Potpourri

Columbine in the garden at the Log Farm (photo via Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum Facebook page)

It' a little bit of this and a little bit of that this week. Stay cool out there.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (pictured above) has posted a bunch of new craft classes on their Facebook page, ranging from needlecrafts to woodworking and pottery. If you're looking to try some new skills or build existing ones, this is a great place to start (LVM Facebook page).

Photo via Conrad Weiser Homestead Facebook page

Conrad Weiser Homestead is assisting the Myerstown Community Library by serving as a drop-off spot for gently used books (no encyclopedias, please) for their Fall book sale. If you live in the Womelsdorf area or are planning to visit the site, you can drop off a box (marked for the library) during regular operating hours, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10 am-4 pm, and Sundays, noon-4 pm, through the end of August. CWH also shared that Lynn Otto, a long-time volunteer and board member, appeared on "PA Dutch Live," a YouTube show hosted by Douglas Madenford, to talk about the French & Indian War and the Weiser Homestead.

"Taste of Taxation" merch (photo via PA Military Museum Facebook page)

Last weekend, the PA Military Museum hosted "Taste of Taxation," a program featuring history presentations about whiskey distilling in Pennsylvania and the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in southwestern PA. The museum partnered with Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte, who provided attendees with a whiskey tasting and produced specially labeled bottles of their small batch rye whiskey for sale (more event photos on PMM's Facebook page).

Photo via Drake Well Museum & Park Facebook page

A new outdoor story map at Drake Well Museum and Park helps visitors learn more about the exhibits on the grounds, including a wide range of oilfield equipment. Check it out the next time you're in northwestern PA.

Photo via Ephrata Cloister Facebook page

Ephrata Cloister's Museum Store is looking for volunteers to make Moravian paper stars to replenish their supply. They'll provide the materials, you provide the folding. A helpful person shared a tutorial in a comment on the store's Facebook post, but I prefer this tutorial that Pennsbury Manor posted back in December of 2020 as part of "Holly Nights at Home." I found it a bit easier to follow.

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 23

• Laquin: Behind the Photos (in-person); 1-2 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• Matthew Carl, president of LeRoy Heritage Museum and executive director of the Bradford Counth Historical Society, will bring the lumber town of Laquin to live using over 100 images from the past and present (Laquin lecture info).

Sunday, July 24

• Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Explore the recipes and plants that helped feed Pennsbury's early residents. Included in regular admission (Garden Highlights info).

• Summer Concert Series (in-person); 2-4 pm; Old Economy Village
• UPDATE Betty Douglas will perform a concert with other jazz musicians in the Feast Hall. Concert is free; a $5 donation is suggested. Please bring chairs for seating (Concert Series info).

Tuesday, July 26

• 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 Water. 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 (7/26 Garden Workshop info).

Wednesday, July 27

• Annual History Camp (in-person); 7/27-29, 9 am-noon; Joseph Priestley House
• Camp activities focus on the life of Dr. Joseph Priestley. Fee is $10 per day. Contact the Friends of Joseph Priestley House at jphopsmanager@gmail.com to register (Priestley History Camp info).

• Family Gallery Tour: Mammal Hall (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Using hands-on objects, museum educators will help families explore the Mammal Hall dioramas together. Included in regular admission (Gallery Tour info).

Thursday, July 28

• Discovery Days Camp (in-person); 9 am-4 pm; Drake Well Museum & Park
• Today is the final day of camp and students will explore the lumber industry in the Titusville area. Cost is $20, if you didn't register for previous camp days this month (Discovery Days info and registration).

• 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; there is an additional fee to tour the Manor House (Pennsbury Storytime info).

• Curiosity Kids (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Explore the General Store exhibit and learn how people used to shop and what they bought. For kids in grades K-2 and included in regular admission. Space is limited; please sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Curiosity Kids info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Garden Workshop Series (in-person); continuing Tues., Aug. 2-23, 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).

• Summer Movie Night (in-person); Fri., Aug. 5, 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).

• 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 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).