I have no idea what college basketball has to do with the Trails of History, but I thought I’d jump on the ol’ bandwagon. Anyway, with March winding down, it’s time to look ahead to April. But not without noting that the Pennsylvania Military Museum, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and Washington Crossing Historic Park will be open on Easter (March 31); all other sites are closed.
Anthracite Heritage Museum
April 7: Illustrated program and book-signing—meet one of the authors of The Civil War in Pennsylvania: A Photographic History, which includes many images that have never been published before. 2 pm.
Conrad Weiser Homestead
April 7: Site open for visitors—the site is open the first Sunday of every month through December. Noon-4 pm.
April 21: Weiser Interpretive Program—enjoy an afternoon of history. Noon-4 pm.
Cornwall Iron Furnace
April 9: Friends Lecture Series—“Coleman’s Elizabeth Furnace,” with speaker Dan Snyder. (You can read more about it here.) Lectures are held in Freeman Hall auditorium at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.
Drake Well Museum
April 9: Volunteer Recruitment Event--Venango County RSVP will hold a recruitment event at the Museum. Please bring a nonperishable food item for the local food pantry to receive free admission. Tours of the museum will be led by Dick Baker, RSVP Advisory Council member and museum volunteer--come see the possibilities for your own volunteering. To sign up or for more information, call 814/432-9723 or email rsvp@co.venango.pa.us. 10:30 am-12:30 pm (free admission with food pantry donation lasts all day).
April 13: Family Day—Bill Stumpf will present his popular storytelling program for all ages. Hear some great oil field stories and learn something about the art of telling a good tale. Included in museum admission. 1 pm.
April 27: Oil Valley Blacksmiths—this organization meets at Drake Well on the last Saturday of every month through October, providing demonstrations for visitors. Included in museum admission. 9 am-2 pm.
Ephrata Cloister
April 19: Community Days School Program—Designed for school aged students, this program encourages exploration through a range of learning stages across the site. Reservations strongly encouraged. Visit the website for details. 9:30 am-1 pm.
April 20: Spring Search—children can hunt for clues all over the site, getting stamps in their Heritage Passports and earning a prize and treat if they find all the clues. Discounted admission for children ages 11 and younger; regular fees apply for adults (free admission for members of Ephrata Cloister Associates and Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation). 1-4 pm.
Graeme Park
April 20-21: WWII Encampment—weapons demos, period vehicles (military and non), battle reenactments, tours of the Keith House and Summer Kitchen, and a chance to meet and talk with World War II veterans. Visit the website for schedule.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
April 6 and 13: Folk Art Classes at the Museum Store—Scherenschnitte (4/6) is a hands-on class where you will make your own papercutting art; fee is $20 and registration is required. Apron Strings (4/13) is a talk on the history of aprons (you can bring yours for show and tell); no fee for this one, but you must reserve your spot. Call 717/569-9312 to register for either or both. 1 pm.
April 20: Spring Benefit Auction—there’s a silent auction and a live auction, plus food and beverages for sale, to benefit the museum. Doors open 4:30 pm, live auction starts at 5:30 pm.
April 20-21: Spring Plow Days—draft horses and mules will pull plows, discs, and harrows to help get the fields ready for planting. The PA Draft Horse & Mule Association partners with the museum to make this event possible. Starts at 10 am each day (weather permitting).
Old Economy Village
Through May 25: Beaver County Tourist Days—OEV is welcoming the neighbors, inviting county residents to enjoy free admission and get to know the site. This offer is being made on a rolling basis, depending on residents’ zip code. If you’re a Beaver County resident (or know someone who is), go here to seen when your free days fall.
April 27: Spring Garden Workshop—Master Gardeners and other experts will talk about organic gardening, native plants, community sustained agriculture, and 2013’s herb of the year (elderberry). The program includes lunch, door prizes, and tours of OEV’s fabulous gardens; cost is $55. Registration deadline is April 12. Go here for details.
Pennsbury Manor
April 7: Historic Trades—watch the blacksmith and joyner demonstrate their metalworking and woodworking skills. 1-4 pm.
April 14: Living History Theater—“Busy at the Manor” lets you listen in as William and Hannah Penn and their family return to Pennsbury after spending the winter in Philadelphia. 1-4 pm.
April 21: Open Hearth Cooking—“Spring in the 17th Century” finds the cooks dusting off their receipts for dishes using spring vegetables and fresh milk, not available to them over the winter. 1-4 pm.
April 28: Garden Highlights—the gardeners will be at work in the kitchen garden, where they’ll gladly help you learn about what they’re growing. 1-4 pm.
April 13: Spring Antiques and Collectibles Show—held at Pine Creek Inn (1637 Route 6 West) due to visitor center expansion project. 10 am-4:30 pm. (Consignment items are welcome; call Pete Folk, 814/435-8216.)
Pennsylvania Military Museum
April 3: Friends Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—Dr. William T. Allison, visiting professor of military history at the US Army War College, will present “What Really Happened? The My Lai Massacre and Doing History.” 7:30 pm.
April 13-14: Battery B Drill Weekend—the 3rd Pennsylvania Volunteers http://batteryb-3pavol.org/ will encamp on the museum grounds to demonstrate the loading and firing of Civil War era replica artillery pieces. This is also their annual training and recruitment weekend. Noon-4 pm.
April 20: Kids Day: Dress Up and Discover!!—kids of all ages can try on field gear and head gear from the museum education collection. Photo backdrops will be set up in the museum theater and there will be learning stations throughout the galleries. Included in museum admission. 10 am-3 pm.
Pennsylvania State Archives
April 20: Finding Your Civil War Ancestors--the morning session (9 am-noon) will introduce attendees to doing research in national and statewide databases as well as the State Archives holdings. A lunchtime tour of the State Museum's newly reopened Rothermel Gallery will be offered. From 1-4 pm, archivists will provide research assistance for 10 registrants in the Archives Search Room (go here for details on the types of records available). The program is free but you must register, as space is limited (especially for the afternoon session). Contact Josh Stahlman, jostahlman@pa.gov or 717/772-3257.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
April 27: "From Your Lens: Images of Contemporary Railroading" opens—photographs of railroad people, places, and equipment submitted by members of the public form the basis of this exhibit, which will be on display during regular museum hours through December 31.
Somerset Historical Center
April 1: “Frederick Goeb: Master Printer”—in his Somerset print shop in 1813, Goeb printed a German Bible, believed to be the first Bible printed west of the Alleghenies (go here for text of historical marker). This exhibit will include several examples of Goeb’s work (which ran from almanacs to books on midwifery and veterinary practice) and information on early printing processes. Included in regular admission.
April 1: Chocolate: The PA Connection—thanks to the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Susan McLellan Plaisted will present a fascinating program on the history of chocolate, including a chance to sample a historic recipe for drinking chocolate. The annual meeting of the Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County follows the presentation. Free and open to the public. 6:30 pm.
State Museum of Pennsylvania
Through April 28: “Hannah Penn: blest with a strong judgment and excellent good sense”—this temporary exhibit highlights the first woman to govern Pennsylvania. Throughout the coming year First Lady Susan Corbett will lead an examination of Hannah Penn’s legacy; participants will include staff from Pennsbury Manor. Included in regular admission.
April 20: "Objects of Valor: Commemorating the Civil War in Pennsylvania"--this exhibit explores 150 years of collecting, preserving and interpreting Pennsylvania's Civil War experience at the State Museum. As part of Harrisburg's monthly 3rd in the Burg celebration, there will be a free reception on Friday, April 19, from 5-7 pm sponsored in part by the Friends of the State Museum. The exhibit is included in regular museum admission.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
April 26: Sheep Shearing—Washington Crossing’s flock will be relieved of their winter coats at the Thompson Neely House (see map). Historic craft demonstrations, games, and children’s entertainment will also be on offer. Admission is $8 per person. 9 am-3 pm.
Spring? Not Feelin' It
Well, it’s officially spring, but it doesn’t feel very springy to me. March is winding down with cold weather, but on the Trails of History, signs of life are everywhere. So here’s a wrap-up of activities between now and the end of the month. And yes, this is mostly recycled material from the monthly program preview. Guess I’m feeling “green” after all.
Daniel Boone Homestead
March 24: A Pennsylvania German Easter and Spring Nature Program—celebrate spring, learn about traditional Easter customs, and participate in an egg hunt (plus more). Admission is $4 for ages 3 and older. Noon-4 pm.
Drake Well Museum
March 30: Drake’s Birthday—in honor of Edwin Drake’s birthday, the curator and educator will lead a special tour of the museum’s new exhibits (and there will be cake!). Tour begins at 1 pm. Also, the monthly meeting and demonstrations of the Oil Valley Blacksmiths (last Saturday of every month through October). 9 am-2 pm. Both are included in regular museum admission.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
March 23: Heirloom Seed Project Grafting Workshop—for anyone who’s wanted to learn how to graft apple varieties, this program, a collaboration between the HSP and the Backyard Fruit Growers, is it. For $30, you get instruction, hands-on practice, and scion and rootstock to take home with you. Registration is required, so call today to see if you can join in—717/569-0401 x 204.
Old Economy Village
Through May 25: Beaver County Tourist Days—OEV is welcoming the neighbors, inviting county residents to enjoy free admission and get to know the site. This offer is being made on a rolling basis, depending on residents’ zip code. If you’re a Beaver County resident (or know someone who is), go here to see when your free days fall.
March 23: Easter Egg Hunt—children ages 10 and under, along with their families, will explore the historic site while hunting for Easter eggs. Crafts, treats, a visit with the Easter bunny, and a family membership raffle are also on the menu. March 20 was the registration deadline, but call 724/266-4500 x101 to see if there’s space available. 9-11 am.
Have a great weekend!
Daniel Boone Homestead
March 24: A Pennsylvania German Easter and Spring Nature Program—celebrate spring, learn about traditional Easter customs, and participate in an egg hunt (plus more). Admission is $4 for ages 3 and older. Noon-4 pm.
Drake Well Museum
March 30: Drake’s Birthday—in honor of Edwin Drake’s birthday, the curator and educator will lead a special tour of the museum’s new exhibits (and there will be cake!). Tour begins at 1 pm. Also, the monthly meeting and demonstrations of the Oil Valley Blacksmiths (last Saturday of every month through October). 9 am-2 pm. Both are included in regular museum admission.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
March 23: Heirloom Seed Project Grafting Workshop—for anyone who’s wanted to learn how to graft apple varieties, this program, a collaboration between the HSP and the Backyard Fruit Growers, is it. For $30, you get instruction, hands-on practice, and scion and rootstock to take home with you. Registration is required, so call today to see if you can join in—717/569-0401 x 204.
Old Economy Village
Through May 25: Beaver County Tourist Days—OEV is welcoming the neighbors, inviting county residents to enjoy free admission and get to know the site. This offer is being made on a rolling basis, depending on residents’ zip code. If you’re a Beaver County resident (or know someone who is), go here to see when your free days fall.
March 23: Easter Egg Hunt—children ages 10 and under, along with their families, will explore the historic site while hunting for Easter eggs. Crafts, treats, a visit with the Easter bunny, and a family membership raffle are also on the menu. March 20 was the registration deadline, but call 724/266-4500 x101 to see if there’s space available. 9-11 am.
Have a great weekend!
Post-Charter Day Catch-Up
I don’t have an exact count, but it looks like upwards of 8,000 people visited the Pennsylvania Trails of History last Sunday to celebrate Charter Day. Free admission and special programs are usually a good draw, and this year was no exception. Many sites posted photos on their Facebook pages, much of which is shared on the PA Trails of History page here. Photos of the Charter Day event at Conrad Weiser Homestead are available here on the Trails of History Flickr photostream. At least a couple of people posted video of the Visitor Center grand opening at Washington Crossing Historic Park on YouTube below and here. Lots of photos and more on Facebook here.
In Other News…
Somerset Historical Center is accepting registrations for its annual Coopering Class, which will take place May 3-5 in the Haupt Education Center. The class, which is part of the Center’s mission of preserving and passing along traditional crafts, teaches participants techniques handed down from the 1800s, using hand tools only and resulting in a maple sugaring keeler (bucket). Past attendees have included men and women with advanced woodworking skills as well as those who were complete novices. You must be at least 18 years old to take the class. For more information or to register, visit Somerset’s website or contact education coordinator Kate Cordek at c-kcordek@pa.gov.
(If coopering isn’t your thing, you can find info on other hands-on learning opportunities for grownups and kids in the March program preview here, with more to come in April and beyond.)
Speaking of Somerset, just this week they were awarded $10,975 from the Somerset County Tourism Grant Program (funded through a portion of the local hotel tax). Congrats!
As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 continues (look for more on the Battle of Lake Erie anniversary in future posts), you may want to beef up your knowledge of this important piece of our early national history. Flagship Niagara just posted a link on their Facebook page to the War of 1812 Bicentennial Network, which has developed a series of short films as part of the U.S. Navy’s official commemoration.
Also, this Saturday, March 16, will see the removal of Niagara’s winter cover, as the ship emerges from hibernation to get ready for another sailing season. If it sees its shadow, that means…uh…sorry, that’s something else. Anyway, if you’re interested in becoming part of the ship’s volunteer corps, show up at 8:30 am Saturday at the Erie Maritime Museum’s north entrance (the gate closest to the ship) or visit their website for more details on volunteer opportunities.
I hope you have a great weekend! Slainte!
In Other News…
Somerset Historical Center is accepting registrations for its annual Coopering Class, which will take place May 3-5 in the Haupt Education Center. The class, which is part of the Center’s mission of preserving and passing along traditional crafts, teaches participants techniques handed down from the 1800s, using hand tools only and resulting in a maple sugaring keeler (bucket). Past attendees have included men and women with advanced woodworking skills as well as those who were complete novices. You must be at least 18 years old to take the class. For more information or to register, visit Somerset’s website or contact education coordinator Kate Cordek at c-kcordek@pa.gov.
(If coopering isn’t your thing, you can find info on other hands-on learning opportunities for grownups and kids in the March program preview here, with more to come in April and beyond.)
Speaking of Somerset, just this week they were awarded $10,975 from the Somerset County Tourism Grant Program (funded through a portion of the local hotel tax). Congrats!
 |
| Coopering workshop 2011, courtesy of Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County |
As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 continues (look for more on the Battle of Lake Erie anniversary in future posts), you may want to beef up your knowledge of this important piece of our early national history. Flagship Niagara just posted a link on their Facebook page to the War of 1812 Bicentennial Network, which has developed a series of short films as part of the U.S. Navy’s official commemoration.
Also, this Saturday, March 16, will see the removal of Niagara’s winter cover, as the ship emerges from hibernation to get ready for another sailing season. If it sees its shadow, that means…uh…sorry, that’s something else. Anyway, if you’re interested in becoming part of the ship’s volunteer corps, show up at 8:30 am Saturday at the Erie Maritime Museum’s north entrance (the gate closest to the ship) or visit their website for more details on volunteer opportunities.
I hope you have a great weekend! Slainte!
Charter Day is Here Again (Again)
This Sunday, March 10, sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History will be open free of charge in honor of Pennsylvania’s 332nd birthday. (To be all technical about it, it’s the 332nd anniversary of King Charles II’s charter giving William Penn the land we know as Pennsylvania.) A couple of sites are still on winter schedules and won’t be open, but you can find a list of participating sites here.
Last week’s post included info on special events and activities going on (besides the being open free of charge), so I won’t repeat that. But I can add a bit.
In addition to the activities listed last week, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum’s celebration of Charter Day will also include a book signing featuring Dr. Irwin Richman, co-author (with Oscar Beisert) of The Photography of Henry K. Landis: Pennsylvania and New York, 1886-1955. Henry, with his brother George, started the museum and amassed much of the early collection of Pennsylvania German artifacts. Having studied photography in college, he documented life close to home but also in and around New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island), where he spent several decades as an editor and photographer. You can read more about the book, published by Stackpole Books, here.
In recognition of PHMC’s 2013 theme, a costumed guide in Civil War era US Navy uniform will welcome Charter Day visitors to the USS Michigan/Wolverine exhibit on the mezzanine level of the Erie Maritime Museum. According to the folks at the museum, “During the course of the Civil War, the Michigan recruited over four thousand men from the Great Lakes region to serve in the Union Navy. Four of these men, including one from Michigan’s home port Erie, earned our nation’s Medal of Honor for their service and will be featured in a display at the Museum. Michigan's presence on the Great Lakes was so significant, she became the object of a Confederate plot in 1864. Southern sympathizers under the command of John Y. Beall seized the steamer Philo Parsons, intending to use it to capture the USS Michigan, which was then guarding Johnson’s Island on Sandusky Bay. The prison there held more than 3,000 captured Confederate officers. Beall’s men mutinied at the critical moment, within earshot of the voices of sailors upon Michigan's deck, and the rebels dispersed and retreated to the safety of Canada.”
I neglected to mention in last week’s post that Charter Day visitors to Pennsbury Manor are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for The Penndel Food Pantry. (And if you enjoy watching other people clean as much as I do, you can check out photos of Pennsbury's annual spring cleaning here.)
Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night (or early Sunday morning)!
Last week’s post included info on special events and activities going on (besides the being open free of charge), so I won’t repeat that. But I can add a bit.
In addition to the activities listed last week, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum’s celebration of Charter Day will also include a book signing featuring Dr. Irwin Richman, co-author (with Oscar Beisert) of The Photography of Henry K. Landis: Pennsylvania and New York, 1886-1955. Henry, with his brother George, started the museum and amassed much of the early collection of Pennsylvania German artifacts. Having studied photography in college, he documented life close to home but also in and around New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island), where he spent several decades as an editor and photographer. You can read more about the book, published by Stackpole Books, here.
 |
| Book cover, via Stackpole Books |
In recognition of PHMC’s 2013 theme, a costumed guide in Civil War era US Navy uniform will welcome Charter Day visitors to the USS Michigan/Wolverine exhibit on the mezzanine level of the Erie Maritime Museum. According to the folks at the museum, “During the course of the Civil War, the Michigan recruited over four thousand men from the Great Lakes region to serve in the Union Navy. Four of these men, including one from Michigan’s home port Erie, earned our nation’s Medal of Honor for their service and will be featured in a display at the Museum. Michigan's presence on the Great Lakes was so significant, she became the object of a Confederate plot in 1864. Southern sympathizers under the command of John Y. Beall seized the steamer Philo Parsons, intending to use it to capture the USS Michigan, which was then guarding Johnson’s Island on Sandusky Bay. The prison there held more than 3,000 captured Confederate officers. Beall’s men mutinied at the critical moment, within earshot of the voices of sailors upon Michigan's deck, and the rebels dispersed and retreated to the safety of Canada.”
I neglected to mention in last week’s post that Charter Day visitors to Pennsbury Manor are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for The Penndel Food Pantry. (And if you enjoy watching other people clean as much as I do, you can check out photos of Pennsbury's annual spring cleaning here.)
 |
| Charter Day 2012 Food Drive via Pennsbury's Facebook page |
Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night (or early Sunday morning)!
Marcha, Marcha, Marcha!
This week’s title brought to you by sleep deprivation and spring fever. Sorry.
Well, it’s March already and you know what that means. Spring. March Madness. Easter. Passover. St. Patrick’s Day. International Women’s Day. Daylight Savings Time. Read Across America Day. Charter Day. (Not necessarily in that order.) We’ll do a post with more details on Charter Day next week, but for now you can mark your calendars for Sunday, March 10. Almost all Trails of History sites will be open free of charge that day in celebration of Pennsylvania’s birthday. (Go here for the list of sites that plan to be open.) Sites with special events or activities planned for March 10 are included in the listings below, along with the rest of the month’s stuff. (Please note, most sites will be closed on March 31 for Easter; we’ll let you know later in the month which ones will be open.)
Anthracite Heritage Museum
March 10: Exploring the Civil War through Poetry—speaker Bert Barnett will share insights about the Civil War as expressed in a variety of poems from before, during, and after the war. Part of the Museum’s Charter Day celebration and in support of the PHMC’s 2013 Civil War theme. 2 pm.
March 17: Lackawanna Audubon Society—Program is “A Lifetime of Birds,” with photographer Dave Fisher. 2:30 pm.
Bushy Run Battlefield
March 16: Spring Meeting and Lecture--author/historian Brady J. Crytzer will present "Bushy Run Reconsidered: The Death of the New Ohioan"; Crytzer is the author of Major Washington's Pittsburgh and the Mission to Ft. LeBoeuf, Fort Pitt: A Frontier History, and the forthcoming Guyasuta and the Fall of Indian America. Admission is $5 (free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society). 1 pm.
Conrad Weiser Homestead
March 10: Charter Day re-opening—join living history interpreters and others to mark the start of the 2013 season. 2 pm (site is open noon to 4 pm).
March 17: Spring lecture—speaker is Doug Miller, site administrator at Pennsbury Manor. 2 pm.
Cornwall Iron Furnace
March 12: Friends Lecture—The Rev. Dr. Paul Fullmer, local historian and chaplain at Lebanon Valley College, will talk about Annville’s architectural archives. He’ll discuss the types of information found in the archives, how they are being made available to the public, and the model they represent for other communities interested in preserving their architectural history. Friends lectures are held in Freeman Hall auditorium at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.
Daniel Boone Homestead
March 3: Fireside Tales in the Wayside Lodge—children ages 4-8 and their families are invited for an afternoon of storytelling and hot chocolate; please dress for the weather and bring a blanket of it’s really cold outside. $2 suggested donation (regular admission fees apply if you’d like to tour the historic area and/or homestead). 2 pm.
March 10: Charter Day Open House and Craft Festival—featuring local vendors with hand-made gifts, music and dancing, open hearth cooking, and much more. Noon-4 pm.
March 17: Women’s History Lecture—speaker Hallie Vaughan will present “Untold Stories: Women in the American Revolution.” $2 suggested donation (regular admission fees apply for touring the historic area and/or homestead). 2 pm.
March 24: A Pennsylvania German Easter and Spring Nature Program—celebrate spring, learn about traditional Easter customs, and participate in an egg hunt (plus more). Admission is $4 for ages 3 and older. Noon-4 pm.
Drake Well Museum
March 10: Charter Day presentation—Join Fred Threlfall in the museum lobby anytime from noon to 3 pm to learn about the Native inhabitants of the oil region and the importance of the fur trade.
March 30: Drake’s Birthday—in honor of Edwin Drake’s birthday, the curator and educator will lead a special tour of the museum’s new exhibits (and there will be cake!). Tour begins at 1 pm. Also, March kicks off the monthly meeting and demonstrations of the Oil Valley Blacksmiths (last Saturday of every month through October). 9 am-2 pm. Both are included in regular museum admission.
Eckley Miners’ Village
March 10: The Molly Maguires—the program on Charter Day will include a screening of the 1970 movie, plus a talk by Jim Burke, who was the chief financial officer for Paramount Pictures when the film was shot in Eckley. (M & E Raine shared a photo (on Flickr) of the breaker that was built as a prop for the movie.) Program runs 1-4 pm, site open until 5 pm.
Ephrata Cloister
March 7, 14, 21: Winter History Class—class began in February; contact the site for information if you’re interested in joining.
March 10: Concerts—as part of the site's Charter Day festivities, the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal (meetinghouse) at 2, 3, and 4 pm.
Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
March 9: Erie BayHawks basketball game—Flagship Niagara League night at the Erie BayHawks (Erie’s minor league basketball team). Tickets are $10; buy your tickets through FNL and a portion of the proceeds benefits the sailing program. Call Julie Wagner, 814/452-2744 x222, to reserve tickets. Game time is 7 p.m.
Graeme Park
March 9: Hearth and Home—this class focuses on seasonal cooking in the colonial kitchen and is taught in the summer kitchen of the Keith House. Cost is $55; for $100 you can take this class and another on May 11. Registration is required; deadline is March 7. Go here for details.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
March 2, 9, 16: Folk Art Classes—basic crochet, tin Easter basket, and scratched eggs are the topics for three successive classes hosted by the museum store. Register by calling 717/569-9312. 1 pm.
March 10: Exhibit, logo and e-commerce unveilings—Charter Day is the launch point for a new permanent exhibit, “The Mennonite Faith in Landis Valley,” which has been installed in the Sexton’s House, a small building behind the Visitor Center. Also, the site’s museum store will officially change its name from “The Weathervane” to “Landis Valley Museum Store,” debuting its new logo and new e-commerce website, www.landisvalleymuseumstore.com (it’s not yet active, so I haven’t linked it). Noon-5 pm.
March 23: Heirloom Seed Project Grafting Workshop—for anyone who’s wanted to learn how to graft apple varieties, this program, a collaboration between the HSP and the Backyard Fruit Growers, is it. For $30, you get instruction, hands-on practice, and scion and rootstock to take home with you. Registration is required; call 717/569-0401 x204.
Old Economy Village
March 3-May 25: Beaver County Tourist Days—OEV is welcoming the neighbors, inviting county residents to enjoy free admission and get to know the site. This offer is being made on a rolling basis, depending on residents’ zip code. If you’re a Beaver County resident (or know someone who is), go here to seen when your free days fall.
March 10: Center for Hope Day—in conjunction with free admission on Charter Day, the site will be collecting canned or boxed food items for a local community organization (go here for details on the types of foods desired). Noon-5 pm.
March 23: Easter Egg Hunt—children ages 10 and under, along with their families, will explore the historic site while hunting for Easter eggs. Crafts, treats, a visit with the Easter bunny, and a family membership raffle are also on the menu. Register by March 13 by calling 724/266-4500 x101. 9-11 am.
Pennsylvania Military Museum
March 6: Friends’ Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—“Civil War Patriotic Envelopes as Weapons of War,” with speaker Ken Lawrence, philatelic writer and researcher, antebellum and Civil War historian, and stamp collector. 7:30 pm.
March 9: Military Movie Madness Festival—PMM kicks off the 2013 museum season with three films exploring World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War (go here for details). Donation requested (museum admission applies if you wish to visit the galleries). 10 am, noon, and 2:30 pm.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
March 2: Read Across America Day—celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday by wearing your favorite hat and listening to stories read by an array of local notables (and me). There will also be a Suitcase Adventure activity, with travel stickers from Pennsylvania places, and a chance for kids to read to service dogs from KPets. (I believe that Breakfast with The Conductor and Catcher is sold out as of this writing, but you can call the museum—717/687-3892—to check on last-minute openings.) Stories in Rolling Stock Hall every half hour (except noon) from 9:30 am to 4 pm.
Somerset Historical Center
March 2: Pysanky Egg Workshop—okay, so it’s probably sold out at this point, but if you’re really lucky and call right away, maybe there’s a spot. This is a beginner class for people who want to learn the art of egg decoration (I took the class 8 or 9 years ago and really enjoyed it). Call 814/445-6077 to see if they can squeeze you in.
March 16: Tatting Workshop—this is also for beginners, with instructor Carolyn Graves, an experienced lace maker. You’ll end up with a nice starter kit and booklet to keep making needle-tatted lace. Limited to 10 participants. Call 814/445-6077 to register.
State Museum of Pennsylvania
March 1, 8: StoryTime—this Curosity Connection reading series features museum staff and volunteers and a selection of great children’s books. Suggested for (but not limited to) ages 3-5. March 1 is Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle; March 8 is Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia. Included in museum admission. 10 am.
March 9-Apr. 28: Student Art Exhibit—“Personal Perspectives” presents work by winners of the South Central Pennsylvania Art and Writing Awards, students in grades 7-12. Sponsored by Commonwealth Connections Academy. Open during regular museum hours and included in admission.
March 10: Charter Day—scheduled activities include a visit by William Penn, the annual exhibit of the actual Charter of Pennsylvania, recognition of National History Day in PA winners, and much more. Go here for details. Admission free. Noon-5 pm.
March 15-May 6: DOSHI Gallery exhibit—“Course and Discourse” pairs works by students and their professors in the Susquehanna Art Museum’s gallery at the State Museum. On March 15, as part of Harrisburg’s 3rd in the ‘Burg program, there will be a free opening reception, 6-8 pm. Otherwise, the exhibit is included in regular museum admission.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
March 10: Visitor Center Grand Opening—celebrate Charter Day with a look at the newly renovated and updated visitor center. You can find details here. 1:30 pm.
Well, it’s March already and you know what that means. Spring. March Madness. Easter. Passover. St. Patrick’s Day. International Women’s Day. Daylight Savings Time. Read Across America Day. Charter Day. (Not necessarily in that order.) We’ll do a post with more details on Charter Day next week, but for now you can mark your calendars for Sunday, March 10. Almost all Trails of History sites will be open free of charge that day in celebration of Pennsylvania’s birthday. (Go here for the list of sites that plan to be open.) Sites with special events or activities planned for March 10 are included in the listings below, along with the rest of the month’s stuff. (Please note, most sites will be closed on March 31 for Easter; we’ll let you know later in the month which ones will be open.)
Anthracite Heritage Museum
March 10: Exploring the Civil War through Poetry—speaker Bert Barnett will share insights about the Civil War as expressed in a variety of poems from before, during, and after the war. Part of the Museum’s Charter Day celebration and in support of the PHMC’s 2013 Civil War theme. 2 pm.
March 17: Lackawanna Audubon Society—Program is “A Lifetime of Birds,” with photographer Dave Fisher. 2:30 pm.
Bushy Run Battlefield
March 16: Spring Meeting and Lecture--author/historian Brady J. Crytzer will present "Bushy Run Reconsidered: The Death of the New Ohioan"; Crytzer is the author of Major Washington's Pittsburgh and the Mission to Ft. LeBoeuf, Fort Pitt: A Frontier History, and the forthcoming Guyasuta and the Fall of Indian America. Admission is $5 (free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society). 1 pm.
Conrad Weiser Homestead
March 10: Charter Day re-opening—join living history interpreters and others to mark the start of the 2013 season. 2 pm (site is open noon to 4 pm).
March 17: Spring lecture—speaker is Doug Miller, site administrator at Pennsbury Manor. 2 pm.
Cornwall Iron Furnace
March 12: Friends Lecture—The Rev. Dr. Paul Fullmer, local historian and chaplain at Lebanon Valley College, will talk about Annville’s architectural archives. He’ll discuss the types of information found in the archives, how they are being made available to the public, and the model they represent for other communities interested in preserving their architectural history. Friends lectures are held in Freeman Hall auditorium at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.
Daniel Boone Homestead
March 3: Fireside Tales in the Wayside Lodge—children ages 4-8 and their families are invited for an afternoon of storytelling and hot chocolate; please dress for the weather and bring a blanket of it’s really cold outside. $2 suggested donation (regular admission fees apply if you’d like to tour the historic area and/or homestead). 2 pm.
March 10: Charter Day Open House and Craft Festival—featuring local vendors with hand-made gifts, music and dancing, open hearth cooking, and much more. Noon-4 pm.
March 17: Women’s History Lecture—speaker Hallie Vaughan will present “Untold Stories: Women in the American Revolution.” $2 suggested donation (regular admission fees apply for touring the historic area and/or homestead). 2 pm.
March 24: A Pennsylvania German Easter and Spring Nature Program—celebrate spring, learn about traditional Easter customs, and participate in an egg hunt (plus more). Admission is $4 for ages 3 and older. Noon-4 pm.
Drake Well Museum
March 10: Charter Day presentation—Join Fred Threlfall in the museum lobby anytime from noon to 3 pm to learn about the Native inhabitants of the oil region and the importance of the fur trade.
March 30: Drake’s Birthday—in honor of Edwin Drake’s birthday, the curator and educator will lead a special tour of the museum’s new exhibits (and there will be cake!). Tour begins at 1 pm. Also, March kicks off the monthly meeting and demonstrations of the Oil Valley Blacksmiths (last Saturday of every month through October). 9 am-2 pm. Both are included in regular museum admission.
Eckley Miners’ Village
March 10: The Molly Maguires—the program on Charter Day will include a screening of the 1970 movie, plus a talk by Jim Burke, who was the chief financial officer for Paramount Pictures when the film was shot in Eckley. (M & E Raine shared a photo (on Flickr) of the breaker that was built as a prop for the movie.) Program runs 1-4 pm, site open until 5 pm.
Ephrata Cloister
March 7, 14, 21: Winter History Class—class began in February; contact the site for information if you’re interested in joining.
March 10: Concerts—as part of the site's Charter Day festivities, the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal (meetinghouse) at 2, 3, and 4 pm.
Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
March 9: Erie BayHawks basketball game—Flagship Niagara League night at the Erie BayHawks (Erie’s minor league basketball team). Tickets are $10; buy your tickets through FNL and a portion of the proceeds benefits the sailing program. Call Julie Wagner, 814/452-2744 x222, to reserve tickets. Game time is 7 p.m.
Graeme Park
March 9: Hearth and Home—this class focuses on seasonal cooking in the colonial kitchen and is taught in the summer kitchen of the Keith House. Cost is $55; for $100 you can take this class and another on May 11. Registration is required; deadline is March 7. Go here for details.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
March 2, 9, 16: Folk Art Classes—basic crochet, tin Easter basket, and scratched eggs are the topics for three successive classes hosted by the museum store. Register by calling 717/569-9312. 1 pm.
March 10: Exhibit, logo and e-commerce unveilings—Charter Day is the launch point for a new permanent exhibit, “The Mennonite Faith in Landis Valley,” which has been installed in the Sexton’s House, a small building behind the Visitor Center. Also, the site’s museum store will officially change its name from “The Weathervane” to “Landis Valley Museum Store,” debuting its new logo and new e-commerce website, www.landisvalleymuseumstore.com (it’s not yet active, so I haven’t linked it). Noon-5 pm.
March 23: Heirloom Seed Project Grafting Workshop—for anyone who’s wanted to learn how to graft apple varieties, this program, a collaboration between the HSP and the Backyard Fruit Growers, is it. For $30, you get instruction, hands-on practice, and scion and rootstock to take home with you. Registration is required; call 717/569-0401 x204.
Old Economy Village
March 3-May 25: Beaver County Tourist Days—OEV is welcoming the neighbors, inviting county residents to enjoy free admission and get to know the site. This offer is being made on a rolling basis, depending on residents’ zip code. If you’re a Beaver County resident (or know someone who is), go here to seen when your free days fall.
March 10: Center for Hope Day—in conjunction with free admission on Charter Day, the site will be collecting canned or boxed food items for a local community organization (go here for details on the types of foods desired). Noon-5 pm.
March 23: Easter Egg Hunt—children ages 10 and under, along with their families, will explore the historic site while hunting for Easter eggs. Crafts, treats, a visit with the Easter bunny, and a family membership raffle are also on the menu. Register by March 13 by calling 724/266-4500 x101. 9-11 am.
Pennsylvania Military Museum
March 6: Friends’ Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—“Civil War Patriotic Envelopes as Weapons of War,” with speaker Ken Lawrence, philatelic writer and researcher, antebellum and Civil War historian, and stamp collector. 7:30 pm.
March 9: Military Movie Madness Festival—PMM kicks off the 2013 museum season with three films exploring World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War (go here for details). Donation requested (museum admission applies if you wish to visit the galleries). 10 am, noon, and 2:30 pm.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
March 2: Read Across America Day—celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday by wearing your favorite hat and listening to stories read by an array of local notables (and me). There will also be a Suitcase Adventure activity, with travel stickers from Pennsylvania places, and a chance for kids to read to service dogs from KPets. (I believe that Breakfast with The Conductor and Catcher is sold out as of this writing, but you can call the museum—717/687-3892—to check on last-minute openings.) Stories in Rolling Stock Hall every half hour (except noon) from 9:30 am to 4 pm.
Somerset Historical Center
March 2: Pysanky Egg Workshop—okay, so it’s probably sold out at this point, but if you’re really lucky and call right away, maybe there’s a spot. This is a beginner class for people who want to learn the art of egg decoration (I took the class 8 or 9 years ago and really enjoyed it). Call 814/445-6077 to see if they can squeeze you in.
March 16: Tatting Workshop—this is also for beginners, with instructor Carolyn Graves, an experienced lace maker. You’ll end up with a nice starter kit and booklet to keep making needle-tatted lace. Limited to 10 participants. Call 814/445-6077 to register.
State Museum of Pennsylvania
March 1, 8: StoryTime—this Curosity Connection reading series features museum staff and volunteers and a selection of great children’s books. Suggested for (but not limited to) ages 3-5. March 1 is Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle; March 8 is Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia. Included in museum admission. 10 am.
March 9-Apr. 28: Student Art Exhibit—“Personal Perspectives” presents work by winners of the South Central Pennsylvania Art and Writing Awards, students in grades 7-12. Sponsored by Commonwealth Connections Academy. Open during regular museum hours and included in admission.
March 10: Charter Day—scheduled activities include a visit by William Penn, the annual exhibit of the actual Charter of Pennsylvania, recognition of National History Day in PA winners, and much more. Go here for details. Admission free. Noon-5 pm.
March 15-May 6: DOSHI Gallery exhibit—“Course and Discourse” pairs works by students and their professors in the Susquehanna Art Museum’s gallery at the State Museum. On March 15, as part of Harrisburg’s 3rd in the ‘Burg program, there will be a free opening reception, 6-8 pm. Otherwise, the exhibit is included in regular museum admission.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
March 10: Visitor Center Grand Opening—celebrate Charter Day with a look at the newly renovated and updated visitor center. You can find details here. 1:30 pm.
Posts
