Are We in Your Bracket?

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.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum

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.