Remember to set your clocks ahead before 2 am on March 8 (assuming that they don't reset themselves, that is) or you'll miss some of the fun on Charter Day (some info listed below, watch for additional info next week).
Anthracite Heritage Museum
March 8: Charter Day —activities include a program of short WWII-era documentary films about anthracite coal and railroad industries (at 2 and 3 pm), the Pennsylvania Trail of History game, and the opening of a new changing exhibit, "We Can Do It: Women in World War II." Margo L. Azzarelli, author of Lackawanna County Chronicles, will be on hand to sign her book. Admission is free and visitors can enjoy a piece of Pennsylvania's birthday cake. Noon-5 pm.
March 15: Lackawanna Audubon Society—Program is “Not Following in the Footsteps of Darwin: the Galapagos Islands,” with Mike Carey. 2:30 pm.
Brandywine Battlefield
March 8: Charter Day—Site will be open noon-4 pm.
Bushy Run Battlefield
March 21-22: Ohio Country Conference— this annual program explores a variety of historical topics and includes an evening reception and discussion at Bushy Run (full conference program and registration info).
Conrad Weiser Homestead
March 8: Charter Day—the site’s largest living history event of the year, with British and French military units, Native American interpretation, folk art to view and buy, and loads of books. Noon-4 pm.
March 22: Spring lecture—Jack Brubaker will present "Massacre of the Conestogas" at 2 pm.
Cornwall Iron Furnace
March 8: Charter Day—tours of the furnace are free today. Noon-4:30 pm.
March 10: Friends Lecture Series—Bob Donely will talk about “Bethlehem Steel Mining Operations," exploring the local iron ore that was used in steel production. Lectures are held in Freeman Hall auditorium at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.
Daniel Boone Homestead
March 8: Charter Day Open House—music and dancing, open hearth cooking, storytelling, textile demonstrations, and much more. Noon-4 pm.
March 22: Women’s History Lecture—Susan Speros, Marcia Houston, and Courtney Stevens will explore the socioeconomic dimensions of 18th-century dance and music in this interactive program (bring your dancing shoes). Light refreshments will be served. Suggested donation, $2; regular admission applies for guided and self-guided tours of the Boone House and historic area. 2 pm.
March 29: Pennsylvania German Easter—children can explore the historic area as they hunt for Easter eggs (please bring a basket), use colonial dyeing methods to color their own Easter eggs, see blacksmithing and other demos, and learn about Pennsylvania German traditions. Admission is $4 for ages 3 and up; light refreshments will be served.
Drake Well Museum
March 8: Charter Day—museum is open free of charge today. UPDATE: Drake Well is collecting toiletries and household cleaning products for Titusville YWCA's St. James House (women and children's shelter). Noon-5 pm.
March 19: Heritage Lecture Series—Mark Ritke will present a program on bluebirds. Admission charged. Doors open at 6:30 pm, lecture starts at 7.
March 28: Something More Saturday—come celebrate Col. Edwin Drake’s 196th birthday by visiting the birthplace of the modern oil industry. Included in regular admission; special family rate of $20 for up to 2 adults and 3 children. 10 am-3 pm (sing happy birthday and have cake at noon).
Eckley Miners’ Village
UPDATE: Eckley is currently closed due to a broken water main. The film program will be rescheduled.
Ephrata Cloister
March 1: Museum Store reopens for the season.
March 5, 12, 19, 26 (field trip): Winter History Class—class began in January, but you can still sign up for the remaining sessions or the field trip on March 26.
March 8: Charter Day—demonstrators will share their skills, and the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal (meeting house) at 2, 3, and 4 pm. Admission is free. Noon-5 pm.
March 11: Storytime—designed for preschoolers and their adults, the program pairs a story with a related craft or activity. Cost is $6 for an adult and accompanying child (age 3-5), $3 for each additional child; FREE with family-level membership or Ephrata Public Library Museum Pass. 10-11 am.
March 21: Making History Workshop—this month's installment in the series is "Fraktur." Learn how to make your own Fraktur inspired by the art of the 18th-century Ephrata community. Fee charged. 10 am-noon.
March 27-28: Stuffed Animal Sleepover—preschoolers can leave a stuffed animal or doll to have an adventure at the site (adorable photos from last year), then return the next morning (with an adult) to take part in the same activities. Cost is $6 for an adult and one child (age 3-5), $3 for each additional child; FREE for family-level members or with Ephrata Public Library Museum Pass. Drop off is between 3 and 5 pm on 3/27; morning program on 3/28 runs 10 am-noon.
Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
March 8: Charter Day—the ship is still under winter cover, but it is visible and there’s plenty to see indoors. As a preview of the museum's upcoming traveling exhibit, "Plastic Waters: From the Great Lakes to the Oceans," opening in April, there will be family-friendly activities focused on recycling and how plastics affect the Great Lakes. Admission is free. Noon-4:45 pm.
UPDATE: (How did I miss this?) Murder at the Maritime—this new event is offered in partnership with Mercyhurst University. Registration discounts for Flagship Niagara League members and Mercyhurst Alumni; includes cocktails and hors-d'oeuvres (so you must be 21 or over to attend). More details and registration info.
OR this? March 30: Storytime at the Maritime—the last Monday of each month, the museum presents storytime with a special guest reader. Program is free. 10 am.
Graeme Park
March 8: Charter Day—be sure to take a free tour of the Keith House today or bring the kids for a coloring activity. Noon-4 pm.
Hope Lodge
March 8: Charter Day—the Mansion will be open today free of charge. Noon-4 pm.
Joseph Priestley House
March 8: Charter Day and Dr. Priestley’s Birthday—visit with costumed docents in each room (including the laboratory), watch the Spinners and Weavers Guild at work in the kitchen, and wish Dr. Priestley a happy birthday while he demonstrates the wonders of chemistry in the Pond Building. 1-4 pm (chem demos at 1:30 and 2:30).
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
March 7, 14, 21: Folk Art & Friendship Classes—intro to papercutting (scherenschnitte), tole painting, and scratched eggs are the topics for this month’s classes hosted by the museum store (registration required, details on the website). 1-3 pm.
March 4, 11: Homeschool classes—featured crafts and target age group vary (more information here). 9 am-noon.
March 8: Exhibit opening—Charter Day is the launch point for a new temporary exhibit, “1865: Lancaster County at the Close of the Civil War,” which will be on view through December. Other Charter Day activities include craft demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides (weather permitting), and tours. Noon-5 pm.
March 28: Heirloom Seed Project Grafting Workshop—for anyone who’s wanted to learn how to graft apple varieties, this program is it. For $30, you get instruction, hands-on practice, and scion and rootstock to take home with you. Registration is required by March 15; call 717/569-0401 x204.
Old Economy Village
March 8: Charter Day—Admission is free today, noon-5 pm.
UPDATE: March 11: Gardening Class—"Pruning: Now or Later?" will help you understand what you can prune now and what has to wait. Class is free, but space is limited. Call 724/266-4500 x 102 to RSVP. 7-8 pm.
March 28: Easter Egg Hunt—children 5 and younger will hunt for eggs in the garden, while ages 6-12 explore the village. Baskets will be provided, and light refreshments will be served. Cost is $5 per person, and reservations are required as space is limited.
Pennsbury Manor
March 8: Charter Day—craft demonstrators will be on hand and tours of the Manor House will be offered free of charge. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Pennsbury food drive. 1-4 pm.
March 15: Spring Fever—learn about spring tonics, allergy cures, and other 17th-century medicinal remedies. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
March 22: Beer and Bread Sunday—beer brewing and bread baking were closely related tasks in the the 17th century (think yeast!). The brewers will be making German March beer and the bakers will be turning out some tasty bread. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
March 29: Animals at Pennsbury—come meet some of Pennsbury's animal residents, who are as anxious for spring as the rest of us. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Pennsylvania Military Museum
March 3: Central PA Civil War Roundtable Series—Dr. John Quarstein will present a program entitled "Fall of Fort Fisher, NC: The Gibraltar of the Confederacy." Donation requested. 7 pm.
UPDATE 3/4/15 - cancelled due to weather - March 4: Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—Michael Bezilla's topic will be "Penn State's Participation in the Great War - World War One." Donation requested. 7:30 pm.
March 7: Military Movie Madness Festival—PMM kicks off the 2015 museum season with a raft of short films from the US Army Signal Corps (details of what and when). Included in museum admission. 10 am-4 pm.
March 8: Charter Day—the Museum will be open free of charge, noon-4 pm.
March 21: Documentary Film—“You Enter Germany: Bloody Huertgen and the Siegfried Line,” a German documentary released in 2007 includes archival footage and interviews with veterans. Donations accepted. 1:30 pm.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
March 7: Read Across America Day—enjoy stories about trains, railroads, and amazing people, places, and things. Children will receive a passport stamp after each story as well as stickers to decorate a suitcase. All activities are included in regular admission, except for "Breakfast with the Conductor," which requires advance reservations (call 717/687-8628 x 3009 to see if spaces are still available. Museum open 9 am-5 pm (check here for story times).
March 8: Charter Day—the museum is open free of charge from noon to 5 pm.
Somerset Historical Center
March 14-15: Sugar in the Mountains, Maple Taste and Tour—experience Somerset County’s maple history and visit the site’s 1860s sugar camp; includes tractor-drawn wagon rides. Event is free, donations accepted. 10 am-4 pm.
March 28: Pysanky Egg Workshop—Jennifer Mudery, who demonstrates her craft at Mountain Craft Days, will teach this beginner course (I've taken it and she's a very patient teacher). You’ll end up with a nice starter kit and an egg to take home. $25 includes all materials ($20 for members). Call 814/445-6077 to register.
State Museum of Pennsylvania
March 6, 13, 20: Storytime in Curiosity Connection—the Winter Reading Series continues, combining books and play for children ages 3-5. Included in general admission. 10 am.
March 8: Charter Day—the original 1681 Charter of Pennsylvania will be on display, and this year's "guest documents" relate to the construction of the State Museum and Archives Complex, which is 50 years old this year. Loads of other activities are on the schedule as well. Admission is free. Noon-5 pm.
March 20: Learn@Lunchtime/3rd in the Burg—Brock Shelley from Commonwealth Connections will be on hand to talk about this year's "South Central PA Scholastic Arts" exhibit. Museum admission is free during the program. 11 am-1:30 pm.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
March 8: Charter Day—a variety of demonstrations are planned throughout the day: chocolate-making, blacksmithing, and Rev War military drills. Tours of the Lower Park and Thompson-Neely House will be offered and (weather permitting) Bowman’s Hill Tower will be open. Admission is free. 10 am-4 pm.
ADDED: March 29: Lecture—Jim Stinson will present "From Hearth to Battlefield: A Look at 18th-century Arms in the Early Years of the American Revolution" (more details on Facebook). Lecture is free. Visitor Center Auditorium. 2 pm.