Congratulations are in Order

Photo via Ephrata Cloister Facebook page

Congratulations to the staff, board, and volunteers at Ephrata Cloister on their recent reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Ephrata was first accredited by AAM in 1983 and has maintained its status through three subsequent accreditation reviews. It is one of only 202 museums in the nation to achieve accreditation status four times and one of only 35 accredited museums in Pennsylvania. This national recognition reflects a commitment to excellence and high professional standards, as well as continuous improvement, which is why accredited museums must go through the process every ten years or so. The accreditation process includes roughly a year of self-study activities followed by a site visit from AAM-trained reviewers. The self-study and reviewers' report goes before the Accreditation Commission for approval (read more about AAM Accreditation). So a hearty cheer and round of applause for all the folks at Ephrata who navigated this process successfully yet again. Well done, all!

Up Next

Saturday, June 10

• Wildcatter Day (in-person); 10 am-4 pm; Historic Pithole City
• Come explore Pennsylvania's legendary oil boomtown and enjoy guided tours, living history demonstrations, and more. Admission charged (Wildcatter Day info).

• Sail to Steam Saturdays (in-person); 10 am-3 pm; Erie Maritime Museum
• The museum welcomes the International Guild of Knot Tyers for demos on knot art, rope making, knot tying, and more. Included in regular admission (6/10 Sail to Steam Saturdays info).

Sunday, June 11

• Living History Theater (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• In an age when the mortality rate was high, what happened when children lost their parents? Join us as we convene an Orphan’s Court and discover some of the heartbreaking tales. Included in regular admission (Living History Theater info).

• Experience Folk Art (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join us in the Pennsylvania Icons Gallery on the First Floor to explore the art of Pennsylvania Germans and how the decoration of everyday objects became an artistic and elaborate art form. Discover close looking and take your new knowledge back to the classroom to create your own piece of folk art. Included in regular admission (Folk Art program info).

Tuesday, June 13

• 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 spots in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (tickets for June 13 Sensory Hours).

• The End of An Era: Reflecting on 236 Years of Mining at Cornwall (hybrid); 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• This presentation by Mike Weber will take a retrospective look at the Cornwall Mines at the end of an era as we reflect on the legacy of more than two centuries of iron mining at Cornwall. Attend in-person at Freeman Hall (Cornwall Manor Retirement Community) or via Zoom (Cornwall lecture info and registration).

Wednesday, June 14

• State Symbol: PA State Flag (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Discover the history behind Pennsylvania’s State Flag. Discover what each of the symbols represent. Visitors will create their own PA state flag using iconic Pennsylvania images or design their own version. Included in regular admission (PA State Flag program info).

• PHMC's Framing History Series (in-person); 1:30-3:30; The State Museum of PA
• Join award-winning historian Tom Sugrue, author of Sweet Land of Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the North, as he discusses the Civil Rights Movement and the quest for racial equality in Pennsylvania. Tour The State Museum’s exhibit, A Place for All: Three Stories of Integration, following the presentation. Registration recommended but not required (register for Tom Sugrue lecture).

• Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 2-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join the Planetarium Director for a live chat exploring what you can see in the sky tonight. Learn about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events that are coming up in the next month. Admission and planetarium tickets must be purchased at the Ground Floor desk at least 5 minutes before showtime (Stargazing program info).

• Historic Slate Industry in PA (in-person); 7-8:30 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Don Robinson will present on the history of the slate industry, historic uses of slate, the immigration of Welsh quarrymen, and contemporary preservation efforts of related slate industry structures in Coulsontown, PA. The program is free and will be held in the Yellow Barn. This program is offered in partnership with the Lancaster Designer Craftsmen chapter of the PA Guild of Craftsmen (Slate Industry program info).

Thursday, June 15

• Family Gallery Tour: Geology Hall (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm and 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• If you are interested in rocks and minerals, join a Museum Educator to tour Geology Hall. Get hands-on with the rocks and minerals of Pennsylvania. Program will be presented at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Included in regular admission (Geology Hall tour info).

Friday, June 16

• Colonial Toys and Games (in-person); 11 am-12:30 pm and 1:30-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Discover and play with the toys, games and puzzles from colonial Pennsylvania. Test your skills with a bilbo catcher, Jacobs ladder and see if you can make a hoop go with just a stick. Toys and games will be available 11 am-12:30 pm and 1:30-3 pm. Included in regular admission (Toys and Games program info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Art in the Garden: Botanical Drawing Workshop (in-person); Saturday, June 17, 10 am-1 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Outdoor art for all skill levels. This guided drawing workshop will focus on plants in the kitchen garden. Materials provided. Registration required $35/non-members $30/members. Call 215/946-0400 to register (Art in the Garden workshop info).

• 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).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); Friday, June 23, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Jacob Henry, Spotted Lanternfly Operations Manager with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, will discuss the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

• Brews & Bites (in-person); Saturday, June 24, 4-8 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• This event features local breweries, live music, food trucks, 17th-century brewing demonstrations and more, in a lovely setting along the Delaware River. Must be at least 21 years old to attend (photo ID required at the door). Tickets are limited; advance purchase recommended (Brews & Bites tickets).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, June 27, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spots in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (tickets for June 27 Sensory Hours).

• Garden Workshop Series (in-person); Tuesday, June 27, 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
• Today's workshop is "Colors of Our Lives." Open to ages 12 and up. Registration is required. Tickets are $35 for non-members, $30 for members. Call 215/946-0400 (Garden Workshop Series info).

• Acting Workshop (in-person); Saturday, July 15, 2-4 pm; Joseph Priestley House
• Laurie McCants, co-founder of the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble, will lead a two-part workshop for students age 8 to 12. Actors will choose a historical figure, research their life, write a script, and reenact them. Second session takes place July 22 (Acting Workshop info and registration).

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 - June 9 is last day to register

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

• Joseph Priestley House (Priestley House camp info)
• Summer History Camp (grades 1-6), July 26-28, 9 am-Noon

• 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