On the Trails of History, June 28-July 11

The full July program page is now available for those of you who want to look further ahead. Many sites on the PHMC's Trails of History will be open on Thursday, July 4; open sites and any special programming are noted below.

(photo Linda Bolla)

On Monday, June 24, Erie Maritime Museum hosted a celebration of the centennial of Pennsylvania's ratification of the 19th Amendment. In the photo above, Gary Lee (right), on behalf of Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, presented a proclamation to Christal Lepak (left) and Lori Morse-Dolan (center) of the Erie Chapter of the League of Women Voters. Museum staff put together a pop-up exhibit documenting women's suffrage campaigning in Erie - the first women's suffrage parade in Pennsylvania took place in Erie in 1913 as part of the centennial of Perry's victory in the Battle of Lake Erie. The League of Women Voters held a voter registration drive to highlight the importance of exercising our right to vote. For more information, see local coverage on Go Erie.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.

Brandywine Battlefield
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.
July 8 thru week of August 5: Summer History Camp—visit Brandywine's website for more info on each week and to register.

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 6: Annual Classic Car Cruise—classic and custom cars, live music, food, drink, and more. Event is free; regular admission applies to visit the exhibits. 11 am-3 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
July 7: Living History Sunday—enjoy a summer afternoon at the homestead learning about life in the Tulpehocken. Admission is free. Noon-4 pm.

Curttis and Peter Grubb, sons of the builder of Cornwall Furnace, built this mansion in 1773. The Coleman family, whose patriarch Robert Coleman had acquired the furnace and estate, did extensive remodeling in 1865. Included in the renovation was the addition of Italianate architectural elements. Today a few residents of Cornwall Manor have apartments in this building. (photo via Facebook)

Cornwall Iron Furnace
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.
July 9: Friends Lecture Series—Henry Deemer will present "Historic Sites on Cornwall Manor Campus" (more info on Facebook event page). Admission is free (donations are welcome). Lectures are held in Freeman Hall Auditorium at Cornwall Manor Retirement Community. 7 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
June 29: Celebrating Our Country's Heritage—enjoy tours of the Boone Homestead, see blacksmithing and other demos, and support the Keystone Military Food Bank. Requested admission donation is 2 non-perishable food items per person over age 5. Regular admission fees apply to visit without donating food items. 10 am-4 pm.
July 3, 10: Sawmill demonstrations—the site's water-powered up-down sawmill will be demonstrated at 11 am and 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
June 29: Something More Saturday—this month's focus is the Mobile Energy Education Training Unit (MEET-U). There will also be blacksmithing demonstrations. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.
June 29-30, July 6-7: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.
July 11: Discovery Days—children age 8-12 will experience nature, perform experiments, discover history through artifacts and exhibits and so much more (program offered Thursdays through August 1). Fees charged and registration is required (program brochure and registration form) by July 5. 9 am-4 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.

Ephrata Cloister
June 29: Artisans in the Park Summer Fest—spend the day touring the site, visiting with the artisans and vendors, and enjoying delicious food - all in support of Ephrata Cloister and its programs (more info on the Facebook event page and in this article from The Ephrata Review). Event is rain or shine and admission is free. 9 am-4 pm.
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.

View of schooner Lettie G. Howard with "Don't Give Up the Ship" and LGBTQ Pride Flag (photo Linda Bolla)

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Ends June 30: Blue Star Museum exhibit—several items from the collection are on display in recognition of the museum's participation in the Blue Star Museums program. The items are related to the World War I service of William L. Morrison and William H. Stine. The collection includes the earliest use of the Blue Star Flag, incorporated into personal items and a commercially-made flag to represent a man serving in the front lines. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours.
July 1-August 16: Tall Ship Summer Camp—sail on board the schooner Lettie G. Howard and learn all kinds of nautical skills. Week-long camp sessions are still booking (first week is just 3 days), geared for ages 10-14. Details and registration info are on the website.
July 3: Lights Over Lake Erie Sail—enjoy Erie's Independence Day eve fireworks from the deck of Lettie G. Howard. Tickets and details are available online. 9-11 pm.
UPDATED INFO July 4: Friends and Family Day—free admission and tours of Lettie G. Howard (Niagara will be sailing the Great Lakes). 9 am-5 pm.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on upcoming events and programs. Fort Pitt Museum will be open on July 4.

The kitchen and garden at Graeme Park (via Facebook)

Graeme Park
July 4: Independence Day at Graeme Park—there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence and tours of the Keith House (more details on the website). Admission charged for tours of the Keith House. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge
June 30, July 7—the site is open for tours most Sundays, through mid-October. Admission is charged (cash or check only). Site is open 1-4 pm, with tours at 1 and 2:30.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
July 4: Site open—please check the website for hours.
July 9-12: Summer Sampler Camp—kids ages 5-11 will enjoy a variety of activities, inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. Details and instructions for registering are on the website (Summer Sampler also offered July 16-19). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Old Economy Village
July 8-12: Art Camp—retired art teacher Dee Ruckert will lead the class. Children age 6-12 (6-year-olds must have completed kindergarten) will experience a variety of activites while exploring the historic buildings for inspiration. Please note that OEV is also offering History Camps July 15-19 and 22-26 (details and registration info are in the summer camp brochure). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
June 29: 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 and link for online purchase. NOTE: VIP and Designated Driver tickets have sold out. Must be at least 21 to attend. 3-7 pm.
June 30: Play the Past!—learn how to play popular 17th-century games at this family-friendly event. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
June 30, July 7: Special Sunday Programming—something different every week: Meet the Animals that live and work at Pennsbury (6/30); meet the joyners, blacksmiths, and wool spinners (7/7). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.
July 6: Monthly Book Club—July's book is I, Eliza Hamilton (2018) by Susan Holloway Scott. Book club is free and open to the public (light refreshments served). 10-11 am.
July 8-12: History Camp—learn about life 300 years ago. Geared for kids who have completed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade. Registration is required (details on website). 10 am-3 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
June 30: Application deadline for Cork Camp scholarships—a limited number of scholarships are available for Cork Camp attendees age 18 and under. More info and instructions are available on the website. (Cork Camp takes place August 3-4; scholarship winners will be notified by July 11.)
July 4: Site open—check website for hours.
July 6-7: Annual Bark Peelers’ Festival—this hugely popular event recreates the 4th of July celebrations of Pennsylvania’s early 20th-century lumber camp workers and “woodhicks.” The schedule for this year's event is now available online. Admission is charged. 9 am-5 pm (events start at 10 am).

Learning about soldier life by trying on military gear (photo via Facebook)

Pennsylvania Military Museum
June 29-30—the 1 pm guided tour is included in regular admission (normally an additional charge).
July 4: Kids Day—kids (of all ages) can try on uniforms from the museum's education collection and learn about soldier life. Have your photo taken behind the wheel of an authentic military Jeep. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.
July 6: Documentary screening—filmed by the British War Office in 1916, The Battle of the Somme documents the first days of a battle that lasted four months. The museum's press release for this event notes that many of the Western Front action scenes in this film were restored for Peter Jackson's recent film, They Will Not Grow Old. Included in regular admission. 2:30-3:30 pm.
July 11-14: Annual People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts—celebration of arts and artisans held on the museum grounds (visit the festival website for details). Festival is free, $5 charged for on-site parking at PMM; regular museum admission applies to tour the indoor exhibits. Thurs-Sat, 10 am-9 pm (museum open 10 am-5 pm); Sun., noon-5 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
June 30-July 7 (open July 4): Reading Railroad Days—offered in conjunction with the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society, this program features an enormous HO-scale model railroad and highlights Reading Company rolling stock in the Museum’s collection. Included in regular museum admission during regular hours.

Somerset Historical Center
July 5: First Friday Food Fest—come down and enjoy a casual dinner, selected from a variety of local food trucks and vendors (details on website). There will be live music and tractor-drawn hay rides. This event that will take place the first Friday of August as well. Admission is free; $2 per vehicle for parking. 5-8 pm.
July 6: Family Fun 5K Run/Walk—SHC has a groomed trail that runs through woods and meadows, circling back around to the main site; once around is 5K (but you can take more than one lap). There's no admission charge, and maps are available. This event will also be offered the first Saturday of August. 8 am-noon.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the State Museum website for a full schedule of Planetarium shows.
June 28, July 5: Summer Fridays—Fridays are "Pay as You Wish" for general admission (through Aug. 23). Regular fees apply for the Planetarium, and Curiosity Connection will have timed tickets between 10 am and 3 pm. At 12:15 pm each Friday, a special "Learn at Lunchtime" will be offered (see events page for details).
July 3, 10, 11: Nature Lab—a wide assortment of programming is scheduled for the museum's Nature Lab area (visit the events page for details). Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.
July 5: StoryTime—this month's book, in honor of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon, is Man on the Moon by Anastasia Suen. Reading time will be followed by a planetarium show about the moon, suitable for the program's audience of 3-5 year olds (with an adult). Included in regular admission. 10:30-11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing website for a complete listing of upcoming programs and events. The site will be open on July 4.

So Much to Do

Happy First Day of Summer! With so much activity on the Trails of History, I've edited last week's post to focus on this weekend through next Thursday. The full June program page is still up if you're looking for info about next weekend, and the July page will be posted by the middle of next week (I'll add a link here when it's finished baking). Best wishes for a great weekend!

The historic meetinghouse (right) at Ephrata Cloister will be the setting for a performance by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus on Saturday, June 22 (details below). The drawing above was included on a note from a school student who recently visited the site (original and others are on Facebook)

Brandywine Battlefield
June 23: History in the Neighborhood—learn about other historic sites in the Brandywine area. Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
June 22: Bushy Run Market—local vendors and artisans will be onsite on the 4th Saturday of each month through September. Admission for the market is free for visitors (more info on website for prospective vendors). 8 am-noon.

Eckley Miners’ Village
June 22-23: Patch Town Days—this year's program will focus on Italian immigrants to the anthracite region and the influence of Italian culture. There will be live music, dance performances, living history demonstrations, bocce ball, and village tours (see website for additional details). Admission charged. 10 am-5 pm both days.

Ephrata Cloister
June 22: Concert—the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will present a 20-minute program highlighting the community's musical heritage. The concert, which will take place in the original 1741 Saal (meetinghouse), is included in regular admission. Guided tours of selected buildings are offered at 10 am, noon, 2 and 3:30 pm; the concert will take place at 1 pm.

Suffragists marching in Perry Centennial Parade, 1913 Suffragists marching in Perry Week Parade, ca. 1916-19 (photo from Erie Maritime Museum exhibit, courtesy of T. McLaughlin) [my thanks to an eagle-eyed reader and photo historian for the correction to my caption]

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Through June 30: Blue Star Museum exhibit—several items from the collection are on display in recognition of the museum's participation in the Blue Star Museums program (please note: most Trails of History sites are Blue Star Museums). The items are related to the World War I service of William L. Morrison and William H. Stine. The collection includes the earliest use of the Blue Star Flag, incorporated into personal items and a commercially-made flag to represent a man serving in the front lines. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours.
June 24th: Voting Rights Centennial—in honor of the centennial of the PA legislature’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, the museum has partnered with the Erie County League of Women Voters to offer a voter registration event in the Museum lobby 11 am-5 pm. The League of Women Voters will provide voter registration forms and information, as well as light refreshments. The Museum will display historic images and headlines from the July 8, 1913, Suffrage Parade that took place during Erie’s Perry Centennial celebrations. Erie’s Equal Franchise Association held Pennsylvania’s first suffrage march as part of the Women and Children’s Day during the Perry Centennial Week. Citizens not yet registered to vote are invited to mark this important anniversary by registering.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt website for information on programs and events.

Hope Lodge
UPDATE: Hope Lodge will not be open for Sunday tours June 23, 30, or July 7. They expect to reopen on July 14. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Old Economy Village
June 24-28: Art Camp—students will use the exhibits, buildings, and gardens as inspiration as they learn various art media and techniques. Camp is open to students age 6 (if they've completed kindergarten) to 12 (registration info). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Hops growing in the garden at Pennsbury Manor (via Facebook)

Pennsbury Manor
June 23: Sunday Programming—Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights - visit the gardens and the brew house to see what's on offer. (Note: you might also want to get your tickets for Brews & Bites on June 29 - VIP and designated driver tickets are already sold out.) Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
June 22-23—the 1 pm guided tour is included in regular admission (normally an additional charge).

Pennsylvania State Archives
June 26: Archives Without Tears—this popular workshop presented by State Archives staff will be offered at The Hershey Story Museum on June 26. Details about the workshop agenda and instructions for registering with the host organization are available via the PA Museums website.

Somerset Historical Center
June 27: Lecture—presented in conjunction with the Heinz History Center and sponsored by The Fraternal Order of Eagles #1801, "The Fate of Four of Pennsylvania's Founding Fathers" explores the financial struggles faced by four signers of the Declaration of Independence (details on the website). Historian Perry K. Blatz will take a deep dive into the economic volatility of the early United States. Admission is free. 6-8 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please check the website for schedule and descriptions of planetarium shows.
June 21: Summer Fridays and Learn at Lunchtime—starting today and continuing through Aug. 23, Fridays are "Pay as you will." From 10 am to 3 pm, entrance to Curiosity Connection will be by timed tickets (numbers are limited). Regular fees apply for the Planetarium. Learn at Lunchtime program offered 12:15-12:45 pm: Wild Bird Adaptations. Museum is open 9 am-5 pm.
June 23: Exhibit opening and reception—“Art of the State,” the annual juried exhibition of Pennsylvania artists, opens today and continues through Sept. 8. Museum admission is free on June 23. Museum open noon-5 pm, exhibit awards ceremony begins at 1:30.
June 26, 27: Nature Lab—visit Nature Lab to learn about Leaf Identification (6/26) and Dinosaurs in Pennsylvania (6/27) from museum curators. Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing Historic Park events page for info on events and programs.

On the Trails of History, June 14-27

The June program page takes you all the way to June 30, so if you're planning ahead, be sure to check it out.

Brandywine Battlefield will host a living history program this Sunday (photo via Facebook)

Brandywine Battlefield
June 16: 18th Century Day—learn about life in the 18th century through living history presentations. Admission charged. Noon-4 pm.
June 23: History in the Neighborhood—learn about other historic sites in the Brandywine area. Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
June 15: Wilderness Day—a day of hands-on learning about chores and skills of daily life. Designed for adults and children. Registration and payment required by June 1 (see website for forms). $15 per person. 10 am-3 pm.
June 19: History Speaks Series—this month's topic is "The Jacobites: History and Culture," presented by the Thompson Highlanders. $10 in advance, $12 at the door (members receive 10% discount). More information is on the website. 7 pm.
June 22: Bushy Run Market—local vendors and artisans will be onsite on the 4th Saturday of each month through September. Admission for the market is free for visitors (more info on website for prospective vendors). 8 am-noon.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
June 15: Revolutionary War Demo—the 1st Regiment Flying Camp of Lancaster County will provide a living history program at the site (more info on Facebook event page or in this article from Leb Town). 9 am-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
June 15: Evening on the Green—this program includes food vendors, A'Dello Vineyard and Winery, Frecon's Cidery, and live music by Hogan's Heroes (a local band that plays classic rock and blues). Bring your lawn chairs or blankets for a relaxing evening (more info on Facebook event page). Admission is $7 per person for age 13 and up; free for age 12 and under. 5-9 pm.

Eckley Miners’ Village
June 22-23: Patch Town Days—this year's program will focus on Italian immigrants to the anthracite region and the influence of Italian culture. There will be live music, dance performances, living history demonstrations, bocce ball, and village tours (see website for additional details). Admission charged. 10 am-5 pm both days.

Ephrata Cloister
(Listing added 6/19) June 22: Concert—the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will present a 20-minute program highlighting the community's musical heritage. The concert, which will take place in the original 1741 Saal (meetinghouse), is included in regular admission. Guided tours of selected buildings are offered at 10 am, noon, 2 and 3:30 pm; the concert will take place at 1 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara will commemorate the 207th anniversary of U.S. declaration of war on Great Britain in 1812 (see below for June 18 program info)

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Through June 30: Blue Star Museum exhibit—several items from the collection are on display in recognition of the museum's participation in the Blue Star Museums program (please note: most Trails of History sites are Blue Star Museums). The items are related to the World War I service of William L. Morrison and William H. Stine. The collection includes the earliest use of the Blue Star Flag, incorporated into personal items and a commercially-made flag to represent a man serving in the front lines. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours.
June 18: 207th Anniversary of the War of 1812—the museum will be commemorating the anniversary of the U.S. declaration of war on Great Britain and kicking off this summer's "Experience History Rolling Cart" program (available Tuesday-Saturday through August 31). See if you have what it takes to serve in Commodore Perry's Lake Erie fleet. Take a recruiting "exam", pack your seabag, learn the ropes and see if you can lift a 12 pound cannon ball with the help of mechanical advantage. Ask about the new maritime art scavenger hunt while you're there. Included in regular admission. Noon-2 pm.
June 24th: Voting Rights Centennial—in honor of the centennial of the PA legislature’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, the museum has partnered with the Erie County League of Women Voters to offer a voter registration event in the Museum lobby 11 am-5 pm. The League of Women Voters will provide voter registration forms and information, as well as light refreshments. The Museum will display historic images and headlines from the July 8, 1913, Suffrage Parade that took place during Erie’s Perry Centennial celebrations. Erie’s Equal Franchise Association held Pennsylvania’s first suffrage march as part of the Women and Children’s Day during the Perry Centennial Week. Citizens not yet registered to vote are invited to mark this important anniversary by registering.
Through Fall 2019: New exhibit—“Ballast Technology: Saving Ships, Lives, and the Environment” features a history of materials used to ballast ships, as well as disasters resulting from improperly ballasted vessels. The traveling panels, sponsored by The Great Lakes Protection Fund, also focus on the need to remove invasive species from ballast water in modern ships. Erie Maritime Museum has augmented the panels with exhibit cases featuring Niagara’s ballast, 200 years ago and today, as well as examples of ballast water-borne invasive species, courtesy of PA Sea Grant. Along with environmental issues, invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels also pose a real threat to our underwater maritime heritage when they build colonies on shipwrecks. The exhibit displays dramatic images of the War of 1812 wrecks Hamilton and Scourge in Lake Ontario, showing damage done by these mussels over the past 30 years. Included in regular admission.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt website for information on programs and events.

Graeme Park
June 16: Living History Sunday—learn about tavern games in the colonial era from costumed living history interpreters. The living history demos are free; fee for tours of the Keith House will be $5 for ages 12 and up, $3 for ages 3-11 (free for dads). Food and drink will be available for purchase, or you can bring a picnic lunch. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge recently hosted the Ambler Symphony for an outdoor concert (photo via Facebook)

Hope Lodge
UPDATE: Hope Lodge will not be open for Sunday tours June 23, 30, or July 7. They expect to reopen on July 14. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Old Economy Village
June 15: Introduction to Woodworking—learn about basic techniques and tools used in the 19th century. Class is free, but space is limited (registration info). 10 am-1 pm.
UPDATE 6/20 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED June 20: Culture and Foods of the Eastern European Immigrants—this event kicks off a new food series that will explore different cultures through food. Chris Furis is today's presenter. The event is free, but you must pre-register by calling the site at 724/266-4500. 7-8 pm.
June 24-28: Art Camp—students will use the exhibits, buildings, and gardens as inspiration as they learn various art media and techniques. Camp is open to students age 6 (if they've completed kindergarten) to 12 (registration info). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
June 15: Colonial Catwalk—try on reproduction 17th-century clothing and take it for a walk around the grounds. This is a members only event, but it's very easy to join (info on the website). 10 am-4 pm.
June 16 & 23: Sunday Programming—June 16, Open Hearth Cooking—the cooks will prepare 17th-century beverages; June 23, Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights—visit the gardens and the brew house to see what's on offer. Sunday programs included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
June 20: Paint & Sip—you'll be guided through the creation of an architectural painting inspired by the beauty of Pennsbury Manor. BYOB. Reservations required (more info on website). 6-8 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
June 15: Third Weekend Program—Linda Ordiway, a wildlife biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society, will discuss Pennsylvania's state bird (designated in 1931) and other topics related to forest and wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania. Included in regular admission. 1 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
June 14: Flag Day Programs—from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, the Bellefonte Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will present a program honoring Anna Keichline, architect, inventor, suffragist, and special agent in military intelligence during World War I (details on museum website and PHMC historical marker database). Featured speaker is Nancy Perkins FIDSA, DAR member and Keichline's great niece. From 6 to 7 pm, State College Elks Lodge and local veterans organizations will hold their 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.
June 15-16, 22-23—on weekends in June, the 1 pm guided tour is included in regular admission (normally an additional charge).
June 16: The True Story of Winnie the Pooh—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 encouraged. 1:30-2:30 pm.

Pennsylvania State Archives
June 26: Archives Without Tears—this popular workshop presented by State Archives staff will be offered at The Hershey Story Museum on June 26. Details about the workshop agenda and instructions for registering with the host organization are available via the PA Museums website.

Calliope Brass (photo via Facebook)

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
June 15: Brass Quintet—Calliope Brass will be performing “Iron Horse” at the museum at 11 am and again at noon. This tribute to steam engines is a new composition for brass quintet by Kevin McKee. The New York-based Calliope Brass is an innovative ensemble on a mission to bring stories to life through music; they play a repertoire ranging from jazz to classical, pops to swing, and everything in between. Included in regular admission.

Somerset Historical Center
June 27: Lecture—presented in conjunction with the Heinz History Center, "The Fate of Four of Pennsylvania's Founding Fathers" explores the financial struggles faced by four signers of the Declaration of Independence (details on the website). Historian Perry K. Blatz will take a deep dive into the economic volatility of the early United States. Admission is free. 6-8 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please check the website for schedule and descriptions of planetarium shows.
June 20: Curiosity Kids—explore Bubbles of all types. The program is designed for kids ages 3-6 to bridge the activities in Curiosity Connection with galleries in the museum. Included in general admission, but space is limited, so be sure to sign up at the front desk when you arrive. 11:30 am-noon.
June 21: Summer Fridays and Learn at Lunchtime—starting June 21 and continuing through Aug. 23, Fridays are "Pay as you will." From 10 am to 3 pm, entrance to Curiosity Connection will be by timed tickets (numbers are limited). Regular fees apply for the Planetarium. Learn at Lunchtime program offered 12:15-12:45 pm: Wild Bird Adaptations. Museum is open 9 am-5 pm.
June 23: Exhibit opening and reception—“Art of the State,” the annual juried exhibition of Pennsylvania artists, opens today and continues through Sept. 8. Museum admission is free on June 23. Museum open noon-5 pm, exhibit awards ceremony begins at 1:30. ADDED 6/24: check out this cool interactive map showing the works of art and where the artists are from.
June 26, 27: Nature Lab—visit Nature Lab to learn about Leaf Identification (6/26) and Dinosaurs in Pennsylvania (6/27) from museum curators. Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing Historic Park events page for info on events and programs.

Snapshots from the Trails of History

Last week's post has info on events through Thursday, June 13, and the June program page takes you through the end of the month.

Time for a brief roundup of items that have come across my radar recently.

Gideon Gilpin House at Brandywine Battlefield Park with large sycamore tree (photo Elizabeth Bertheaud)

Longwood Gardens (Chester County) recently posted on their blog about a 4-foot tall sycamore tree planted on the grounds in April. The new tree was grown from cuttings taken by Longwood staff of the approximately 290-year-old sycamore that stands beside the Gideon Gilpin House at Brandywine Battlefield Park (see photo above). The cuttings, taken in 2017, were propagated in Longwood's nursery until ready for planting. According to Longwood arborist Scott Wade, "The result is our new tree now planted in Peirce’s Park, two more recently planted near the springhouse at Brandywine Battlefield...Park, and an additional seven to be planted at the Haverford College Arboretum ... all of which are genetic matches to the original Brandywine Battlefield sycamore." You can read more about the project (and some of the legends of the original tree) in the full blog post.

A recent Facebook post from the Friends of Joseph Priestley House congratulated one of their docents and board members on her nomination for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year 2020. Colleen Epler-Ruths, PhD, teaches physics and computer science at Shikellamy High School in Sunbury. Nominations for Teacher of the Year come from students, parents, peers, and community members who wish to honor an educator for their work in and out of the classroom. Dr. Epler-Ruths is one of just a dozen finalists from around the Commonwealth. The Teacher of the Year 2020 will be announced in December of this year.