study that documented African American heritage throughout Pennsylvania. For details, go here.

April 2: Workshop, From the Ground Up—offered in partnership with Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County, this program covers garden planning, understanding soil, and starting seeds. Reservation and fee required, call Steve Ward, 570/963-6842.
April 3: Program, Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Pancoast Mine Disaster—the Pancoast disaster was a devastating fire that started in the mine’s engine house (learn more here). Program is included in museum admission (free to Museum Associates).

Brandywine Battlefield
April 16: Program, Living History Day—check the website for more info.


Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society


Bushy Run Battlefield
April 1: Bushy Run reopens for the season (open Wednesday through Sunday). Check out the new theater exhibit in the visitor center (photos from the preview event here).

April 10: Program, Weiser Interpretive Sunday—a living history program for all ages.

April 12: Program, Pennsylvania German Barn Stars: Celestial Symbolism in Folk Culture—speaker is Patrick Donmoyer, Historic Building Conservator for the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University. Part of museum’s monthly lecture series held at Cornwall Manor.

Drake Well Museum
April 30: Program, Oil Valley Blacksmiths Association demo—blacksmithing demos are held the last Saturday of each month through October. For a look at one of last year’s programs, go here.

April 17: Program, The Rise and Fall of the Crinoline—village resident and volunteer Karen Esak will present an illustrated survey of changes in women’s fashions from the 1840s to the turn of the 20th century.

April 9: Children’s program, Scout Day—a day filled with hands-on activities and fun for scouts. Registration includes a $1 per person discount over walk-in admission; call 717/733-6600.
April 10: Program, A Musical Visit—join characters from Ephrata’s past to learn about the role of music in the life of the historic community; program includes performances by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus. Reservations required, call 717/733-6600; admission is $10 (Ephrata Cloister Associates receive a discount).
April 23: Children’s program, Spring Search—a variation on the seasonal egg hunt, children 11 and under look for historical clues around the site and collect stamps in their Heritage Passport.
April 29: Children’s program, Community Days—students explore activities that made the community of Ephrata a thriving center of life in colonial days. Registration is strongly recommended, call 717/733-6600 (program will also be offered May 20).


"Secured for all Weather" by Del-Bourree Bach (ID# 200410)


April 5: Exhibit—Paintings by artists in the U.S. Coast Guard Art Program, which uses fine art as an outreach tool for educating diverse audiences about the Coast Guard. The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 16.

Fort Pitt Museum
April 16-17: Program, Eastern Woodland Indians Conference—check website for more details April 30: Exhibit opening, The American Frontier Rifleman: Tall Tales & Truth

April 16: Program, Paranormal Investigations—reservations and prepayment required, 215/343-0965.
April 20: Program, Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson Poetry Award—Friends of Graeme Park and Montgomery County’s poet laureate present a local high school student with a $1000 award; location is Ambler Theater.
April 30: Program, Revolutionary War Reenactment—learn about life during the winter of 1777-78, when Graeme Park was occupied by the Continental Army.

Hope Lodge
April 11: Program, 18th-Century Medicine—speaker is Wayne Skilton, 6th Pennsylvania Regiment (program will be held at the Parish House of St. Thomas Church).
April 16: Event, Spring Clean-up Day—join the Friends of Hope Lodge to help get the garden and grounds ready for the spring (a pizza lunch will be served).

April 3: Program, Meet Thomas Cooper—Cooper was a friend and supporter of Joseph Priestley; he edited newspapers, went to jail, and taught in colleges.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Now through the end of the year: Exhibit, At Their Leisure: From Birds’ Eggs to Bicycles to Boats and Black-powder—How the Museum’s Founding Family Took Charge of Their Free Time—exhibit is located in the visitor center.
April 2, 9, 16, and 30: Workshops, Folk Art and Friendship Workshops—sponsored by Weathervane Museum Store; go here for details. April 9 is also the Weathervane’s Spring Open House.
April 17: Event, Spring Benefit Auction—a chance to support the site by purchasing high-quality handcrafted items.



PHMC/Old Economy Village


Old Economy Village
April 2: Workshop, Spring Garden Workshop—this annual event offers lectures, presentations, and hands-on activities; it qualifies as training for Master Gardeners. Tours of OEV’s historic gardens and greenhouse are included. Space is limited and registration is required, call 724/266-4500 x101.

Pennsbury Manor
April 3: Program, Historic Trades—the joyner and blacksmith will demonstrate their skills.
April 10: Program, Living History Theater, The Trial of Judith Roe—Roe was accused of the murder of a traveler who spent the night at her house in 1688; this programs explores the facts of the case.
April 17: Program, Open Hearth Cooking, Spring in the 17th Century—the cooks will be using fresh greens, eggs, and milk to celebrate the coming of spring (which should be here by then)

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
April 1: the Museum reopens for the season.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Opening this month: Exhibit, Religion and Conflict—exploring the 2011 PHMC theme of religion and William Penn’s legacy as it relates to military conflicts throughout our history.
April 16-17: Event, Battery B Drill Weekend—Civil War reenactors from the 3rd Pennsylvania Light Artillery will be encamped for training and will demonstrate proper artillery firing.
April 27: Program, Training the Iraqi Federal Army—speaker is Lt. Col. John Curwen, USArmy; he will talk about his experiences training the 6th Infantry Battalion of the Iraqi Federal Army in eastern Diyala province. Part of the Friends of PMM monthly speaker series.
April 30-May 1: Event, A Revolutionary Affair—two-day living history encampment on the Museum grounds

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
April 2: Program, Railroads of the Civil War: An Illustrated History—speaker is author/artist Michael Leavy, who will also sign copies of his book. Included in museum admission, seating for the talk is first come, first served.
April 16: Exhibit, Railroad Communications & Signaling—learn about rail communications through the museum’s rich collection of photographs, artifacts, and films; try your hand at running a simulated railroad. Exhibit runs through Dec. 31.

Somerset Historical Center
April 4: Program, Pennsylvania’s Oil and Gas History—speaker is Dr. William Brice, professor emeritus, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and author of Myth Legend Reality: Edwin Laurentine Drake and the Early Oil Industry. Drake Well Museum’s MEET-U mobile exhibit will be on site and open for tours.
April 9: Workshop, Beginning Tatting—taught by Rebecca Hollenbaugh, who has 35 years experience with this centuries-old art. Registration is required; contact http://www.blogger.com/c-kcordek@state.pa.us.
April 15-17: Workshop, Annual School of Coopering—this multi-day program teaches participants how to make a traditional maple sugar keeler. Registration is required and you can find more info here.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
April 17: Program, Tree-Vitalization—offered in conjunction with PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources and in support of the exhibit, Wood on Glass (images from the lumber region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries), which runs through May 1.

1 comments:

Amy Killpatrick Fox said...

On April 18, the Pennsylvania State Archives will host an Open House from 10am to 3pm to showcase their newly renovated Search Room. Meet staff and view a selection of interesting and significant documents.

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