Honoring Veterans and History

Please note that the November program page and a list of Trails of History sites open on various November holidays are now available. And don't forget that we "fall back" an hour at 2 am on Sunday, as Daylight Saving Time ends.

Today (Nov. 4) at 11 am, PHMC's Pennsylvania Trails of History will be broadcasting on #FacebookLive, at the official recognition of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania as a new member of the Smithsonian Affiliates program. Friday and Saturday, Norfolk Southern's Pennsylvania Railroad Heritage Engine will be on view at the museum.

While Veterans Day is not for another week, there is a new PHMC initiative that I wanted to highlight, as well as several military history events happening over the coming week.

In late October PHMC launched an initiative called "Pennsylvania at War" that brings together public events, exhibits, and other activities commemorating U.S. entry into World War I (100th anniversary in 2017) and World War II (75th anniversary in 2016). Follow #PAatWar on Twitter to keep up to date on offerings now through the end of 2017; even if your organization is not part of PHMC you can use the hashtag to highlight your events.

This weekend
Tomorrow, Nov. 5, Historic Hope Lodge will present its annual reenactment of the Nov. 2-Dec. 11, 1777, encampment of Gen. George Washington and the Continental Army in the Whitemarsh Hills. Please note that this is now a one-day event (program details are on the Hope Lodge website). Admission cost is $8 for ages 18-59, $5 for ages 6-17 and 60+, free for members and children age 5 and younger; there is a family rate of $20 per car. Cash only for ticket sales at the gate, but you can buy tickets online (with a small service fee) via PayPal if you prefer to use a credit card (be sure to bring your receipt). The encampment is open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm (rain or shine).

Penn State University (Main Campus) is holding a Military Appreciation Day tailgate at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday (11/5) starting at 3 pm. Prior to that event, from 10 am to 2:30 pm, the Pennsylvania Military Museum will hold a pre-tailgate program of guided tours, lectures, living history reenactments, and the presentation of service pins to Vietnam veterans in attendance. The reenactments and a tour of armored vehicles will take place outside, weather permitting; the lectures and presentations will take place inside the museum. Admission will be free for veterans and their families, and is always free for active duty military and their families (regular admission rates apply for others).

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's annual "Trains & Troops" program, Nov. 5-6, salutes our armed forces and explores connections between the military and railroad history. Reenactors and displays of equipment will be in Rolling Stock Hall, military music and tributes will be offered each day, and (weather permitting) vintage airplanes will do a flyover (see more detailed schedule on the website). A special addition this year (Sat., 11/5, at 1:30 pm) will be the dedication of the newly restored "Lindbergh Engine" in Rolling Stock Hall. And Saturday night is the annual Swing Dance, featuring the big band music of the Moonlighters (tickets for the dance or combo tickets for the dance and museum admission are available online.)

Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11
Staff and volunteers from the Erie Maritime Museum will participate in Veterans Appreciation Day activities at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center and Presque Isle State Park. From 10 am to 2 pm, museum personnel will provide War of 1812 and Civil War Navy living history and historical displays and participate in a flag raising service. In addition, through November 23, the museum will be a collection point for items to be sent to active duty military personnel (see list below).

The Military Museum will offer free admission for veterans and their families on Veterans Day during regular operating hours (10 am-5 pm). In addition, the museum will partner with the Centre County Library to offer a genealogy workshop geared toward fundamentals of military history and using military records to research your family. The one-hour genealogy workshop is included in regular admission (for non-veterans) and will be offered twice - at 10 am and 2 pm.