We're Going to Need Another Boat

We're Going to Need Another Boat Yes, I know that's not quite the line from Jaws, but humor me. If you enjoyed last week's post about the new exhibit at Erie Maritime Museum featuring a 123-year-old ice boat, then you may also enjoy a new exhibit at The State Museum of Pennsylvania featuring a somewhat younger 1956 Cowell Runabout. Cowell Boat Works (1953-1962) was part of the recreational boat building industry in Erie in the mid-20th century. The Runabout is now on exhibit in The State Museum's second floor Transportation and Industry Gallery.

Close-up of a wooden motor boat showing the bow with a windscreen and horn. The steering wheel is just visible and there is a green pennant on a short rod that says "Cowell" in script letters.
Photo via The State Museum's Facebook page

Up Next

Saturday, February 25

  • Chatting Through Time (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Discover how people have used different innovations throughout history to share their ideas and thoughts with others. Create your own secret message using the same techniques George Washington used at Valley Forge. Included in regular admission (Chatting Thru Time info).
  • Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
    • Wade Catts, president of South River Heritage Consulting, LLC, will present "Archaeology and the Preservation of Sites of America's War for Independence, with special focus on new studies of the Brandywine Battlefield (Feb 25 Rev Speaker Series info).
  • Rocks (in-person); 1-1:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Explore hands-on stations to compare rocks microscopically and uncover phosphorescent properties. Examine the use of rocks in historic tools and building materials. Included in regular admission (Rocks info).

Sunday, February 26

  • African American History Month Celebration (in-person); 2-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Shirley Lee Corsey will present "Harriet Tubman – Live!" in which “Harriet” will speak to her audience about her early life on the Maryland plantation where she was born and enslaved, her escape from slavery up to Philadelphia and beyond to freedom. Pennsbury Manor will also again be displaying art quilts from the Dreams of Freedom - The Threads That Hold Us Together exhibit organized by the Sankofa Artisans Guild. These stunning works of art celebrate the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman. Included in regular admission (African American History Celebration info).

Tuesday, February 28

  • Train Tour: The H6SB (virtual); 10-10:30 am; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Children in grades K to 6 will investigate the inside of the historic H6sb locomotive No. 2846, virtually visiting the cab and exploring behind-the-scenes in the tender and maintenance areas. Register to receive the link; admission is by donation (Train Tour registration).
  • PA Museums Webinar with Pennsbury Manor (virtual); 1-2 pm
    • Sponsored by PA Museums, this program features Jeremy Johnson, cultural education officer for the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and Douglas Miller, site administrator at Pennsbury Manor. Turner and Miller will talk about the partnership and collaboration that resulted in the repatriation of 180 Delaware ancestors to their homeland last spring. The program is offered via Zoom (PA Museums website to register).
  • The Art of C. Edgar Patience (virtual); 7-8 pm; Anthracite Heritage Museum
    • Anthracite Heritage Museum and Luzerne County Historical Society co-sponsor this African American History Month program, which features AHM curator John Fielding talking about the anthracite coal sculptures of C. Edgar Patience (Art of C. Edgar Patience info).

Wednesday, March 1

  • Family Gallery Tour: PA Icons (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Take a trip through Pennsylvania to discover what makes the state iconic. Learn about people, places and industries from the State Museum collection. Included in regular admission (PA Icons Tour info).

Thursday, March 2

  • Winter History Class (virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
    • This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentations are "Pennsylvania German: Their Lives Through Color," with Jennifer Royer, curator at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, and "German Dairying Practices" with Susan Plaisted. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).

Friday, March 3

  • StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Read Give Me Some Space by Philip Bunting and create your own map of the solar system. For ages 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • All About Slag (hybrid); Tuesday, Mar. 14, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
    • Mike Weber will provide a comprehensive overview of slag, including what it is, how it's produced as part of the iron-making process, its characteristics, and why it is so important. Attend in person (Freeman Hall at Cornwall Manor) or online (register for Zoom). Program is free, but donations are appreciated.
  • Homeschool Program (in-person); Wednesday, Mar. 15, 10-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Archivist Brett Reigh will discuss the history of the original 1681 Penn Charter and the research resources available at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Explore the process used to create the document, such as iron gall ink, quill pens, parchment paper and block printing, and then create your own document using similar techniques. Registration is required (Homeschool registration link).
  • Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Mar. 18, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
    • Bradley Smith, archivist and assistant director of the Berks History Center, will present "Dr. Bodo Otto: The Patriot Surgeon of Pennsylvania," who at the age of 65 volunteered his services as a surgeon to the Continental Army. Tickets available starting Feb. 25 (3/18 tickets via Eventbrite).
  • Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); Friday, Mar. 24, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Mark Hand, director, and Matt Reis, deputy director, will provide an overview of Pennsylvania's GreenGov Program and its climate goals for state agencies. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime registration).
  • Rails & Ales 2023 (in-person); Saturday, April 1, 5:30-9 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Taste craft beers among the museum's world-class collection of historic trains in Rolling Stock Hall. Must be age 21 or older to attend; photo ID required at the door. Advance tickets only; VIP tickets are sold out (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).

Summer Camp Programs (camps are in-person unless marked otherwise)

  • Brandywine Battlefield Park (Brandywine camp info)
    • Live the Battle Week (grades 3-4), June 27-30, 9 am-2 pm
    • Step Into the Past Week (grades 3-4), July 11-14, 9 am-2 pm
    • Live the Battle Week (grades 5-6), July 18-21, 9 am-2 pm
    • Step Into the Past Week (grades 5-6), July 25-28, 9 am-2 pm
  • Drake Well Museum & Park (Drake Well camp info)
    • Discovery Days Camp (ages 8-12), July 6, 13, 20 & 27, 9 am-4 pm

New Exhibit at Erie Maritime Museum

New Exhibit at Erie Maritime Museum
My thanks to Jim Hall and Linda Bolla for the images and info in this post.
Iceboat with mast and sail is placed in exhibit gallery at Erie Maritime Museum. As set of stairs to the right leads to a small platform and other exhibit components are visible.
Staff and volunteers at the Erie Maritime Museum are installing an iceboat on the second floor mezzanine, next to the USS Michigan/Wolverine exhibit

The Erie Maritime Museum, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is installing a new exhibit to add to the story of Erie's waterfront. An iceboat, built mostly of spruce in 1900 for Anna Scott Strong and named Snipe, now sits on the museum's mezzanine, next to the USS Michigan/Wolverine exhibit.

Overhead view of iceboat backbone and car, which looks like a giant badminton racket. At a right angle across the backbone is the runner plank, which has a "skate" at each end to balance the boat and help it move on the ice.
Bird's-eye view of the iceboat's backbone and car (the giant badminton racket) and the perpendicular runner plank and skates. The mast is lying on the ground nearby.

The boat was restored in 1983 by Andy Hanks, Lee Johannesmeyer, and Chris Wolford, and they used it for racing in Erie until about 2005. Wolford donated the boat (FN2020.6.1A-G), renamed Black Ice, to the Erie Maritime Museum.

Group works to set up the mast of the iceboat. One man holds the mast in place as others pull on ropes and cables to secure it in place for exhibit.
From left: Chris Bloomstine, Chris Wolford, Andy Hanks, Clive Tattershall, Lee Johannesmeyer, and Linda Bolla

There's still another sail to attach and some adjustments to make before the exhibit is complete, but I think you get the idea. It's a great addition to a great museum.

Iceboats lined up to race on a frozen lake.
I'm told that Black Ice is in this photo (FN2021.5.1), 4th from the left on the racing line with the foresail just barely visible.  

Up Next

Today, February 17

  • Snow-mobility Weekend (in-person); Friday thru Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Lumber Museum
    • Well, the weather isn't cooperating, so there is no snow, but the show must go on. On Saturday, enjoy a pancake breakfast (10:30 am-1 pm), documentary films, and learn how maple syrup is made (1:30). On Sunday at 2 pm, join us for a winter story time and craft (Snow-mobility Weekend info).
  • Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Brant Portner, environmental education specialist with the PA Game Commission, will talk about the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a popular spot for birds and bird watchers. The program is free and will be offered via Zoom; please register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Saturday, February 18

  • Mapping Mammal Hall (in-person); 10 am-Noon; The State Museum of PA
    • Locate the real-life inspirations for the Mammal Hall dioramas on a giant map of Pennsylvania. Included in regular admission (Mapping Mammal Hall info).
  • StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Listen to a reading of Over and Under in the Snow by Kate Messner to discover what is happening under the show. Create your own winter landscape. For ages 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).
  • SOLD OUT The Dead of Winter (in-person); 5:30 pm; Graeme Park
    • This program reenacts an early 20th-century seance and explores this popular form of spiritualism/entertainment. As of Wednesday, there were still some tickets available for the 5:30 pm program. Light refreshments will be served. In case of bad weather, program will be held Feb. 25. Advance tickets ($20) only (Dead of Winter info and tickets).

Tuesday, February 21

  • Sensory Hours (in-person); 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Noise, light, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be quiet spaces for breaks. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (Feb. 21 Sensory Hours).

Wednesday, February 22

  • Explore! (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Learn how epidemiologists study the cause, spread, and control of bacteria, viruses, and other "germs" that can make us sick. Mimic how scientists use "germs" to make art in a petri dish. For grades 3 to 5 and included in regular admission. Space is limited, so please sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Explore! info).
  • Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 2-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Join the Planetarium director for a live, in-person chat about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events coming up this month. Planetarium tickets (in addition to regular admission) must be obtained at the Ground Floor Info Desk no later than 1:55 pm (Stargazing info).
  • The Harmonist Connection: Gardens (virtual); 7-8 pm; Old Economy Village
    • The latest in a series of virtual programs sponsored by Harmony Society sites in Pennsylvania and Indiana. Tonight, Kent Schuette from Historic New Harmony (IN) and Joe Pulgini from Old Economy Village will talk about the work both carry out to maintain modern gardens that draw on the traditions of the Harmonists. Free and offered via Zoom (Harmonist Connection info and registration).

Thursday, February 23

  • Winter History Class (in-person & virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
    • This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentations are "Bake Ovens in Germanic PA: Their Location, Construction and Use," with Robert Wood and "German Foodways" with Alan Keyser. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Feb. 25, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
    • Wade Catts, president of South River Heritage Consulting, LLC, will present "Archaeology and the Preservation of Sites of America's War for Independence, with special focus on new studies of the Brandywine Battlefield (Rev Speaker Series info).
  • Train Tour: The H6SB (virtual); Tuesday, Feb. 28, 10-10:30 am; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Children in grades K to 6 will investigate the inside of the historic H6sb locomotive No. 2846, virtually visiting the cab and exploring behind-the-scenes in the tender and maintenance areas. Register to receive the link; admission is by donation (Train Tour registration).
  • Rails & Ales 2023 (in-person); Saturday, April 1, 5:30-9 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Taste craft beers among the museum's world-class collection of historic trains in Rolling Stock Hall. Must be age 21 or older to attend; photo ID required at the door. Advance tickets only; VIP tickets tend to sell out quickly (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).
  • Colonial Camp Week (in-person); Monday-Friday, July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Campers 6 to 8 years old will spend the week exploring the entire site with a talented team of living history experts. Sessions run 9 am-4 pm each day; before- and after-care are available for an additional fee (registration info).

Is It the Weekend Already?

Is It the Weekend Already?
Snow-covered landscape at Drake Well Museum & Park with cloud-muted sun casting shadows of bare trees and evergreens. The replica derrick and oil lease office are also visible with snow on their roofs.
A cold and snowy day at Drake Well last week (photo via Drake Well Museum & Park Facebook page)

As a follow-up to Groundhog Day and the prediction of six more weeks of what's pictured above, the PA Lumber Museum Curator's Blog shared a letter written by James John Welch ca. 1886 noting the tradition of the groundhog (Welch uses the word "woodchuck") venturing forth to predict the course of the winter. (If you haven't checked out other posts on the Curator's Blog, you might be interested in the "What Chainsaw Did That Movie Use?" series.)

Streamlined J Class steam locomotive No. 611 painted black with red band with yellow pin stripes and yellow lettering saying 611. Locomotive is pulling two additional cars with same color scheme and words "Norfolk and Western"
(Photo via Railroad Museum of PA Facebook page)

The Norfolk & Western class J No. 611, part of the collection of the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, is on display for a limited time in the outdoor trainyard at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. You can view No. 611, and the other wonderful things in RMP's collection, during regular hours with regular admission (read more on RMP's Facebook page).

Graphic with green background, white lettering, 1889 photo card showing man with white turtleneck jersey with a letter L. He has knee-high boots and seems to be wearing a beany or cap with a tassel. He's cradling a football with his right arm and his left arm is on his hop. He has a mustache and short hair.
(Image via Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's Facebook page)

Are you ready for some football? Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum shared this photo (FM 52.746) of a college football player taken at the Flickinger photo studio in Bethlehem, PA, sometime in 1889 or later. Written on the back in black ink is "C.H. Detriber,/Montg. Co Pa./Lehigh '90/Right-Guard on Champion/Foot-ball/the South 1889." Whatever your weekend holds, I hope it's great. And Go Eagles!!

Up Next

Today, February 10

  • Family Gallery Tour: Paleontology (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • This family-friendly tour looks at life through time in Pennsylvania. Join Museum Educators to get hands-on with fossils of the plants and animals that roamed Earth during the Carboniferous Period to the present including dinosaurs and mastodons. Included in regular admission (Paleontology tour info).
  • Artists Conversation (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Join fine arts curator Amy Hammond as she talks with artist Matthew Cote about his work "Full Circle," recipient of the Art of the State 2022 Purchase Award. The program will be presented via Zoom; please register to receive the link (Artists Conversation info and registration).

Saturday, February 11

  • Pithole Cabin Fever Party (in-person); 10 am-2 pm; Historic Pithole City
    • Drake Well Museum & Park hosts this annual event at Pithole. Shake off those winter blues with crafts, games, and fun. Sadly, there's not enough snow for sledding, but there will be storytelling, tours, and yummy cookies from Warner's Bakery. Event is free, donations are welcome. This is an outdoor event, so please check ahead if the weather is iffy (Cabin Fever info).
  • Pennsylvania Rocks! (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am and 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks make up the landscape of Pennsylvania. How are they the same? How are they different? Learn more about the geology beneath your feet. Included in regular admission (PA Rocks info).

Tuesday, February 14

  • Simple Machines and the Railroad (virtual); 10-10:30 am; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Children in grades K to 6 will learn about 6 simple machines and how they make up larger machines on the railroad. Program includes demonstrations and active participation, and there will be a Q&A session at the end. Register to receive the link; admission is by donation (Simple Machines registration).

Thursday, February 16

  • Winter History Class (in-person & virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
    • This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentations are "Mennonites in Colonial Germantown: Newly Discovered Sources Correct Old Myths" with Edsel Burge, The Young Center at Elizabethtown College, and "The Christopher Sauers Printing Dynasty" with Dr. David Fuchs, Independent Scholar. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).
  • Curiosity Kids (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Discover how people of the past traveled and had fun in the winter. Examine sleds and sleighs from the museum’s collection. Test why runners made it easier to swish through the snow by creating your own miniature sled. For grades K to 2 and included in regular admission (Curiosity Kids info).

Friday, February 17

  • Snow-mobility Weekend (in-person); Friday thru Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Lumber Museum
    • From Friday to Sunday, you can ride your snowmobile to the museum (that is, if the weather changes and there's enough snow). On Saturday, enjoy a pancake breakfast (10:30 am-1 pm), documentary films, and learn how maple syrup is made (1:30). On Sunday at 2 pm, join us for a winter story time and craft (Snow-mobility Weekend info).
  • Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Brant Portner, environmental education specialist with the PA Game Commission, will talk about the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a popular spot for birds and bird watchers. The program is free and will be offered via Zoom; please register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • The Dead of Winter (in-person); Saturday, Feb. 18, 5:30 and 7 pm; Graeme Park
    • This program reenacts an early 20th-century seance and explores this popular form of spiritualism/entertainment. Programs at 5:30 and 7 pm, each limited to 20 people. Light refreshments will be served. In case of bad weather, program will be held Feb. 25. Advance tickets ($20) only (Dead of Winter info and tickets).
  • Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Feb. 21, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Noise, light, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be quiet spaces for breaks. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (Feb. 21 Sensory Hours).
  • The Harmonist Connection: Gardens (virtual); Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7-8 pm; Old Economy Village
    • The latest in a series of virtual programs sponsored by Harmony Society sites in Pennsylvania and Indiana. Tonight, Kent Schuette from Historic New Harmony (IN) and Joe Pulgini from Old Economy Village will talk about the work both carry out to maintain modern gardens that draw on the traditions of the Harmonists. Free and offered via Zoom (Harmonist Connection info and registration).
  • Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Feb. 25, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
    • Wade Catts, president of South River Heritage Consulting, LLC, will present "Archaeology and the Preservation of Sites of America's War for Independence, with special focus on new studies of the Brandywine Battlefield (Rev Speaker Series info).
  • Train Tour: The H6SB (virtual); Tuesday, Feb. 28, 10-10:30 am; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Children in grades K to 6 will investigate the inside of the historic H6sb locomotive No. 2846, virtually visiting the cab and exploring behind-the-scenes in the tender and maintenance areas. Register to receive the link; admission is by donation (Train Tour registration).
  • Rails & Ales 2023 (in-person); Saturday, April 1, 5:30-9 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Taste craft beers among the museum's world-class collection of historic trains in Rolling Stock Hall. Must be age 21 or older to attend; photo ID required at the door. Advance tickets only; VIP tickets tend to sell out quickly (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).
  • Colonial Camp Week (in-person); Monday-Friday, July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Campers 6 to 8 years old will spend the week exploring the entire site with a talented team of living history experts. Sessions run 9 am-4 pm each day; before- and after-care are available for an additional fee (registration info).

Groundhogs Can't Agree

Groundhogs Can't Agree
Close-up of a single snowdrop with green leaves and white petals growing on the edge of some grass and gravel paths in February
Snowdrops blooming at Old Economy Village in February (photo via OEV Facebook page)

Well, Punxsutawney Phil says we have six more weeks of winter. It hardly comes as a surprise, since it's early February in Pennsylvania, and it's likely our harshest winter weather lies ahead of us. And yet, you can also find snowdrops blooming (thanks to Old Economy's museum educator, David Miller, for another great photo). So, even though this weekend is supposed to be cooooooold, we can dream of spring. After all, Lancaster County's groundhogs say spring is coming. However you spend the week ahead, I hope it's happy and warm. If you want to learn more about the Pennsylvania German groundhog (or whistle pig) traditions, try VisitPA.org or, if you want a little science too, this piece on NPR's Morning Edition.

Up Next

Today, February 3

  • StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Hear a reading of Over and Under in the Snow by Kate Messner to discover what is happening under the snow and create a winter landscape. For ages 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (StoryTime info).

Saturday, February 4

  • PA Geography with the Giant Map (in-person); 10 am-Noon; The State Museum of PA
    • Discover the giant map of Pennsylvania as we walk across the state. Test your geography skills playing a game. Included in regular admission (PA Geography program info).

Tuesday, February 7

  • Sensory Hours (in-person); 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Noise, light, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be quiet spaces for breaks. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (Feb. 7 Sensory Hours).

Wednesday, February 8

  • Homeschool Program (in-person); 10-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
    • Today's session is "PA's Land and People" and features a presentation on T.M. Fowler's panoramic views of various cities and towns (created 1870-1920), a visit to the Giant Map of PA, and a chance to create your own passport to travel the state. Tickets are $10; deadline to register is Feb. 7 (Feb. Homeschool Program info and registration).
  • Train Tour: Mad for Consolidations (virtual); 7-8:30 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
    • This is a virtual tour of 3 PRR H-Class locomotives, No. 1187, No. 2846, and No. 7688. Advance tickets are required; admission is by donation (Mad for Consolidations tickets).

Thursday, February 9

  • Winter History Class (in-person & virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
    • This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's session is "High German in 18th- and 19th-century Pennsylvania" and "High German in Early Ephrata Texts" with Mark Louden, University of Wisconsin - Madison. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).
  • Winter Academy (virtual); 6:30-7:30 pm; Drake Well Museum & Park
    • Photographer and retired biology teacher Jeffrey Hall will present a virtual program, "Birds of Venango County," sharing facts and stories about the birds we all know, highlighting some of the birds that are "specialties" of Venango County, and introducing some of the rare birds that visit the county only occasionally (Winter Academy 2/9 info and registration).

Friday, February 10

  • Family Gallery Tour: Paleontology (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • This family-friendly tour looks at life through time in Pennsylvania. Join Museum Educators to get hands-on with fossils of the plants and animals that roamed Earth during the Carboniferous Period to the present including dinosaurs and mastodons. Included in regular admission (Paleontology tour info).
  • Artists Conversation (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Join fine arts curator Amy Hammond as she talks with artist Matthew Cote about his work "Full Circle," recipient of the Art of the State 2022 Purchase Award. The program will be presented via Zoom; please register to receive the link (Artists Conversation info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

  • Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); Friday, Feb. 17, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
    • Brant Portner, environmental education specialist with the PA Game Commission, will talk about the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a popular spot for birds and bird watchers. The program is free and will be offered via Zoom; please register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).
  • The Dead of Winter (in-person); Saturday, Feb. 18, 5:30 and 7 pm; Graeme Park
    • This program reenacts an early 20th-century seance and explores this popular form of spiritualism/entertainment. Programs at 5:30 and 7 pm, each limited to 20 people. Light refreshments will be served. In case of bad weather, program will be held Feb. 25. Advance tickets ($20) only (Dead of Winter info and tickets).
  • Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Feb. 21, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Noise, light, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be quiet spaces for breaks. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (Feb. 21 Sensory Hours).
  • The Harmonist Connection: Gardens (virtual); Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7-8 pm; Old Economy Village
    • The latest in a series of virtual programs sponsored by Harmony Society sites in Pennsylvania and Indiana. Tonight, Kent Schuette from Historic New Harmony (IN) and Joe Pulgini from Old Economy Village will talk about the work both carry out to maintain modern gardens that draw on the traditions of the Harmonists. Free and offered via Zoom (Harmonist Connection info and registration).
  • Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
    • Wade Catts, president of South River Heritage Consulting, LLC, will present "Archaeology and the Preservation of Sites of America's War for Independence, with special focus on new studies of the Brandywine Battlefield (Rev Speaker Series info).
  • Rails & Ales 2023 (in-person); Saturday, April 1, 5:30-9 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
    • Taste craft beers among the museum's world-class collection of historic trains in Rolling Stock Hall. Must be age 21 or older to attend; photo ID required at the door. Advance tickets only; VIP tickets tend to sell out quickly (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).
  • Colonial Camp Week (in-person); Monday-Friday, July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
    • Campers 6 to 8 years old will spend the week exploring the entire site with a talented team of living history experts. Sessions run 9 am-4 pm each day; before- and after-care are available for an additional fee (registration info).