On the PA Trails of History, July 26-August 8

The August program page is now available. This week's post wraps up July and gets us into early August.

Visitors and reenactors at the 2018 Battle of Bushy Run anniversary event (via Facebook)

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 27: Bushy Run Market—this open air market features a changing variety of vendors (last Saturday of the month, May-September). This month, Ligonier Valley Writers will also be on hand. The concession stand will have drinks and light fare. Free for visitors and vendors (prospective vendors should contact market@bushyrunbattlefield.com to discuss participation). 8 am-noon.
Aug. 3-4: 256th Anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run—the reenactment of the first day of the battle will take place on the afternoon of Aug. 3, with the 2nd day reenactment on the afternoon of Aug. 4 (see the website or Facebook event page for details). You'll also find military camps, period craftspeople and musical performances, and food vendors at this annual event. Admission is $10 for ages 13+, $5 for ages 4-12; a two-day pass is available for $15 (adult) and $7 (child). 10 am-4 pm both days.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Aug. 4: Living History Sunday—learn about life in Berks County in the mid-18th century. Guided tours offered. Free admission. Noon-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 31, Aug. 7: Sawmill demonstrations—the site's water-powered up-down sawmill will be demonstrated at 11 am and 2 pm.

Danforth House and other businesses in Pithole during its heyday (photo from Drake Well Museum collection, via Facebook)

Drake Well Museum and Park
July 27: Something More Saturday—in addition to the regular indoor and outdoor exhibits at Drake Well Museum, learn about and try your hand at 19th-century lawn games. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.
July 27-28, Aug. 3-4: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
Aug. 4: Drake Well Marathon and 1/2—this is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. Both races (full marathon and half marathon) begin and end at the Museum and make use of Titusville streets and the bike path in Oil Creek State Park. Proceeds benefit Drake Well Museum and Park. You must register to participate.

Eckley Miners’ Village
Aug. 3-4: Time Warp - From Civil War to WWII—this is a mixed-era military and homefront history event packed with reenactors, music, food, and more throughout the site. (At 6 pm on the 3rd, there will be a Swing Dance at Freeland Public Park Pavilion.) Admission charged (separate fee for dance). 10 am-5 pm.
Ephrata Cloister
Aug. 4: Ice Cream Social—enjoy ice cream sundaes and live music, meet therapy dogs from KPETS, and visit the historic buildings. $5 per person. 1-4 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Thursday-Saturday through Aug. 31: Experience History – Rolling Cart Series—the new rolling cart program presents maritime-themed activities for visitors or all ages. Find out what’s in a sailor’s seabag, learn about the busy life of a lighthouse keeper, build your own warship and more! Included with Museum admission. Stay tuned to Erie Maritime Museum’s social media accounts (such as Facebook) for more information and weekly schedules.
Through Aug. 16: Tall Ship Summer Camp—sail on board the schooner Lettie G. Howard and learn all kinds of nautical skills. Geared for ages 10-14. Details and registration info are on the website.

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

Classic Georgian architecture at Hope Lodge (via Facebook)

Hope Lodge
July 28, Aug. 4:—the site is open for tours every Sunday, through mid-October. Admission is charged (cash or check only). Site is open 1-4 pm, with tours at 1 and 2:30.
UPDATE 8/6 - Due to expected weather, this event is moving to the raindate of Aug. 8 Aug. 7: Movie Night—bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in to watch A League of Their Own (1992). Presented by Whitemarsh Township Parks and Recreation. Admission is free, snacks available for purchase. 8-10 pm. Raindate is Aug. 8.

Joseph Priestley House
Aug. 4: Oxygen Day—in honor of Dr. Priestley’s best known scientific contribution, this program features costumed docents throughout the house and chemistry demonstrations (more info on the website). Admission is free, but space is limited for the chemistry demos, so be sure to pick up a ticket at the visitor center (or reserve a spot by calling 570/473-9474). 1-4 pm; chemistry demos at 1:30 and 2:30 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
July 27: Splint Reed Chair Caning Class—instructor Patti Erickson will teach participants how to weave a herringbone pattern seat for a small stool. Fee charged includes materials. Details and online registration on Landis Valley's website. 10 am-4 pm.
Aug. 6: Hands-On History Day—wind down the summer and learn what life was like for kids a century ago. Cost is $11 per person (FREE for Landis Valley Associates members and kids age 5 and under). 10 am-3 pm.

Old Economy Village
July 27: Woodworking Class: Beyond the Basics—Dave Blair will teach this class for people who have taken the Intro to Woodworking class or have a basic knowledge of 19th-century woodworking tools. Class is free, but space is limited so you must register (details on the website. 10 am-1 pm.
Aug. 1: Culture and Foods of the Native Americans—part of Old Economy's series on food and culture. This presentation focuses on the people who lived at Logstown in the mid-1700s and their uses of local flora and fauna. Food samples will be provided. The program is free, but registration is required (contact Chloe Thomas at 724-266-4500 x104 or at c-chlthoma@pa.gov). 7-8 pm.

Hops growing in Pennsbury's garden in June (via Facebook)

Pennsbury Manor
July 28, Aug. 4: Sunday Programming—something different every week: chat with the gardeners and the brewers (7/28); meet the joyner, blacksmith, and spinners (8/4). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Aug. 3: Monthly Book Club—this month's selection is Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore (more info on the book and the meeting). 10 am.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Aug. 3-4: Cork Camp—this 2-day program is designed with kids age 10 and older in mind (families are welcome). On Day 1, learn about the history of logging in PA and the skills needed to be a successful "woodhick." On Day 2, help demonstrate those skills at the Cherry Springs Park Woodsmen's Show. Pre-registration is required (visit the museum website for details).
Pennsylvania Military Museum
Aug. 4: Lecture—Joseph R. Fischer, PhD, will present "Road to Nowhere: The Struggle for the Hürtgen," exploring the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, which stretched from Sept. 19 to Dec. 16, 1944 (details on the website). 2-3 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Aug. 1: Garden Railway Tour and Swing Dance Tickets on sale—Garden Railway Tour: this year's (self-guided) tour is on Sunday, Oct. 6 (rain or shine). Tickets may be purchased at the museum starting today and will be available at Stauffer's locations in central PA starting Sept. 1. Swing Dance: Saturday night, Nov. 2, will find 1940s dance music and dancers among the trains in Rolling Stock Hall from 7 to 10 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
Through Sept. 15: Traveling Exhibit—the center is hosting "We Can Do It," an exhibit from the Heinz History Center exploring Western PA's role and impact during World War II. SHC has also teamed up with the Turkeyfoot Historical Society to add a focus on Somerset County during the same period. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours.
Aug. 2: First Friday Food Fest—local food trucks and vendors will be on site with casual dinner options. There will also be live music and tractor-drawn hayrides. Free admission; $2 per car for parking. 5-8 pm.
Aug. 3: Family Fun 5K Run/Walk—the Center's groomed trail makes a loop through woods and meadows; once around is 5K (you can make as many circuits as you want). Enjoy the scenery! No admission charged, and maps are available. 8 am-noon.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the State Museum website for a full schedule of Planetarium shows.
July 26, Aug. 2: 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 (July 26 details, Aug. 2 details).
July 31, Aug. 1, 7, 8: Nature Lab—a wide assortment of programming is scheduled for the museum's Nature Lab area (July 31 details, August details). Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.
Aug. 2: StoryTime—this month's participants will enjoy a reading of Mix It Up! by Herve Tullet and then use finger paints to try to recreate the images in the story. Geared for children ages 3-5 with an adult. Included in general admission. 10:30-11:30 am.
Aug. 4: Artist's Conversations—take an informal tour of this year's Art of the State exhibit with PHMC executive director Andrea Lowery and artist Amy LeFever, whose ceramic piece, Untitled, won first prize in the craft category this year. Included in general admission. 2-3 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing website for a complete listing of upcoming programs and events.

Catching Up and Cooling Off on the Trails of History

Last week's post includes events through July 25, and the July program page does the rest. Highlights for this weekend are below.

Tips from the PA Department of Health (via Facebook)

As I write this (Thursday 7/18), the weather forecast for most of Pennsylvania is "hot, hot, hot," with the worst temps and heat index in southcentral PA. I'm not aware of any Trails of History program or schedule changes as of now, and I will do my best to add updates to this post as I can. As always, it's never a bad idea to check ahead with sites on social media or websites to be sure about schedules. Sites with outdoor events or activities will be keeping an eye on the health and safety of staff, presenters, and public (not to mention any animals that may be part of the program). Dress for the weather (as if you don't always do that), stay hydrated, and find the shady spots (more heat-related tips from ReadyPA). Of course, some Trails of History sites are fully air-conditioned - be prepared to have lots of company.



On the other hand, if you, like me, really cannot stand to leave the house when it's this hot, why not stay inside and immerse yourself in the 50th anniversary of the moon landing? I have a very sleepy memory of staying up really late to watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin take their first steps on the moon - truth to tell, 7-year-old me was probably asleep when Buzz left the lunar module. In the lead-up to the anniversary, I've watched (or watched again) a couple of documentaries and marveled at footage of the Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket projected onto the Washington Monument (see that and more from the National Air and Space Museum). You can find a list of NASA's anniversary events on their website. The National Archives has gathered all kinds of resources you can browse and dive into, including an item that has always fascinated me--the memo sent by White House speechwriter William Safire to Richard Nixon's chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, with a suggested speech for the President in case Armstrong and Aldrin were stranded on the moon ("In the Event of Moon Disaster").

The State Museum of Pennsylvania has been celebrating Moon Madness (see website for activities today and this weekend). Earlier this week, they had a program for kids to learn about rockets, which culminated in a launch just outside on the plaza (see video below).

Scheduled for this weekend (as of 7/18)...

Drake Well Museum and Park
July 20-21: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.

Graeme Park
July 21: Living History Sunday—learn about the traditions, games, crafts, and foodways of the Lenni Lenape (more info on the website). Admission charged for tours of the Keith House. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge
July 21—the site is open for tours every Sunday, 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 20-21: Civil War Days—the site is transformed into a rural Pennsylvania village in 1863, with reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians (more info). The event takes place rain or shine. Admission charged; tickets are available online from Brown Paper Tickets. Food will be available for purchase. 10 am-4 pm both days.

Pennsbury Manor
July 21: Sunday Programming—see what the cooks are up to in the kitchen. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 20: Paths Less Traveled—explore basements, attics, and other spaces not generally included on tours. Benefit of membership in The Pennsbury Society (joining is easy). 10-11:30 am.
July 21: Play the Past!—learn 17th-century games that families would have played during their leisure time. Fun for all ages. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Log birling competitors at the PA Lumber Museum (photo via Facebook)

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 20: 3rd Weekend Program—have you ever wanted to try log birling (aka log rolling)? This is your chance. Details are on the Facebook event page. Included in regular admission. 1-2 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
July 20-21: VIETNAM Revisited—living historians will be on the grounds portraying American combat and support troops “in country” in the late 1960s. 10 am-5 pm (tactical demo at 1:30 pm each day).

Somerset Historical Center
Opens July 20: Traveling Exhibit—the center is hosting "We Can Do It," an exhibit from the Heinz History Center exploring Western PA's role and impact during World War II. SHC has also teamed up with the Turkeyfoot Historical Society to add a focus on Somerset County during the same period. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours (exhibit will be onsite through Sept. 15).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the State Museum website for a full schedule of Planetarium shows.
July 19: 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, a special "Learn at Lunchtime" will be offered (see events page for details). Tonight for 3rd in the Burg, join Harrisburg Young Professionals for "Moon Madness," with a variety of activities from 5:30 to 7:30 (details).

Trails of History Info, July 12-25

This week's post will cover you for most of the rest of July, but the full July program page will get you to the 31st.

Operating demonstration of Bertolet Sawmill at Daniel Boone Homestead (ca. 2007)

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 17, 24: Sawmill demonstrations—the site's water-powered up-down sawmill will be demonstrated at 11 am and 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
July 13: MEET-U BBQ—St. Louis-style BBQ ribs with Drake Well's signature Sweet Crude Sauce plus sides, all to benefit the museum's mobile education unit (details on the website). 5-8 pm.
July 13-14, 20-21: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
July 13: Eckley Car and Bike Show—enjoy vehicles of years past, ice cream, live music, a 50/50 raffle, People’s Choice contest, and much more. If you are interested in having a car or motorcycle in the show, please complete and submit the Vehicle Registration Form. Admission charged. Noon-5 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
July 13: Ephrata Cloister Chorus—the chorus will perform a brief concert in the Saal (meetinghouse) Saturday afternoon, included in regular admission. 2 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Thursday-Saturday through August 31st: Experience History – Rolling Cart Series—the new rolling cart program presents maritime-themed activities for visitors of all ages. Find out what’s in a sailor’s seabag, learn about the busy life of a lighthouse keeper, build your own warship and more! Included with Museum admission. Stay tuned to Erie Maritime Museum’s social media accounts (such as Facebook) for more information and weekly schedules.

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.

Graeme Park
July 21: Living History Sunday—learn about the traditions, games, crafts, and foodways of the Lenni Lenape (more info on the website). Admission charged for tours of the Keith House. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge
July 14, 21—the site is open for tours every Sunday, through mid-October. Admission is charged (cash or check only). Site is open 1-4 pm, with tours at 1 and 2:30.

Joseph Priestley House (photo via Facebook)

Joseph Priestley House
July 24-26: History Camp—this year's theme is "Dr. Priestley in Northumberland." The program offers a wide range of activities for first through sixth graders (more info and registration form). Fee charged; registration deadline is July 23. 9 am-noon.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
July 16-19: 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. 9 am-12:30 pm.
July 20-21: Civil War Days—the site is transformed into a rural Pennsylvania village in 1863, with reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians (more info). The event takes place rain or shine. Admission charged; tickets are available online from Brown Paper Tickets. Food will be available for purchase. 10 am-4 pm both days.

Old Economy Village
July 13: Introduction to Wine Making—instructor Frank Mazzotta started making wine as a hobby; in 2015 he decided to do it professionally and opened Mazzotta Winery. This class will discuss various types of wines and the process for making wines. Class is free, but space is limited to 50 people. Please register by July 10 by contacting David Miller, Museum Educator at davmiller@pa.gov or 724-266-4500 ext.110. 10 am-1 pm.
July 13: Crop and Kettle—learn about a community organization whose mission is to help people gain sustainable employment in food-related fields. The program is free, but reservations are requested (details and registration info). 1-2 pm.
ADDED July 14: Picnic in the Garden—bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy the beautiful gardens. There will be some tents, tables, and chairs available, and you'll have a chance to meet site administrator Michael Knecht and his wife Barbara. Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center (more info on Facebook event page). Noon-5 pm.
July 15-19, 22-26: History Camps—retired art teacher Dee Ruckert will lead the classes. Children age 6-12 (6-year-olds must have completed kindergarten) will experience a variety of activites while exploring the historic buildings for inspiration. Details and registration info are in the summer camp brochure). 9 am-12:30 pm.
July 24: Culture and Foods of the Middle Eastern Immigrants—Center Township native Patrick Michael, owner of Rafka Foods and Jemila Foods, will present a program on Lebanese culture and food. The program is free, but registration is required (info on website); there will be food samples provided. 7-8 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
July 13: Conversations in History—this month's program is "The Lenni Lenape of Pennsylvania" (more info on website). Fee charged (includes site admission). 10-11 am.
July 14, 21: Sunday Programming—something different every week: Pirates in the Tavern! (living history theater) (7/14); see what the cooks are up to in the kitchen (7/21). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 15-19: Time Traveler's Camp—this camp is for students who've finished grade 5, 6, or 7 who want to learn about life 300 years ago. Registration is required (info and online registration are on the website). 10 am-3 pm.
July 20: Paths Less Traveled—explore basements, attics, and other spaces not generally included on tours. Benefit of membership in The Pennsbury Society (joining is easy). 10-11:30 am.
July 21: Play the Past!—learn 17th-century games that families would have played during their leisure time. Fun for all ages. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Log birling competitors at the PA Lumber Museum (photo via Facebook)

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 20: 3rd Weekend Program—have you ever wanted to try log birling (aka log rolling)? This is your chance. Details are on the Facebook event page. Included in regular admission. 1-2 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Through July 14: Annual People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts—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. Fri-Sat, 10 am-9 pm (museum open 10 am-5 pm); Sun., noon-5 pm.
July 20-21: VIETNAM Revisited—living historians will be on the grounds portraying American combat and support troops “in country” in the late 1960s. 10 am-5 pm (tactical demo at 1:30 pm each day).
July 25: Registration deadline for Boot Camp for Kids—this year's Boot Camp will be held Aug. 3 (more info and registration forms.

Somerset Historical Center
Opens July 20: Traveling Exhibit—the center is hosting "We Can Do It," an exhibit from the Heinz History Center exploring Western PA's role and impact during World War II. SHC has also teamed up with the Turkeyfoot Historical Society to add a focus on Somerset County during the same period. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours (exhibit will be onsite through Sept. 15).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the State Museum website for a full schedule of Planetarium shows.
July 12, 19: 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). On July 19 (3rd in the Burg), join Harrisburg Young Professionals for "Moon Madness," with a variety of activities from 5:30 to 7:30 (details).
July 17: Moon Madness - Build and Launch a Paper Rocket—kids between the ages of 6 and 12 are invited to learn about rockets, design and build one out of paper, and test its flight-worthiness using Alka-Seltzer (more info). Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.
July 18: Curiosity Kids - Moon Making—this program, designed for ages 3 to 6, will teach about the moon and guide participants in making an image of it to take home. Included in general admission. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up at the front desk when you arrive. 11:30 am.
July 24, 25: Nature Lab—an 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.

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.

Programs, Programs, Programs

I hope that you had a safe and fun Independence Day yesterday. (The weather forecast as I write this on July 1 is a bit iffy, so who knows?) Last week's post features Trails of History events through July 11, and the July program page will take you through the end of the month.

As we move into the thick of the summer (I've already been complaining about the heat for two weeks now), there are lots of programs going on (see links above to find out more). There's also plenty of activity behind the scenes and out front for visitors exploring our sites. Here are just a few highlights.

Harpist performing at Ephrata Cloister's Summer Fest artisan event on June 29 (photo via Facebook)

Ephrata Cloister partnered with Artisans in the Park to offer their first annual Summer Fest, which brought artisans and musicians to the site for a lovely open air event (luckily the thunderstorm held off until mid-afternoon). Photo above is from Saturday's event; you can see more on Ephrata Cloister's Facebook page. Artisans in the Park has also partnered with Conrad Weiser Homestead on several events and will offer a Harvest Festival there on September 28 (see Facebook event page).

PA Lumber Museum curator Joshua Fox recently shared the post above related to the production of birch oil in the lumber region. The museum has a reproduction birch still built by dedicated volunteers. You can see it in operation this weekend at the annual Bark Peelers' Festival.


This year's Patch Town Days event at Eckley Miners' Village featured Italian heritage and culture, and included performances by students at the Keystone Ballet Academy. One of the parents shared video of the dancers - be sure to turn the sound on to hear the music.


PHMC's Keystone Summer Internship program is in full swing and we have a number of great interns working in Harrisburg and at various sites. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania introduced their Keystone intern, Mitchell Rebuck, in a recent Facebook post (above) and also featured Benjamin Barnhart, an intern from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology who is splitting his time between the Railroad Museum (in the restoration shop) and Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum (in the tin shop and blacksmith shop). We'll try to introduce you to some of the other summer interns before summer is over.