June Arrives on the Trails of History

Flagship Niagara docked at Homeport, Erie Maritime Museum

But first: two pieces of excellent news from last week. Gov. Corbett and the First Lady visited Erie on May 22 to announce the release of $4.8M for the US Brig Niagara, which will receive significant repairs, upgrades, and updating to improve safety and stability and prolong its service. And the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum received word that its exhibit, “The Lancaster Long Rifle,” will be honored with an Award of Merit by the American Association for State and Local History.

Lancaster Long Rifle exhibit, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 2012-2013

Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces
June 6-8: Fire at the Furnace and Arts on Fire—Friday, June 6, 8-11 pm, is the Fire at the Furnace fundraiser at Scranton Iron Furnaces with a parade, nighttime iron pour, entertainment, and more (you can get tickets in advance for $15 and at the door for $20). The Arts on Fire Festival takes place Saturday (11 am-5 pm) and Sunday (11 am-4 pm), with industrial artists working in glass, metal, recycled materials, and clay (plus children’s activities, food, and music). Admission to the Arts on Fire festival is free.
June 21: South Side Farmers Market opens—from June 21 through October 4, the South Side Farmers Market is held on the grounds of the Scranton Iron Furnaces. 10 am-2 pm.

Brandywine Battlefield
June 13: Deadline to purchase tickets—for the July 11 Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game; this is a fundraiser for Brandywine Battlefield (info on Brandywine’s website).
June 14: Living History Day, 10 am-4 pm.
June 23-27, 30-July 3: Summer History Camp—summer camp is held weekly through early August for different age groups (check the website for details and to register).

Bushy Run Battlefield
June 7: General meeting and lecture—Attorney Michelle Shuker will give a detailed talk about fundraising initiatives. $5 (free for members of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society). 1 pm.
June 14: Con on the Run—a day of historical tabletop gaming (see website for list of games). $5 includes museum admission and battlefield tours (free to members of BRBHS); food and drink will be available for purchase during the day. 9 am-5 pm.
UPDATE June 21: Summer Lecture Series and Paranormal Investigation Class—"Stuart England" is the topic for the lecture at 1 pm. Cost is $5 (free for BRBHS members), payable at the door. The evening class will cover the basics of paranormal investigations, and then participants will visit the battlefield after dark. Cost is $20. Call 724-527-5584 to sign up, you can pay upon arrival. 8-11 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
June 1: Colonial Craft and Demonstration Day—craft demonstrators will share the historical context, materials, and equipment of a variety of mid- to late-18th-century trades. 11 am-4 pm.
June 7-Aug. 31: Summer hours—site will be open every Saturday (10 am-4 pm) and Sunday (noon-4 pm).

Cornwall Iron Furnace
June 17: Annual Dinner and Lecture—“Bethlehem Steel Mining in Cornwall” is the topic for this year’s featured speaker, Bob Donley, local historian and retiree from Alcoa’s Lebanon plant. Dinner will be at Tony’s Mining Company; cost is $35 per person. Call 717/272-9711 for reservations.

Daniel Boone Homestead
June 7: Flag Retirement Ceremony—the Conrad Weiser Society, the Children of the American Revolution, and the Berks County Veterans Affairs Office will be at the Parade Field near the Visitor Center to retire U.S. flags that are no longer serviceable; attendees are invited to bring flags that need to be retired. Admission to the ceremony is free (regular admission applies for tours of the Boone Homestead and historic area). 11 am.
June 21: Evening on the Green—this program features jazz musician Skip Moyer, tour guides in period dress, colonial era games and toys, old-fashioned ice cream making, and wine-tasting. Admission is $6 for ages 13 and up, $4 for ages 4-12. From 5 to 7 pm, Friends of Daniel Boone Homestead will be selling pulled pork sandwiches as a fundraiser: $6 for ages 13+ and $4 for ages 4-12 buys a sandwich, 2 sides, and a drink. Overall event time is 5-9 pm.

Drake Well Museum
UPDATED INFO regarding admission, 6/3/14: June-August: The Visitor Center at historic boomtown Pithole will be open every Saturday and Sunday, admission is $5.00 for adults (18+ years), $3.00 for children (12-17 years) and free for children 11 years and younger. An orientation film and exhibits are available. 10 am-4 pm.
June 14: Family Day—one of several events throughout the year with crafts, activities, movies, and other family-friendly stuff. Included in regular admission (special family admission rate of $20 for up to 2 adults and 3 children). 9 am-5 pm.
UPDATED INFO June 26: Heritage Lecture Series—The Venango Brigade and the Elm Street Strummers will provide a musical program featuring a variety of tunes from the mid-19th century. Admission fee is $5, age 12-64; $4, age 65+; free for children and Friends of Drake Well. 6:00 pm.
June 28: Oil Valley Blacksmith demonstrations—this is regular monthly program offered the last Saturday of each month through October. Included in regular admission. 9 am-2 pm.

Eckley Miners’ Village
June 21-22: Patch Town Days—this long-running and popular program provides a glimpse of life in a Pennsylvania coal patch town circa 1870. Music, food, dancers, and more. Admission is $10 for ages 13-64, $9 for age 65+ and $6 for ages 3-12. 10 am-5 pm both days.

Ephrata Cloister
June 15: Father’s Day—fathers and sons are invited to explore papermaking and printing activities of the Ephrata community. Admission is $10 for a father/son pair, $3 for each additional child. Noon-5 pm.
UPDATE June 21: Ephrata Open Air Market—the Museum Store at Ephrata Cloister will be on location this Saturday to promote the site and showcase the work of local artisans. Market takes place at the Whistle Stop Plaza in downtown Ephrata (aka the old train station, 16 E. Main Street). 9 am-1 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
June 7: 4th Annual Mariner’s Ball—this black tie optional event raises funds to support the Flagship Niagara and its sailing program. Tickets (while they last) can be purchased at the museum store or online.

Fort Pitt Museum
June 6-July 14: History Inspires Art Show—front lobby of Fort Pitt. 10 am-5 pm.
June 21-22: Living History Program Series—this month’s installment is “Artillery at the Forks.” 10 am-5 pm.

Hope Lodge
June 11: Ambler Symphony Concert—bring a chair or blanket, a picnic dinner or snack, and enjoy beautiful music on the lawn. Concert and parking are free, donations are accepted. (Raindate is June 18.) 7 pm.
June 15: Site open—Hope Lodge will be open the third Sunday of each month through October, with guided tours offered at 1, 2, and 3 pm. Admission: ages 18-59, $5; ages 6-17 and 60+, $4; age 5 and under and Friends of Hope Lodge, free. 12:30-4 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
June 17-20: Summer Institute—Institute offers a wide range of hands-on classes, lectures (including several that are free-of-charge), tours, and evening events for adults (and summer camp activities for kids so the whole family can attend). The program flyer has everything you need to know. Please register by June 7.
June 24: Hands-on History Days—chores, games, crafts, wagon rides, a one-room schoolhouse lesson, and more for kids of all ages ($10 per person, children 5 and younger get in free). Contact the museum for more information.

Old Economy Village
Saturdays: Craft and Trade Demonstrations—each Saturday in June you will find a different craft or trade demonstration in the Village. UPDATE: June 7 - gardens and gardeners; June 14 - woodworking and children's games; June 21 - textiles; June 28 - blacksmithing. Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center. 10 am-5 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
June 1: Historic Trades—the blacksmith and the joyner will demonstrate their skills. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
June 8: Living History Theater—“Penn’s Pirate Problem” finds William Penn responding to accusations that Pennsylvania has become a haven for pirates. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
June 14: Brews & Bites at Pennsbury Manor—sample beers from Philadelphia-area craft brewers and enjoy food, musical entertainment, and demonstrations of historic beer brewing. The event page has info on ticket options; tickets are on sale now. 4-8 pm.
June 15: Open Hearth Cooking—the cooks will be exploring Dutch foodways traditions today. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
June 22: Garden Highlights—experience the glories of the summer garden, with lush fragrances and colors. There will also be a demonstration of 17th-century beer brewing techniques in the Kitchen House. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
UPDATE June 26: An Evening with Violet Oakley—exhibit preview and reception (wine and light hors-d'oeuvres) for "The Holy Experiment: Violet Oakley Mural Studies." Oakley's murals in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg depict events that influenced Quaker ideology and our Commonwealth's founder. Cost is $15, free for members of The Pennsbury Society (after the preview, the exhibit will be included in regular admission); please RSVP by June 23, 215/946-0400. 6:30-8 pm.
June 29: Animals at Pennsbury—meet the animals that call Pennsbury home and learn how they and their historic counterparts helped make the place run. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Saturdays and Sundays in June (except June 21): Guided tour (1 pm) included in regular admission.
June 1: A Celebration of Service Honoring Pennsylvania Veterans—U.S. Army reunion and memorial service sponsored by the Pennsylvania National Guard. Regular admission applies for visiting the museum. Ceremony begins at 12:30 pm.
June 4: Friends’ Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—this month’s speaker is John Connelly, former staff of the Fort Pitt Museum, discussing Lakota and U.S. Cavalry soldier perspectives on “The Battle of Little Big Horn.” Donations accepted. 7:30 pm.
UPDATE: THIS TOUR IS FILLED. WATCH FOR POSSIBLE FALL VERSION! June 14: Exploring the Armor—a special guided tour of the tracked vehicles displayed on the museum grounds, including a chance to look inside the crew compartments. Cost is $15, $5 for Friends of the PA Military Museum. Participation is limited, so please reserve your spot by contacting jhorvath@pa.gov. 2 pm.
June 14: Flag Day Celebration—State College Elks Lodge and local veterans organizations sponsor this annual Flag Day service and U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony on the Shrine parade grounds. Attendees are invited to bring U.S. flags that are no longer serviceable; the flags will be disposed of properly. 6 pm.
June 15: The True Story of Winnie the Pooh—in honor of Father’s Day, this presentation and movie explore the story of a Canadian Regimental veterinarian in World War I, a bear that ended up in the London Zoo, and how they inspired author A.A. Milne. Donations accepted. 1:30 pm.
June 21: Buzzcut Saturday—just what it sounds like. Start the summer with a traditional boot camp haircut. Donations accepted (free with museum admission). 10 am-3 pm.
June 28: “Steel Helmets in Modern Warfare”—Bruce Lingenfelter will lead a discussion on the development of the combat helmet during the 20th century, using examples from World War I to Vietnam. Included in regular admission. 1:30 pm.

Pennsylvania State Archives
“Archives Without Tears,” a practical two-day workshop for people who work with historic records:

• June 10-11, Drake Well Museum (must register by June 3)
• June 17-18, Pennsylvania Military Museum (must register by June 10)

For a brochure, contact Josh Stahlman, State Archives, jostahlman@pa.gov.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
UPDATE June 20-21: Model Train Layout of Strasburg Rail Road—members of the Strasburg Model Railroad Club will be in Rolling Stock Hall with their operating layout of the Railroad Museum and its neighbor. Included in regular admission. 9 am-5 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
June 7-Aug. 2: Traveling exhibit—“The Civil War in Pennsylvania,” a traveling exhibit organized by the Heinz History Center. Included in regular admission.
June 7: Civil War Fashion Show—Dinner and a fashion show highlighting civilian and military clothing of the Civil War era. Held off-site. Registration deadline was May 31, so check ahead by calling 814/445-6077.
June 24: The Monongahela Indians—archaeologist Robert Oshnock will present a program on Native American culture in southwestern Pennsylvania and highlight the 2013 field season at the Consol Site in Westmoreland County. Sponsored by the Somerset County Chapter of the PA Archaeological Society. Free and open to the public. 6:30 pm.
June 25-27: “Somer” Camp—this three-day camp for kids ages 8-12 will explore the county’s history, trades, and crafts. Numerous hands-on projects will be included. Cost is $75 per child ($65 if parents are members of HGSSC) and includes all materials. Limit 15 participants. Call 814/445-6077 to register. 10 am-3 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Registration is open for the museum’s summer day camps (scheduled for July).
June 6: Learn@Lunchtime—join Dr. Walter Meshaka, curator of botany and zoology, for a look at some of the bird specimens in the new exhibit, "A Fondness for Birds: Pennsylvania's Alexander Wilson." Museum admission is free from 11 am to 1:30 pm, presentation is at 12:15 pm.
June 13: Learn@Lunchtime—Dr. Iren Snavely, State Library of PA, and Beth Hager, PHMC director of strategic initiatives, will talk about the life and work of Alexander Wilson, including first edition volumes of his American Ornithology featured in the exhibit, "A Fondness for Birds: Pennsylvania's Alexander Wilson." Museum admission is free from 11 am to 1:30 pm, presentation is at 12:15 pm.
June 14: Annual Fatherhood and Family Engagement Celebration—this program features speakers, dance classes, films, workshops and children’s activities. Free admission. 10 am-8 pm.
June 20: 3rd in the Burg/Learn@Lunchtime—museum admission is free from 11 am to 1:30 pm for a sneak peek of the 2014 Art of the State Exhibit.
June 22: Exhibit opening—“Art of the State,” the annual juried exhibition of Pennsylvania artists. The exhibit continues through Sept. 14 (included in regular admission).

Washington Crossing Historic Park
UPDATE June 21: McConkey's Market—vintage, handmade, and unique items will be on sale at McConkey's Ferry (lower park). 10 am-5 pm.

C'mon, Summer!

All you seasonal purists, please cut me a little slack here. I know it’s not really summer until the solstice on June 21st, but Memorial Day weekend means “summer” to me. I’ll be firing up the grill and, I hope, attending my town’s Memorial Day parade and commemoration.

Most sites on the PA Trails of History will be open on Memorial Day (be sure to check the schedule). And Memorial Day kicks off the annual Blue Star Museums program, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense. Participating museums offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day to Labor Day. PA Trails of History sites offer military families free admission year-round, and we are pleased and proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program again this summer.

Andrews Sisters Tribute Show at PMM this weekend

In related news, First Lady (and First Tourist) Susan Corbett's Facebook page included a post yesterday afternoon encouraging people to visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum this weekend for "World War II Revisited," which features encampments, tactical demonstrations, and "Letters from Home," an Andrews Sisters Tribute Show.

A dining car place setting from a past era at the Railroad Museum of PA
photo "credit" Amy K Fox

My Google Alerts (when I finally got around to checking them this week) had several items related to Trails of History sites as destinations:

• The Allentown Morning Call recommended that folks visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s new exhibit, “A First-Class Restaurant on Wheels: The Story of the Railroad Dining Car,” and have a meal on one of the dining cars across the street at the Strasburg Rail Road before spending the night at the Red Caboose Motel, where they could have breakfast in yet another dining car.
• A “pedal-by” of Cornwall Iron Furnace is on the itinerary for June 14’s Round the Valley bicycle ride fundraiser to benefit Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Inc. and Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition.
• Last week, participants in the annual Buick Driving Enthusiasts National Tour stopped by the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum as part of their day in exploring Route 6 in Potter County.
• Earlier this month, Visit Bucks County announced the Spring 2014 Tourism Grant Program awardees, and both of Trails of History sites in Bucks County were on the list. Washington Crossing Historic Park received $25,000 and Pennsbury Manor received $15,000 from the grant fund, which is generated by a portion of the county’s lodging tax. Congratulations!

For information on events and programs this weekend on the Trails of History, check out the program listings for May.

Hot Stuff

You’ll find events on the Trails of History for this weekend and the rest of May in the monthly program listings.

Last week we looked at sheep shearing on the Trails of History. This week’s trend is different; several items came across my radar that seemed to have something in common (can you find the theme?).



Chris Balton shared the above film, “This is My Scranton ‘The Iron Pour’,” with the Anthracite Heritage Museum, who shared it with me. The iron pour is part of the “Fire at the Furnace” and “Arts on Fire Festival” coming up at the Scranton Iron Furnaces, June 6-8.

Part of Rick Brouse's talk on charcoal making via Cornwall's Facebook page

Cornwall Iron Furnace’s most recent installment in the Friends Lecture Series was Rick Brouse’s talk on Charcoal Making earlier this week (like many early iron furnaces, Cornwall used charcoal for fuel). Rick noted that the charcoal burn at Hopewell Furnace NHS will be raked out this Saturday, May 17.

Flagship Niagara photo by Bob Lowry

The Flagship Niagara League has announced new dates for public day sails, bringing the total number of available dates to thirteen. All public day sails leave from the dock behind the Erie Maritime Museum at 1:00 pm and return at approximately 7:00 pm. Day sails include a meal prepared on NIAGARA’S functioning woodstove. Spaces are still available for the June 1 and June 15 sails (with additional dates throughout the summer). Reserve your place now.

Whole Lotta Shearin’ Goin’ On

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mother's Day, or so I read on the interwebs. Happy Mother's Day, mom!

AND AN UPDATE, thanks to Karen Galle of PHMC's Historical Marker Program: "Founded by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia. First officially observed in 1908, it honored motherhood & family life at a time of rising feminist activism. An early supporter was John Wanamaker, whose store stood opposite. Mother's Day was given federal recognition, 1914."

For those of us who don’t live on farms or work at museums with farm animal programs, spring means, well, whatever it means. Flowers. Rain. Mowing the grass for the first time in a while. Allergies. Overdosing on Peeps or Reese’s peanut butter eggs. As I’ve watched my Facebook news feed the last couple of weeks, however, sheep shearing is definitely “trending.” (And yes, I know that my putting it in quotes means I’m hopelessly unhip. Big surprise.) If you’re reading this early enough, you might still make it to Washington Crossing Historic Park to see their program (see listings below).

BEFORE (via Daniel Boone Homestead Facebook page)

By the end of the day, it looks like most of the sheep on the PA Trails of History will have had their summer haircuts and supplied the spinners and weavers with fleece to turn into wool thread and cloth. You can find online photos of programs at Daniel Boone Homestead and Pennsbury Manor (stills and video courtesy of the Bucks County Courier Times).

AFTER

Events this weekend and next week (full list for May):

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 10: Annual Spring Tea—learn about the 18th-century history of tea in the colonies and play children’s games at this family-friendly event. Cost is $18/adult (age 13+), $12/child (age 6-12); includes tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, and pastries. Reservation deadline was May 7, so be sure to call ahead: 724/972-7396.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
May 13: Friends Lecture Series—“Charcoal Making” will be speaker Rick Brouse’s topic for the evening. During his presentation, Brouse will describe not only how charcoal was made but will also briefly talk about the year-long process, from cutting down the trees to feeding the charcoal into the furnace. Friends Lectures are held in Freeman Auditorium at Cornwall Manor, across the road from the furnace site. Admission is free (donations are welcome). 7 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
May 11: Mothers Day Tea—enjoy afternoon tea and conversation with mothers from Ephrata’s past. Cost is $10 for a mother/daughter pair, $3 for each additional child. 1-3 pm.
May 14: Storytime—Preschoolers with an accompanying adult can enjoy a story and an activity as they learn about life at Ephrata. Cost is $6 for one adult and child (age 3-5), $3 for each additional child (includes regular admission to the site); free to Family Level Members of Ephrata Cloister Associates. 10-11 am.
May 16: Community Days—students learn about life in 18th-century Ephrata through 15-minute presentations at a range of educational stations around the site (and move at their own pace from station to station). Reservations are strongly encouraged (call 717/733-6600); admission is $6 for students, with one adult admitted free with every 10 students (additional adults with a group pay $9). 9:30 am-1 pm.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
May 9-10: 27th Annual 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 $10 (children 5 and under free). 9 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
Opened May 8: A Style of Their Own: Clothing and Textiles of the Harmony Society—a new exhibit in the visitor center featuring textiles produced in Harmonist factories and clothing worn by members of the Harmony Society, including founder George Rapp (his cap and coat were part of the PA's Top 10 Endangered Artifacts initiative). Included in regular admission. 10 am-5 pm.
May 10: 19th-century Trade and Craft Demonstrations—The Fabric of Their Lives: Textiles. Included in regular admission. 10 am-5 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
May 11: Living History Theater—“Women’s Monthly Meeting” explores women’s roles in the community and the issues they discussed. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
May 10-11: National Train Days—activities for all ages will be offered to celebrate the role of railroads in American life. Included in museum admission. Saturday, 9 am-5 pm; Sunday, Noon-5 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
May 16: The Sound of Silents—enjoy a presentation about silent movies featuring the work of film pioneer Edwin Stanton Porter (born in Fayette County, one-time resident of and buried in Somerset). As part of this fundraising event, there will be a pre-show reception and exhibit of movie memorabilia. Cost is $50 ($25 if you wish to attend the cinema presentation only). Held at Mountain Playhouse. Call 814/445-6077 for tickets. 7-9 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
May 16: 3rd in the Burg—opening of new exhibit, “A Fondness for Birds: Pennsylvania’s Alexander Wilson,” featuring work that pre-dated John James Audubon by a decade. This is the inaugural show for the museum's new third Floor changing exhibit gallery. Admission is free for 3rd in the Burg. 5:30-7:30 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
May 9: Sheep Shearing—the sheep will be relieved of their winter coats, and there will be demos of how the fleece is turned into clothing (spoiler alert – it takes a lot of work). Thompson-Neely House. Admission is $8 per person, ages 5 and older. 10 am-2 pm.

In Case You Missed It

Bushy Run Battlefield via Facebook

Okay, so it's been kind of a busy week and I haven't managed to write a new post. Since it's only May 2nd, here's an "abbreviated encore presentation" of the May program preview from last week, with events for this weekend and next. I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy this lovely spring weather.

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 3: Spring Nature Walk—this annual event takes participants on an exploration of the woods and fields around the site; free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society, $5 fee for non-members. 10 am.
May 6: Day of Giving—Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society is participating in the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County's Day of Giving. Your online donation between 6 am and midnight that day will be matched on a pro-rated basis.
May 10: Annual Spring Tea—learn about the 18th-century history of tea in the colonies and play children’s games at this family-friendly event. Cost is $18/adult (age 13+), $12/child (age 6-12); includes tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, and pastries. Reservations are required by May 7, call 724/972-7396.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
May 4: Interpretive Sunday—the public is invited to visit the homestead and park to learn about life in Berks County during the 18th century. Admission is free. Noon-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
May 4: Children’s Day and Sheep & Wool Program—children and their families are invited to spend the afternoon learning about the young Daniel Boone and his family during the time they lived in the Oley Valley. Hands-on activities are on the schedule as well as a chance to see a local shearer get the Homestead’s flock of four sheep ready for summer. Admission is $8 for age 13 and older, free for children 12 and under; light refreshments will be available. Noon-4 pm.

Drake Well Museum
May 3: Engine Start-up Day—when the steam engines that power the Drake Well replica and the oil field equipment start up again, it must be (almost) summer! Included in regular admission.

Ephrata Cloister
May 11: Mothers Day Tea—enjoy afternoon tea and conversation with mothers from Ephrata’s past. Cost is $10 for a mother/daughter pair, $3 for each additional child. 1-3 pm.

Graeme Park
May 3-4: World War II Weekend—held in cooperation with The Horsham Preservation & Historical Association, this program features battle reenactments, displays of military equipment, and swing music. Friends of Graeme Park invites World War II veterans to attend free-of-charge and share their stories in the VIP tent. Admission charged. Saturday, 10 am-4 pm; Sunday, Noon-4 pm.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
May 9-10: 27th Annual 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 $10 (children 5 and under free). 9 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
May 2-4: Beaver County History Celebration—OEV will present an exhibit on Harmonist music as part of this year’s countywide history program, organized by the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation.
May 3, 10: 19th-century Trade and Craft Demonstrations—planned activities are: 5/3 – Woodworking and Children’s Games; 5/10 – The Fabric of Their Lives: Textiles.

Pennsbury Manor
May 4: Historic Trades and Sheep Shearing—the blacksmith and joyner will be on hand to demonstrate their skills, plus you can watch as the sheep are sheared by hand to get them ready for summer (and help wash, card, and spin the wool if you’re so inclined). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
May 11: Living History Theater—“Women’s Monthly Meeting” explores women’s roles in the community and the issues they discussed. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
May 18: Open Hearth Cooking—the cooks will talk about the uses of milk and prepare cheese using 17th-century recipes. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
May 3: Battery B Drill Exercise—Civil War-era reenactors from 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 6: Centre Gives—PMM is one of the participating organizations in the Centre Foundation's online giving campaign. Donations will be accepted from 12 am today through noon on May 7.
May 7: Friends’ Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—“The 1813 Lake Erie Campaign,” with speaker and author Walter Rybka. Capt. Rybka is senior captain of the U.S. Brig Niagara and director of the Erie Maritime Museum. 7:30 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
May 10-11: National Train Days—activities for all ages will be offered to celebrate the role of railroads in American life. Included in museum admission. Saturday, 9 am-5 pm; Sunday, Noon-5 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
May 3: Washington Crossing Brewfest—this event takes place in the upper park on the banks of the Delaware River, near the Thompson-Neely House. Admission is $40 ($10 for designated drivers). Details and online ticket sales. 12:30-4:30 pm.
May 9: Sheep Shearing—the sheep will be relieved of their winter coats, and there will be demos of how the fleece is turned into clothing (spoiler alert – it takes a lot of work). Thompson-Neely House. Admission is $8 per person, ages 5 and older. 10 am-2 pm.