New Things to See

This month marks the 90th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), part of what became know as The New Deal during the Great Depression. A new temporary exhibit at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum commemorates this event and supplements the CCC section of the museum's core exhibit, Choices and Challenges in Pennsylvania's Forests. Curator Josh Fox notes in a recent issue of the PA Lumber Museum Associates newsletter that Pennsylvania was home to the second CCC camp, ANF-1, which opened on April 24, 1933, in the Allegheny National Forest. Eventually, Fox writes, "Pennsylvania would have 153 CCC camps, second only to California, and almost 200,000 Pennsylvanians would serve as CCC enrollees." The program ended in 1942.

In addition to the permanent exhibit component on CCC, the Lumber Museum is home to a chestnut cabin built by CCC enrollees of the Dyer Farm CCC camp for a state park project and a CCC Legacy bronze statue of a CCC enrollee. Here are a couple of exhibit photos to entice you.

View from the permanent exhibit's CCC section into the temporary exhibit gallery (photo courtesy PA Lumber Museum)

Cases in the temporary exhibit feature artifacts and images donated since the permanent exhibit opened in 2015 (photo courtesy PA Lumber Museum)

Back in February I shared some information about an ice boat donated to the Erie Maritime Museum that was being readied for exhibit. Well, it's ready. Earlier this week, the museum held a reception to open the new exhibit, Snipe...to Black Ice, which refers to the boat's original name and the name it came into the museum with. Worth a visit, I think.

The ice boat is on display on the museum's mezzanine level (photo via Erie Maritime Museum's Facebook page)

Up Next

Saturday, April 29

• Behind the Scenes with the Heirloom Seed Project (in-person); 9 am and 1 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Heirloom Seed Project staff and volunteers will offer a glimpse into preparations for the annual Herb & Garden Faire and lead a tour of gardens on the site. Two tour times: 9 am or 1 pm. The tour is two hours of walking around the museum grounds, rain or shine; please dress for the weather with comfortable footwear. Tickets are $40, $35 for members (Heirloom Seed Project tour tickets).

• Discover PA 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 (Giant Map program info).

• POSTPONED to May 6 - Art in the Garden (in-person); 10 am-1 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Take a tour of Pennsbury's gardens and grounds, then settle into your favorite spot and paint. All skill levels welcome; materials provided. Cost is $35, $30 for members. Registration required (Pennsbury Manor contact info).

• Spring Nature Walk (in-person); 10 am-?; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Learn about historical and modern uses for the wide variety of plant life that grows at Bushy Run. Bring some sturdy hiking boots and dress for the weather. Tickets (available at the door) are $5, free for members (Spring Nature Walk info).

• Arbor Day Book Talk (in-person); 1-2 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• In honor of Arbor Day, Dolores Parsil will talk about her book, Lancaster's Good Man: John Piersol McCaskey, A Biography. Among other things, McCaskey organized the first Arbor Day celebration in Pennsylvania in 1884 (Arbor Day book talk info).

Sunday, April 30

• EVENT POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER, but site will be open Noon to 4 pm - A "Sense" of History (in-person); Noon-4 pm; Conrad Weiser Homestead
• This living history event features activities to engage all the senses in learning about life in the Tulpehocken in the 18th century. All ages welcome (Sense of History program info).

• Animals at Pennsbury (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Meet the furry, fuzzy, and feathered inhabitants of Pennsbury and discover the important roles their 17th-century counterparts played in daily life. Included in regular admission (Animals at Pennsbury program info).

Tuesday, May 2

• Sensory Hours (in-person); 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (May 2 Sensory Hours tickets).

Friday, May 5

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Read What Grandma Did by Erin Miller with illustrations by Randall Harmon, the story of a little girl who learns her grandmother was a pilot during World War II. Learn about the role the museum’s Piper aircraft played in training pilots and try creating your own plane. For ages 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (StoryTime info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Presentation and Book Signing (hybrid); Wednesday, May 10, 11 am-Noon; Railroad Museum of PA
• J. Craig Thorpe will give a free presentation based on his book, Railroads, Art, and American Life: An Artist's Memoir. You can attend the presentation in person at the museum or virtually via Zoom. In-person attendees can also get copies of the book signed by the author. Admission will be charged to tour the museum's exhibits and can be purchased on the day at the admissions desk (register for the Zoom presentation).

• Herb & Garden Faire (in-person); Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, 9 am-5 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• The Faire, featuring plants from Landis Valley Museum’s Heirloom Seed Project, will also offer heirlooms, natives, and other hard-to-find varieties to purchase from vendors spread out over the historic village area of the site. The 2023 Herb & Garden Faire is the 35th year of this high-profile regional event. Food and drink will be available onsite. Tickets are available at the door or in advance online (Herb & Garden Faire online tickets).

• Mother's Day Breakfast and Cake Walk (in-person); Sunday, May 14, 10 am-Noon; Graeme Park
• Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day breakfast in the large event tent at Graeme Park! After your meal, enjoy a tour of the Keith House or participate in our cake walk (separate $10 ticket to be sold on site) to win a cake to take home with you. Tickets must be purchased in advance (tickets for Mother's Day breakfast).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, May 16, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (May 16 Sensory Hours tickets).

• Brews at the Battlefield (in-person); Saturday, June 17, 5-8 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Taste beers from local and regional breweries, listen to music, and enjoy food from Burgers by Wildwich (separate purchase from event tickets). You must be at least age 21 to attend, and photo ID will be required at the door. All tickets must be purchased in advance; designated driver tickets available (Brews at the Battlefield tickets).

• OEV Music Weekend (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18, Noon-8 pm both days; Old Economy Village
• Enjoy a wide array of bands at a beautiful historic site. Event is rain or shine (will move indoors if the weather is bad); bring chairs and blankets for outdoor seating. There will be a variety of food trucks onsite (separate purchase). Advance tickets only; choose one day or the whole weekend (OEV Music Weekend line-up and 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

• Bushy Run Battlefield (Bushy Run camp info)
• Colonial Life (grades 1-5), June 19-21, 10 am-3 pm

• Drake Well Museum & Park (Drake Well camp info)
• Discovery Days Camp (ages 8-12), July 6, 13, 20 & 27, 9 am-4 pm

• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
• A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm

• Old Economy Village (OEV camp info)
• July 17-21, Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm
• July 24-28, Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm

• Pennsbury Manor (Pennsbury camp info)
• Colonial Camp Week (ages 6-8), July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm

• PA Lumber Museum (Lumber Museum camp info)
• History Camp (ages 10-18), August 4-5, 9 am-2 pm

• Railroad Museum of PA (RMP camp info)
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 9-10), July 11-14
• SOLD OUT Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 11-12), July 25-28

Volunteers of the Year 2023

This past Saturday, April 15, we held our first in-person PHMC Volunteer of the Year awards ceremony since 2019 (see group photo above). We honored volunteers for service in 2022. Although the weather was quite rainy in Harrisburg, the assembled group at The State Museum of Pennsylvania was cheerful, vibrant, and good-humored. It was truly a pleasure to bring people together to say thank you for the hours of time and the tremendous amounts of talent that our volunteers contribute, working alongside our dedicated staff to care for collections, present programs, lead tours and school groups, help maintain and beautify our grounds, and much more.

The Outstanding Service Award was presented in memoriam to Nancy Hetrick (1944-2022) on behalf of the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum and the PA Lumber Museum Associates (PALMA). Nancy was a long-time volunteer at the Lumber Museum who helped create many new programs over the past 10 years or so, actively supported the annual Bark Peelers' Festival, and served as Board Secretary and editor for the PALMA newsletter (read the Outstanding Service Award citation). Nancy's husband and fellow volunteer, Roger, accepted the award in her memory.

This year's Volunteer of the Year honorees were (click on the names to see an individual photo and read about the honoree's service):

• Anthracite Heritage Museum - Chester Kulesa
• Brandywine Battlefield Park - Mario Lerario
• Bushy Run Battlefield - Jim Comunale
• Conrad Weiser Homestead - Lynn Otto
• Cornwall Iron Furnace - Dan Snyder
• Daniel Boone Homestead
• Drake Well Museum & Park - Faith Mealy and Amber Hannold
• Eckley Miners' Village - Matthew Gaydos
• Ephrata Cloister - Douglas Gehr
• Erie Maritime Museum & U.S. Brig Niagara - Gayle Chojnacki
• Graeme Park - Kevin Horan
• Hope Lodge - Phil Williams
• Joseph Priestley House - Mike McWilliams
• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum - Linda Schock
• Old Economy Village - Joyce Patterson
• Pennsbury Manor - Douglas Lehnen
• Pennsylvania Lumber Museum - Janifer and John Halter
• Pennsylvania Military Museum - Simon Cressman
• Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania - Stephen Jacobs
• Somerset Historical Center - Ron Hillegas
• The State Museum of Pennsylvania - Alice Herncane

Up Next

Today, April 21

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Emily Boyd, small game mammal biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, will talk about the three Pennsylvania rabbit and hare species and the ongoing research to improve management and promote the continued presence of all lagomorph species for future generations of Pennsylvanians. Program is free, but you must register to receive the link (April 21 Learn at Lunchtime registration).

Saturday, April 22

• Common Threads Fiber Symposium (in-person); 9 am-4 pm; Somerset Historical Center
• Cosponsored by Somerset Historical Center and Laurel Arts, this event offers an opportunity for regional fiber artists to share their skills and knowledge with each other as well as the public. Fiber artists will be set up throughout the museum, demonstrating specific techniques, providing hands-on activities to participants, and selling or talking about their hand-made products. Admission is $5 (Fiber Symposium info).

• Earth Day (in-person); 10 am-3 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• From seeing our Living History interpreters to interacting with the Delaware Nature and Science Museum animals and employees, visitors will get to experience a fun-filled Earth Day (Brandywine Earth Day program info).

• Spring Antique Show and Sawmill Run (in-person); Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• There will be antiques and collectibles vendors and historic trades demonstrations, including the museum's birch still (plus cooking demos 11 am-1 pm). On Saturday only, the steam-powered circular sawmill will be operating (plus Earth Day craft activities 2-4 pm). Admission is $8. There will be food and drink for purchase (Spring Antique Show info).

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Listen to a reading of Spring After Spring by Stephanie Roth and explore the story of Rachel Carson, create a spring drawing, and look for signs of spring in the galleries. For ages 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).

• Celebrate Earth Day: Plant a Tree (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn more about the trees in Pennsylvania and how they make our lives better. Then take a seedling home to plant. Supplies are limited, so register at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive to receive a seedling. Included in regular admission (State Museum Earth Day info).

Sunday, April 23

• Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Explore and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the recipes and plants that fed the early residents of Pennsbury. Included in regular admission (Pennsbury Sunday afternoon program info).

Wednesday, April 26

• Lunch & Learn (in-person); 10 am-2 pm; Graeme Park
• Author C.J. McGroarty will discuss her novel, Clara in a Time of War, which is set on a Chester County farm in 1777. The program also includes continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and tours of the Keith House. Tickets are $35 (Lunch & Learn program info and tickets - sales end April 21).

• Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 2-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Chat with the Planetarium director to learn about what you can see in tonight's sky, the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events coming up in the next month. Regular admission and planetarium ticket required (Stargazing program info).

• New Exhibit Reception (in-person); 6:30-7:30 pm; Erie Maritime Museum
• Join us as we unveil our newest exhibit, Snipe to…Black Ice – featuring a 1900-built ice boat that sailed Presque Isle Bay for over one hundred years. Enjoy light refreshments and a chance to talk with the men who were the last to sail this ice boat (and who donated it to the museum). Event is free (Exhibit reception info).

Thursday, April 27

• Wheels Go Round (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Travel through the Second Floor of the museum to discover how many objects have wheels. Create your own vehicle using different parts and pieces. Included in regular admission (Wheels Go Round program info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Behind the Scenes with the Heirloom Seed Project (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 9 am and 1 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Heirloom Seed Project staff and volunteers will offer a glimpse into preparations for the annual Herb & Garden Faire and lead a tour of gardens on the site. Two tour times: 9 am or 1 pm. The tour is two hours of walking around the museum grounds, rain or shine; please dress for the weather with comfortable footwear. Tickets are $40, $35 for members (Heirloom Seed Project tour tickets).

• Art in the Garden (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 10 am-1 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Take a tour of Pennsbury's gardens and grounds, then settle into your favorite spot and paint. All skill levels welcome; materials provided. Cost is $35, $30 for members. Registration required (Pennsbury Manor contact info).

• Salon Social (Tea) (in-person: Saturday, Apr. 29, 1-3 pm; Anthracite Heritage Museum
• Join us for afternoon tea featuring Victorian and Edwardian fashions, tea sandwiches, desserts, coffee and tea. Make reservations by calling 570/963-4804 or emailing ahmuseum@verizon.net. Tickets are $25 and the deadline to reserve is April 23 (call 570/963-4804 or email ahmuseum@verizon.net).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, May 2, 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (May 2 Sensory Hours tickets).

• Herb & Garden Faire (in-person); Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, 9 am-5 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• The Faire, featuring plants from Landis Valley Museum’s Heirloom Seed Project, will also offer heirlooms, natives, and other hard-to-find varieties to purchase from vendors spread out over the historic village area of the site. The 2023 Herb & Garden Faire is the 35th year of this high-profile regional event. Food and drink will be available onsite. Tickets are available at the door or in advance online (Herb & Garden Faire online tickets).

• Mother's Day Breakfast and Cake Walk (in-person); Sunday, March 14, 10 am-Noon; Graeme Park
• Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day breakfast in the large event tent at Graeme Park! After your meal, enjoy a tour of the Keith House or participate in our cake walk (separate $10 ticket to be sold on site) to win a cake to take home with you. Tickets must be purchased in advance (tickets for Mother's Day breakfast).

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

• Bushy Run Battlefield (Bushy Run camp info)
• Colonial Life (grades 1-5), June 19-21, 10 am-3 pm

• Drake Well Museum & Park (Drake Well camp info)
• Discovery Days Camp (ages 8-12), July 6, 13, 20 & 27, 9 am-4 pm

• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
• A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm

• Pennsbury Manor (Pennsbury camp info)
• Colonial Camp Week (ages 6-8), July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm

• Railroad Museum of PA (RMP camp info)
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 9-10), July 11-14
• SOLD OUT Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 11-12), July 25-28

History through Art

Custom poster created by design firm School using Benjamin West's 1771 painting Penn's Treaty with the Indians (painting courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia)

Starting tomorrow and continuing for the next year, a new sound installation at Pennsbury Manor will take visitors on a journey through Pennsbury's riverfront grounds, honoring and reimagining environmental song-making practices surviving in the Lenape diaspora. With "nkwiluntàmën: I long for it; I am lonesome for it (such as the sound of a drum)," artist Nathan Young invites audiences to "meditate on enduring Indigenous relationships to land." Young is an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians (one of five federally recognized nations of the Lenape diaspora) and a direct descendant of the Pawnee Nation and Kiowa Tribe. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the Univ. of Oklahoma's Native American Art History Doctoral program where his scholarship is focused on Indigenous Sound Agency.

This new work combines environmental sounds, voice, and music from a range of collaborators to expand listeners' perspectives on the Delaware. Young explains, "This installation showcases sound as a powerful art form and uses modern technology to add meaning to a historic place. I hope that 'nkwiluntàmën' [pronounced KWEE-LU-NOM-IN] inspires visitors to explore the contemporary work of the Delaware people."

Artist Nathan Young recording enviromental sounds along the Delaware (photo by Ryan Strand Greenberg)

Pennsbury's site administrator, Doug Miller, notes that this artwork will help transform visitors' experience of the property and its history: "Pennsbury Manor has long been focused on the life of William Penn, but in the last decade, we've been looking beyond Penn's legacy to that of the Lenape people who first inhabited this land. Nathan Young's installation will help tell this complex story through an artistic lens."

Major support for "nkwiluntàmën" came from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from Pennsbury Manor. Due to the opening activities tomorrow, Manor House tours will not be available. After tomorrow's opening, visitors can experience the work Wednesday through Sunday afternoons, 1-4 pm, through April 2024. A $3 grounds pass is required (full admission rates apply to tour the Manor House). Online ticketing is available via Ticketbud.

For a sample of the soundscape created by Nathan Young and his collaborators, visit Pennsbury Manor's Facebook page.

Up Next

Saturday, April 15

• Mapping Mammal Hall (in-person); 10 am-Noon; The State Museum of PA
• Use the giant map of PA to locate the real-life settings for the Mammal Hall dioramas. Included in regular admission (Mammal Hall program info).

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Friederike Baer, associate professor of history at Penn State Abingdon, will present "Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War," exploring the estimated 30,000 German soldiers hired to fight for the British. Tickets are $20 (Rev Speaker Series tickets).

Sunday, April 16

• Open Hearth Cooking (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• The cooks will fire up the bake oven to demonstrate the weekly baking of bread and more. Included in regular admission (Sunday program info).

Tuesday, April 18

• Sensory Hours (in-person); 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (April 18 Sensory Hours tickets).

Wednesday, April 19

• Celebrate Earth Day: Plant a Tree (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn more about the trees in Pennsylvania and how they make our lives better. Then take a seedling home to plant. Supplies are limited, so register at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive to receive a seedling. Included in regular admission (Earth Day program info).

Thursday, April 20

• Archives Without Tears Q&A (virtual); 10-11 am; PA State Archives
• Do you have questions about practical ways to preserve and/or make available the historical records in your care? Whether you are a curious individual collecting and caring for family or community materials, a local government employee tasked with records storage, a volunteer at a local historical society, the director of a large institution, or anyone in-between, we invite all to bring questions for Pennsylvania State Archives archivists to answer. It may be helpful (but is not required) to first check out the brief AWOT Key Concepts videos that are freely available on PHMC's YouTube channel, @PATrailsofHistory (Archives Without Tears registration).

Friday, April 21

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Emily Boyd, small game mammal biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, will talk about the three Pennsylvania rabbit and hare species and the ongoing research to improve management and promote the continued presence of all lagomorph species for future generations of Pennsylvanians. Program is free, but you must register to receive the link (April 21 Learn at Lunchtime registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Lunch & Learn (in-person); Wednesday, Apr. 26, 10 am-2 pm; Graeme Park
• Author C.J. McGroarty will discuss her novel, Clara in a Time of War, which is set on a Chester County farm in 1777. The program also includes continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and tours of the Keith House. Tickets are $35 (Lunch & Learn program info and tickets - sales end April 21).

• Behind the Scenes with the Heirloom Seed Project (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 9 am and 1 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Heirloom Seed Project staff and volunteers will offer a glimpse into preparations for the annual Herb & Garden Faire and lead a tour of gardens on the site. Two tour times: 9 am or 1 pm. The tour is two hours of walking around the museum grounds, rain or shine; please dress for the weather with comfortable footwear. Tickets are $40, $35 for members (Heirloom Seed Project tour tickets).

• Art in the Garden (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 10 am-1 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Take a tour of Pennsbury's gardens and grounds, then settle into your favorite spot and paint. All skill levels welcome; materials provided. Cost is $35, $30 for members. Registration required (Pennsbury Manor contact info).

• Salon Social (Tea) (in-person: Saturday, Apr. 29, 1-3 pm; Anthracite Heritage Museum
• Join us for afternoon tea featuring Victorian and Edwardian fashions, tea sandwiches, desserts, coffee and tea. Make reservations by calling 570/963-4804 or emailing ahmuseum@verizon.net. Tickets are $25 and the deadline to reserve is April 23 (call 570/963-4804 or email ahmuseum@verizon.net).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, May 2, 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (May 2 Sensory Hours tickets).

• Herb & Garden Faire (in-person); Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, 9 am-5 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• The Faire, featuring plants from Landis Valley Museum’s Heirloom Seed Project, will also offer heirlooms, natives, and other hard-to-find varieties to purchase from vendors spread out over the historic village area of the site. The 2023 Herb & Garden Faire is the 35th year of this high-profile regional event. Food and drink will be available onsite. Tickets are available at the door or in advance online (Herb & Garden Faire online 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

• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
• A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm

• Pennsbury Manor (Pennsbury camp info)
• Colonial Camp Week (ages 6-8), July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm

• Railroad Museum of PA (RMP camp info)
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 9-10), July 11-14
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 11-12), July 25-28

The Hope of Spring

Snowdrops and daffodils at Pennsbury Manor (via Pennsbury's Facebook page)

It's a pretty quiet week ahead on the Trails of History, but you'll still find things to do or to plan on doing. To the best of my knowledge, all Trails of History sites will be closed this Sunday for Easter, but they'll be on their regular schedules the rest of the week. Whatever holidays you are observing (or not), I hope that the week ahead brings you peace, time with friends and family, and the hope of spring.

Up Next

Today, April 7

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Listen to a reading of Spring After Spring by Stephanie Roth and explore the story of Rachel Carson, create a spring drawing, and look for signs of spring in the galleries. For ages 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).

Saturday, April 8

• Discover PA 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 (Giant Map program info).

Tuesday, April 11

• The Lost Decade: Mining at Cornwall in the 1920s (hybrid); 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Mike Weber will provide information about a transitional period in the history of the Cornwall Mines in the early 20th century. The 1920s represented a pivotal period in the continued development of the Cornwall Mines. The presentation will explore these developments and provide highlights from the Cornwall Mines and community. Attend in person at Freeman Hall, Cornwall Manor Retirement Community or via Zoom (register for Zoom lecture).

Wednesday, April 12

• The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad (in-person); 7:30pm; Old Economy Village
• David Aitken will present a talk based on his book, The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad - Its Life & Legacy, including an exploration of the Harmony Society's role in the company. The program is free, but seating is limited (Saw Mill Run Railroad program registration).

Thursday, April 13

• A Place for All Gallery Tour (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Discover three stories of integration in Pennsylvania during the Civil Rights Movement. Hear the stories of people whose courageous steps helped change our state. Included in regular admission (A Place for All Gallery Tour info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 15, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Friederike Baer, associate professor of history at Penn State Abingdon, will present "Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War," exploring the estimated 30,000 German soldiers hired to fight for the British. Tickets are $20 (Rev Speaker Series tickets).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Apr. 18, 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (April 18 Sensory Hours tickets).

• Archives Without Tears Q&A (virtual); Thursday, Apr. 20, 10-11 am; PA State Archives
• Do you have questions about practical ways to preserve and/or make available the historical records in your care? Whether you are a curious individual collecting and caring for family or community materials, a local government employee tasked with records storage, a volunteer at a local historical society, the director of a large institution, or anyone in-between, we invite all to bring questions for Pennsylvania State Archives archivists to answer. It may be helpful (but is not required) to first check out the brief AWOT Key Concepts videos that are freely available on PHMC's YouTube channel, @PATrailsofHistory (Archives Without Tears registration).

• Lunch & Learn (in-person); Wednesday, Apr. 26, 10 am-2 pm; Graeme Park
• Author C.J. McGroarty will discuss her novel, Clara in a Time of War, which is set on a Chester County farm in 1777. The program also includes continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and tours of the Keith House. Tickets are $35 (Lunch & Learn program info and tickets).

• Behind the Scenes with the Heirloom Seed Project (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 9 am and 1 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Heirloom Seed Project staff and volunteers will offer a glimpse into preparations for the annual Herb & Garden Faire and lead a tour of gardens on the site. Two tour times: 9 am or 1 pm. The tour is two hours of walking around the museum grounds, rain or shine; please dress for the weather with comfortable footwear. Tickets are $40, $35 for members (Heirloom Seed Project tour tickets).

• Art in the Garden (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 29, 10 am-1 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Take a tour of Pennsbury's gardens and grounds, then settle into your favorite spot and paint. All skill levels welcome; materials provided. Cost is $35, $30 for members. Registration required (Pennsbury Manor contact info).

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

• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
• A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm

• Pennsbury Manor (Pennsbury camp info)
• Colonial Camp Week (ages 6-8), July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm

• Railroad Museum of PA (RMP camp info)
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 9-10), July 11-14
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 11-12), July 25-28