December 2018 on the PA Trails of History

All sites on the Trails of History will be closed on Dec. 25 (except for Washington Crossing Historic Park) and Jan. 1. Please be aware that some sites may also adjust schedules on the days before or after the actual holiday. Some additional seasonal closures kick in during December, as well, and winter weather can be a factor. It's never a bad idea to check ahead to avoid disappointment. Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Dec. 1: Exhibit opening—"Anthracite Photographers: Photographers of Anthracite" explores over 140 years of photography in Pennsylvania's hard coal region (read more on Facebook page). An opening reception, sponsored by Misericordia University, will take place at 2 pm (museum admission will be free on 12/1 from 1 pm onward). Museum open 9 am-5 pm.
Dec. 15: Breakfast with Santa—there will be lots of activities for kids at this new event. Watch the museum's Facebook page for event details and a link for purchasing tickets. 10 am-noon.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Dec. 8: Colonial Christmas Party—kids age 4-12 are invited to learn about and make homemade decorations, learn a colonial-era dance, and enjoy a snack. Cost is $5 per child. Advance registration is required: contact Marlene at 724/744-4193 or secretary@bushyrunbattlefield.com. 2-4 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Dec. 2: Christmas Open House—enjoy one last chance to visit the homestead in 2018 (site will be open by appointment only until Charter Day in March). The Visitor Center Bookstore will be open and books will be marked down 10% (more details on the Facebook event page). Guided tours will be available. Admission is free; donations gratefully accepted. Noon-4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Dec. 1: Christmas at Cornwall House Tour—this annual tour lets you explore private homes in the Cornwall/Lebanon/Mount Gretna area (info on this year's homes) while supporting the Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace. Tickets are $15 in advance at several locations in the community and at the Furnace. Tickets are $20 on the day of the tour and are available only at the Iron Furnace. Your ticket includes a guided tour of the Furnace, which you may redeem during regular operating hours up through Dec. 29, 2017. Light refreshments will be offered throughout the day at the Furnace. 10 am-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Dec. 7-8: Christkindlmarket—crafts, wine, candlelight, and shopping (details on the Boone home page). Admission is $7 for ages 12 and up (members pay less). Check website for info on combo ticket ($10) with the "Christmas at Johanna Furnace" event. Tickets available by calling 610/582-4900. DBH event is 4-9 pm both days.

Drake Well Museum
Dec. 29: Something More Saturday—enjoy family-friendly activities and learning added to the museum's regular offerings (watch the Facebook event page for details). Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
Dec. 1-2: Christmas at Eckley—from carolers to cocoa, crafts to St. Nick, you are sure to find something delightful in this old-fashioned Christmas celebration (details on Facebook event page). Admission is $7 per person; bring an unexpired, non-perishable food item and receive $1 off your ticket.

Ephrata Cloister
Dec. 10-11: Christmas at the Cloister—this popular annual program combines seasonal readings and traditional music performed by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus in the 1741 Meetinghouse (Saal). Performance times are 6:30 and 8 pm each evening. UPDATE 12/3: the 6:30 performance on 12/10 is sold out, but tickets remain for other performances. Tickets are $6 per person and seating is limited. Purchase tickets from the Museum Store by calling 717/733-2592 or order by mail (see website for instructions) You may also want to keep an eye on the Facebook event page for updates on ticket availability and to see a video.
Dec. 26-29: Lantern Tours—explore Ephrata's history with help from Student Historians and theatrical presentations throughout the grounds. This year's program asks the question, "What Would the Neighbors Think?" and will examine the Ephrata community's role among the many religious faiths found in Lancaster County. Visitors will be invited to share their opinions of the historic community as well. Tours leave from the visitor center every half hour from 6:30 to 8 pm. Admission: $10 (age 18-64), $9 (age 65+), $7 (age 6-17), $5 (age 3-5); members receive a discount. Reservations are required and tickets (on sale as of Dec. 1) do sell out; call 717/433-6600 to reserve your spot.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
Dec. 8: The Christmas Tree Ship—Niagara will be lit up for Christmas, and there will be lots of family activities, a visit with Santa and a live reindeer (due to arrive at 5:45 pm), and the story of The Christmas Tree Ship (more program details on the website). Admission is free. The museum is a Toys for Tots collection site. For $50, you can sponsor a Christmas tree and decorations for a local family (sponsorships are payable online). 5:30-8:30 pm.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on programs and schedules.

Graeme Park
Dec. 6: Gingerbread House Workshop—you'll work with a kit and receive instructions and then you'll be free to let your creativity loose (more info on website). Light refreshments will be served. Cost is $15 per person. Space is limited. Prepaid reservations required; contact Beth at beth.maccausland@gmail.com or 215-915-9453. 7-9 pm.
Dec. 16: Colonial Beer Brewing Demonstration—the brewer will be in the summer kitchen making a batch of house beer and talking about ingredients, processes, and history (more info). Demo is free; admission charged to tour the Keith House. 11 am-2 pm.

Hope Lodge
Dec. 1: Holidays at Hope Lodge—tour the mansion at your leisure to enjoy the festive decorations and enjoy light refreshments (details on the website). Admission charged, but at a reduced rate for this event. Visitors age 21 and older (with ID) will, for an additional fee, be able to taste seasonal ales from Round Guys Brewing Company in the summer kitchen. 11 am-5 pm.
Dec. 8: Christmas Tours—guided tours of the mansion will be offered at 10 and 11:30 am, 1 and 2:30 pm. Refreshments will be served in the summer kitchen, and the Museum Shop will be open for holiday shopping. Regular admission charged. Site open 10 am-4 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Dec. 1-2: Country Christmas Village—this year's event has a new twist, exploring Christmas as seen in books and stories by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, O.Henry, and others (more info on the website). What influence did Pennsylvania German traditions have on these classics? Children can learn about the history of Santa Claus and (with parental permission) post a letter to Santa at the Landis Valley Post Office ($1 postage) and receive a reply from the North Pole. Musical entertainment will be provided in the Yellow Barn (different performers each day). The Museum Store will be hosting their annual Artisan Showcase with loads of handcrafted goodies. There is no charge to visit the Museum Store. For everything else, admission is: Age 12-64, $12; age 65+, $10; age 3-11, $8; LVA members and age 2 and under, free. Online ticket purchase available via Brown Paper Tickets. Saturday, 10 am-4 pm; Sunday, noon-4 pm.
Dec. 4 and 8: Days of the Belsnickel—enjoy dinner (12/4) or lunch (12/8) along with holiday shopping, storytellers, dancing, and a visit with the Belsnickel (a PA German tradition). Reservations are required and can be made online, via email, or by phone (lunch details, dinner details).
Dec. 14: Holiday at Landis Valley Bonfire—caroling, a blazing bonfire, wagon rides, hot cider and cookies (details). And it’s free—Landis Valley’s gift to the community. Return the favor by bringing non-perishable food items to donate to the Lancaster Food Bank. 6-8:30 pm.
Dec. 27 & 28: Winter Day Camp—a different theme each day to make the days go faster. Cost for both days is $55 per child, $40 per child for LVA members (details here). Registration is required, and space is limited; call the museum's education department at 717/569-0401 x228. 8:30 am-12:30 pm each day.

Old Economy Village
Dec. 1-2: Christmas at the Village—enjoy entertainment by local musicians and shop for a wide array of gifts and food items. Children will find activities just for them and can even visit with mean old Belsnickel (details). Admission charged; please purchase tickets at the Visitor Center, as no tickets will be sold at the Village gate. Saturday, 2-9 pm; Sunday, 2-7 pm. (Note: Ambridge's Christmas in the Historic District will also take place Dec. 1-2 from 10 am to 7 pm, so you may want to do both.)
Dec. 6, 14: Christmas Homeschool Tour—this Christmas-themed program is geared for students in preschool through third grade. Activities (details on the website) include crafts, decorations, and a visit with Belsnickel. Cost is $5 per person. Space is limited, and reservations are required by Dec. 4. Please email David Miller to make reservations. 1-2:30 pm.
Dec. 8: Meet Belsnickel—he's grumpy but you know you want to meet him. Belsnickel (a PA German tradition) will be on hand and receiving visitors. You'll also be able to decorate cookies and enjoy some cold mulled cider. Cost is $5 per person. Reserve your spot by calling 724/266-4500 x113. 11 am-2 pm.
Dec. 13: Christmas Dinner—join with other supporters of Old Economy for a festive evening of dining and music in the Feast Hall (details). Reservations are required. Doors open at 6 pm.
Dec. 15: Intermediate Blacksmithing Class—two of OEV's regular blacksmithing demonstrators will teach this class, which is designed for folks who know some of the basics and want to take their skills up a notch. Participants must be at least 18 years old. The class is FREE, but space is limited. Register by Dec. 8 by contacting David Miller. 10 am-1 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
Dec. 6-7: Holly Nights—a special opportunity to see Pennsbury illuminated by candlelight, bonfires, and hearth fires. Enjoy caroling, hot cider, and throwing a green sprig on the Yule log for luck (details on the website). Admission charged (purchase tickets online thru Ticketleap). 6-9 pm both nights.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Dec. 8: Santa in the Shay—St. Nick will forgo his sleigh in favor of a geared locomotive as he listens to children's requests. Take an instant photo and turn it into an ornament, browse unique gifts from local artisans and the museum store, and enjoy hot cocoa (Facebook event page has details). Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Noon-4pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Throughout the month of December—a Selective Service Registration Card for Mr. S. Claus will be on temporary exhibit during regular operating hours. Wed.-Sat., 10 am-4 pm; Sun., noon-4 pm.
Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Tribute—77 years ago on December 7th, the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Hawaii was attacked by aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy. America was at war. The tribute is held beneath the guns of the battleship USS Pennsylvania, which was a witness to that attack. Light refreshments will be served in the museum auditorium following the tribute ceremony. 12:45 p.m.
Dec. 16: Christmas with the Troops—the museum will show "Bob Hope's 1967 Christmas Tour," revisiting a time when nearly half a million Americans were stationed in Southeast Asia (more info on the website). 1:30-2:30 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Dec. 1 and 8: Home for the Holidays—costumed engineers, conductors, ticket agents, and passengers representing the past century bring historic rail travel to life. Kids can visit with Santa or work with a telegrapher to send a Christmas telegram to the North Pole. Holiday music, refreshments (while supplies last), and shopping are part of the day too (lots more details). Included in regular admission (extra charge for Christmas with the Conductor parties, call the museum at 717/687-8628 to check availability). 9 am-5 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the planetarium webpage for info on shows and schedules.
Dec. 7: StoryTime—visit the museum's Transportation Gallery and read Little Plane Learns to Write by author/illustrator Stephen Savage. You'll also make a small plane of your own to take home. Included in general admission and intended for children age 3-5 with an adult. 10-11 am.
Dec. 13: Nature Lab—in today's program, "Pre-Historic Deer (Cervids)," learn about the ancestors of today's white-tail deer and Santa's reindeer with curator of paleontology, Dr. Steven Janiski. Included in general admission. 11:30 am-12:30 pm.
Dec. 20: Curiosity Kids—children ages 3 to 6 (and their grown-ups) are invited to the Village Square for "An Old Fashioned Christmas." Included in general admission, but space is limited, so be sure to sign up at the admissions desk when you arrive. 11:30 am.
Dec. 28: Noon Year’s Celebration—ring in 2019 a little early at this program designed for younger children and their families. Crafts, dancing, and a planetarium show, plus the big countdown in Memorial Hall at noon. Included in general admission. Timed tickets for Curiosity Connection will be limited. Regular rates apply for planetarium shows. 10 am-1 pm (Curiosity Connection closes at 2 pm).

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the WCHP events page for details on the annual crossing reenactments and other events.