Looking to August

Photo courtesy PA Military Museum

Summer's halfway over, but there's still plenty to do on the Trails of History. It should be a bit cooler this weekend, so I hope you'll find something to entertain and educate.

Up Next*

*Please note that calendar info is subject to change; we try to keep this up to date, but it's always best to check.

Saturday, July 30

• Life Under the Canopy: The Vietnam War (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Military Museum
• Walk through a military camp and talk to living historians about the war in Southeast Asia. The event is free; donations welcome (Life Under the Canopy info).

• Book Talk & Signing (in-person); 1-3 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• William Marcum will talk about his book, The Foreman's Boys, which explores Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1333 and Camp S-63 Poe Valley. Copies of the book will be available in the museum store for purchase and signing (Book Talk info).

Sunday, July 31

• Sunday Sewing Circle (in-person); noon-3 pm; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Bring your needlecraft projects and enjoy some company while you work. This event is free and open to the public (Sewing Circle info).

• Animals at Pennsbury (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Learn about the lives of the animal inhabitants past and present. Included in regular admission (Animals at Pennsbury info).

Tuesday, August 2

• Garden Workshop Series (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
• Join Pennsbury's gardener to learn about 17th-century and modern gardening skills - today's topic is making salve with calendula. The workshop is open to visitors age 12 and older; cost is $20 per session. Registration is required; call 215/946-0400 to reserve your spot (Aug. 2 garden workshop).

Wednesday, August 3

• Explore! (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn about the science of paleontology and how paleontologists study and preserve fossils. Included in regular admission (Explore! info).

Photo via Pennsbury Manor Facebook page

Thursday, August 4

• Storytime in the Garden (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
• Enjoy a story with the gardener, then explore the grounds. Suggested for ages 4-8 but all are welcome. Cost is $3, which is a grounds pass; additional fee to tour the Manor House (Pennsbury Storytime info).

• Games and Puzzles of the 1950s and 1960s; 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Test your skills with a Barrel of Monkeys and the Hula Hoop and see if you can walk a Slinky down the stairs. Included in regular admission (Games and Puzzles info).

Friday, August 5

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Wear your best tea party hat or helmet to read Molly Idle's Tea Rex. For kids in grades K-2 and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (SMOP StoryTime info).

• Sawmill demo (in-person); 11 am and 2 pm; Daniel Boone Homestead
• Weather permitting, staff at Daniel Boone Homestead will demonstrate the water-powered Bertolet Sawmill, which was moved to the Homestead from its original Berks County site in 1972 (DBH info and a short video preview of what the mill looks and sounds like in operation).

• First Fridays (in-person); 5:30-8:30 pm; Somerset Historical Center
• Enjoy a relaxing evening with live music and food for purchase from local vendors. Some covered seating is provided but feel free to bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Admission is free with parking fee of $5 (First Fridays info).

• Summer Movie Night (in-person); 6-9:30 pm (approx); Railroad Museum of PA
• Watch Night at the Museum (rated PG) and enjoy popcorn and ice cream. Advance tickets are $10 each for ages 3+, $15 at the door. Tickets include museum admission from 6 pm until the movie starts outside on the lawn at dusk. Please bring your own lawn seating (Movie Night info and tickets).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Garden Workshop Series (in-person); continuing Tues., Aug. 9-23, 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
• Join Pennsbury's gardener to learn about 17th-century and modern gardening skills - a new topic each week. The workshops are open to visitors age 12 and older; cost is $20 per session. Registration is required; call 215/946-0400 to reserve your spot (Garden workshop dates and topics).

• Virtual Museum Spotlight; Tues., Aug. 9, 5-6 pm; Somerset Historical Center
• Make a virtual visit to Somerset Historical Center and learn all the site has to offer. The program is free as part of the Heinz Center Affiliates Program; please register to receive the Zoom link (Virtual Museum Spotlight info and registration).

• The Battle of Brandywine (virtual); Tues., Aug. 9, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Historian and educator Michael C. Harris will draw on his research and experience to present a program on this important Revolutionary War battle. Cornwall site administrator Mike Emery will moderate a short discussion. The program is free; please register to receive the Zoom link (Cornwall lecture info and registration).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tues., Aug. 9, 9-11 am, and Tues., Aug. 23, 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, noise, and crowd levels will be reduced, and there will be some quiet spaces if you need a break from the activity. A few of the historic trains will be open, with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (Aug. 9 Sensory Hours or Aug. 23 Sensory Hours).

• Sensory Friendly Visit (in-person); Wed., Aug. 10, 10 am-3 pm, and Sun., Aug. 14, 10 am-noon; PA Military Museum
• Background effects in the galleries will be turned off and the volume on the orienation video will be reduced (captions enabled). Standard admission rates apply. Please reserve your timeslot, you can pay when you arrive (go to PMM online booking calendar and select your preferred date).

• Exploring the Armor (in-person); Sat., Aug. 13, 2-4 pm; PA Military Museum
• Take a guided tour of the tracked vehicles on the museum grounds. Tickets are $15. Space is limited and reservations are required; as of earlier this week there were 5 slots available (Armored tour tickets).

• Drake Well Marathon and Half (in-person and virtual); Sun., August 14; 7 am-?, Drake Well Museum & Park
• This race is a Boston Marathon qualifier, and there are in-person and virtual options. Online registration ends August 8 (Registration info for all categories).

• Virtual Talk: Drake Well Museum (virtual); Thurs., Aug. 18, 7-8 pm EDT
• The Oil Museum of Canada will offer a virtual visit to Drake Well Museum & Park with museum educator Sarah Goodman. The program is free, but you'll need to register to get the link (Drake Well at Oil Museum of Canada info and tickets).