Well, they called that one right!

You'll find the January program page has some updated info. The February listings are up now, too, and I'll update them as info comes my way during the month..

In last week's post, I posed a question about whether the forecast snowstorm would be historic or a bust (I also misspelled "snowmageddon"). After closing Trails of History sites in the lower part of the state for the weekend and into the early part of this week, I think we know the answer. #Snowmageddon indeed.

Our offices in Harrisburg were closed Monday and Tuesday, so I am still playing catch-up. As I am prone to doing, I've trolled Facebook to glean some items of interest that I will share with you now. Starting with some lovely photos of snow.

(Top) Pennsbury Manor
(Middle) Somerset Historical Center
(Bottom trio) Washington Crossing Historic Park


Despite some snow (though not the "apocalyptic" (too much?) amounts we got in some parts of the state), the Knox Mine Disaster commemoration went on as planned at the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton. They had good attendance and honored both those lost and those who survived (read more in this Citizens Voice article). In other Scranton news, the Scranton Iron Furnaces received a 2015 Happie Award from Happenings Magazine (Northeast PA) for Best Event Venue (they host numerous arts and cultural events each year).

Voting has opened for the 2016 Montgomery County Happenings List, and both Graeme Park and Hope Lodge are candidates for best historic spot (vote on the digital magazine's website). I mentioned last week that Washington Crossing Historic Park is in the running for the Bucks County Happening List in two categories, best historic spot and best scenic view (Bowman's Hill Tower).

This week's "PA Treasures" features a telescope that belonged to Dr. Joseph Priestley and is included in the State Museum's "PA Icons" exhibit. As you know, Dr. Priestley's American home and laboratory are part of the Trails of History.

Will it be Snowmaggedon or Snownevermind?

As I write this on Wed., Jan. 20, the forecasters are duking it out over which model will accurately predict the weather for this coming weekend. None of them look too good, unless you like shoveling snow. Alot. There are events scheduled for the Trails of History this weekend (check the program page), but as I always suggest, please check ahead to be sure the site you want to visit is open. The Somerset Historical Center's 18th-century cap workshop has been rescheduled from Jan. 23 to Jan. 30. UPDATE: The State Museum of PA, Cornwall Iron Furnace, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Railroad Museum of PA, Somerset Historical Center, and Ephrata Cloister have announced they will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 23. Sunday schedules TBD.



One of the events scheduled for tomorrow (Jan. 23) is the Anthracite Heritage Museum's annual commemoration of the Knox Mine Disaster. Sunday, Jan. 24, is the snow date, but I would watch the museum's Facebook page for updates or call (570/963-4804) if the storm doesn't turn out to be a fizzle. If you're interested in mining history, you might want to learn about other events that have been going on during Mining History Month or check out an upcoming program on PBS's American Experience series, The Mine Wars, which explores coal mining in southern West Virginia in the early 20th century. (UPDATE: If you missed the broadcast, you can stream it for free for the next month via PBS.)

The Uncovering PA blog, written by Jim Cheney, recently featured a post about Jim's summer visit to the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. Uncovering PA often includes info on the PA Trails of History.

If you know of a college or graduate student looking for a summer internship in the museum or archives field, it's not too late for them to apply to PHMC's Keystone Internship Program. Applicants can indicate the subject area or type of professional experience they're interested in and designate up to 3 possible internship locations, including PHMC historic sites and museums around the state or any of the Harrisburg operations (State Museum, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, etc.). Application instructions and materials are on the website; deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 12.

Ephrata Cloister's annual Winter History Class started yesterday (Jan. 21) but there's still plenty of time to attend. Weekly sessions continue every Thursday through March 17 and then there is a field trip on March 31. Details and info on registering are on Facebook.

Washington Crossing Historic Park is in the running for Best Historic Spot and Best Scenic View (Bowman's Hill Tower) in the 2016 Bucks County Happening List voting. Help them win again as they have in the past (historic spot voting site and scenic view voting site).

Wednesday, Jan. 20, was #MuseumSelfieDay worldwide and many people on the Trails of History took part. I'm sharing my fave below; check out @PHMC's Storify summary of tweets from the Trails of History to see more.

Mike and Trisha Berberich at PA Lumber Museum with a friend

And if all this talk of winter makes you long for spring...

The Heirloom Seed Project at Landis Valley is already getting plants started

A Patchwork Quilt to Keep You Warm

Looking for something to do on the Trails of History? Check out the January program page. Please note that all Trails of History sites except one will be closed on Monday, Jan. 18, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. The Railroad Museum of PA will be open 9 am to 5 pm that day. And take note that #MuseumSelfieDay is Wed., Jan. 20 - so please share yours with us via social media (and look back at last year's fun).

Last week's post focused on the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show and PHMC's participation, sharing all kinds of history with the public. Since the show continues today (1/15) until 9 pm and tomorrow from 9 am to 5 pm, you still have time to stop by. If you go, please be sure to check out the PHMC exhibits, all conveniently located near the Maclay St. entrance--including the (State Museum's archaeology section, the State Historic Preservation Office displays and historical marker scavenger hunt, the walls of history with images from PA State Archives, and an entire room of exhibits on agricultural history and rural life organized by Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum and including displays by Somerset Historical Center and Pennsbury Manor (photos in last week's post and via Landis Valley's Facebook page).

Landis_Valley_exhibit_PA_Farm_Show
2016 PA Farm Show visitors learning about Pennsylvania Barns and more

If you're like me and this week brought the first real winter weather to your neighborhood (I know some parts of the state had their first snow weeks ago), maybe you'd rather just hunker down inside and get your history fix online. If so, consider these recent links:

And I'll leave you with these two Facebook photos of rainbows from Sunday, Jan. 10, to brighten your day. I hope you have a great weekend.

Top: Hope Lodge, Montgomery County, PA
Bottom: Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Lancaster County, PA

It's Farm Show Week!

Be sure to check out the January program page to plan your visits on the Trails of History this month.

BREAKING NEWS 1/11: Follow @PHMC on Twitter to see all of the PHMC activities and exhibits at the Farm Show.

Yep, it's Farm Show Week, and you know what that means. Folks from farms all over the state displaying their agricultural prowess and folks from suburbs and cities complaining about the smell as they stand in line for potato donuts, fried mushrooms, and milkshakes. It's tradition!

Landis_Valley_Conestoga_Wagon_at_2016_Farm_Show
Conestoga Wagon at 2016 PA Farm Show (via Landis Valley FB page)

Seriously though, it also means that PHMC staff will be on hand Jan. 9-16 to help share in celebrating the 100th PA Farm Show (#100PAFarmShow) and more than 100 years of PA agricultural history. Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum has organized an entire room of exhibits (Exhibit Room B) about agricultural practices and equipment that also includes displays from Somerset Historical Center and Pennsbury Manor (thanks to Cindy Reedy at Landis Valley for the photos below) The exhibit room will be staffed from 9 am to 7 pm each day of the Farm Show and there will be informational talks on a variety of subjects at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm daily.

LVM_Farm_Show_2016_PA_Germans_by_Cindy_Reedy
LVM_Exhibit_Room_2016_Farm_Show_by_Cindy_Reedy

PHMC's booths and exhibits at the Farm Show are nicely grouped together in Main Hall East, along the Maclay St. side of the building (not far from the butter sculpture). So you can easily check in with the history folks and learn about archaeology, century farms, and historic preservation, and get started on the ever-popular historical marker scavenger hunt. (To help you plan, the Visitor Guide is available online - the guide includes historical photos from the PA State Archives.)

If you aren't able to make it to the Farm Show but want to learn more:

I hope to see you there. I'll be standing by the potato donuts with a milkshake in my hand.

BREAKING NEWS 12 pm 1/8: The new milkshake flavor is Strawberries and Cream. And Somerset Historical Center just posted a photo on their Facebook page of their booth in Exhibit Room B.