Memorial Day Weekend

Photo via PA Military Museum Facebook page

This weekend the Pennsylvania Military Museum will present "Life at the Front: World War II," which includes an encampment on the grounds Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, plus a daily lecture at 2 pm. Please see the event listing below for details. Last Sunday, the Museum hosted the annual 28th Division memorial service and reunion with military honors, a wreath-laying at the 28th Infantry Division shrine, and displays of current military equipment alongside the Museum's historical examples (PMM posted a short video on their Facebook page that gives you a flavor of the event).

Like most sites on the PA Trails of History, the Military Museum participates in the Blue Star Museums program, which provides free admission for active duty military members and their families. That program is in effect through Labor Day (we offer Blue Star admissions throughout the year). For more information, please visit the Blue Star Museums website.

Most Trails of History sites will be closed on Monday, May 30, for Memorial Day, but the Pennsylvania Military Museum and Fort Pitt Museum will be open regular hours that day.

And before we move on to the events calendar for the coming week, I'll just note that utility work at the Bushy Run Battlefield visitor center (which we mentioned here last week) continues, so the site will remain closed this weekend, with planned reopening on Wednesday, June 1. However, the grounds are open daily 8 am to dusk, and the Bushy Run Market will take place from 8 am to noon tomorrow, May 28.

Up Next

Saturday, May 28

• Community Yard Sale (in-person), 9 am-5 pm, PA Lumber Museum
• Vendors will set up near the museum's entrance along U.S. Route 6 (PLM events calendar).

• Life at the Front: World War II (in-person), Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm, PA Military Museum
• Explore an Army camp and talk to living historians about life on the front lines of World War II; learn how the pivotal Battle of Hurtgen Forest changed the course of the war and the lives of the soldiers who fought in it. Encampment open 10 am-4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Donations requested (Life at the Front info). On Saturday at 2 pm, Mike Siggins will present the story of his uncle, U.S. Army PFC Richard C. Van Dyke, who was killed in action in September 1944. On Sunday at 2 pm, Jared Frederick will discuss Lt. Ronald Speirs, a member of the famed Band of Brothers.

Sunday, May 29

• Animals at Pennsbury (in-person), 1-4 pm, Pennsbury Manor
• Learn about the lives of the animals at Pennsbury, past and present. Included in regular admission (Animals at Pennsbury info).

Monday, May 30

• Allegheny Mountain Region AACA Car Show (in-person), 9 am-4 pm, PA Military Museum
• Annual summer season kickoff featuring many pre-WWII vehicles through modern classics. On-site parking for the show is $5 (car show info).

Tuesday, May 31

• Sensory Hours (in-person), 3-5 pm, Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, noise, and crowd levels will be reduced, and their will be some quiet areas if you need a break from the action. Several historic trains will be open, with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets ($7) required (Sensory Hours info and tickets).

Wednesday, June 1

• Historical & Archival Records Care Grants webinar (virtual), 10 am, PA State Archives
• Staff will provide an overview of the grant program, define eligibility, and offer suggestions for competitive applications. Offered via Zoom: register for June 1 (see below to register for same program offered June 21).

Friday, June 3

• StoryTime (in-person), 10:30-11:30 am, The State Museum of PA
• Read Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand and make your own windsock to learn about the power of the wind. Included in regular admission (StoryTime info).

• First Fridays (in-person), 5:30-8:30 pm, Somerset Historical Center
• Enjoy a relaxing evening with live music and food for purchase from local food trucks. Some covered seating is provided, but feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Parking fee is $5 per car (First Fridays info).

Saturday, June 4

• Armies Through the Ages (in-person), 9 am-5 pm, Bushy Run Battlefield
• Military reenactors from the medieval period through World War II will share what it was like to be a soldier in a range of time periods (Armies Thru the Ages info).

• Ales & Petals/Cars & Motorcycles of England Car Show, 10 am-4 pm, Hope Lodge
• Family fun includes food (for purchase), classic British cars and motorcycles, and live music. Those age 21+ with photo ID can also enjoy craft beer from Round Guys Brewing (for purchase). Admission for age 13 and up is $10 per person; tickets available in advance (Event info and tickets).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Historical & Archival Records Care Grants webinar (virtual), Tues., June 21, 10 am, PA State Archives
• Staff will provide an overview of the grant program, define eligibility, and offer suggestions for competitive applications. Offered via Zoom: register for June 21.

• Agnes and the Demise of the Cornwall Iron Mines (virtual), Tuesday, June 7, 7-8 pm, Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Mike Weber will talk about the history of the Cornwall Iron Mines, leading up to the damage from Tropical Storm Agnes that eventually caused the mines to close in 1973. The program is free; please register to receive the link (Cornwall Iron Mines info and registration).

• Archives Without Tears (AWOT) Key Concepts, Wed., June 8, 10 am-noon, PA State Archives
• Watch any or all of the AWOT modules on YouTube, including the new "Introduction to Born-Digital Records" module, and then join a panel of archivists who will answer questions and offer practical solutions (register for June 8 live chat).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), Friday, June 10, 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA
• State Museum director Beth Hager will present a behind-the-scenes look at the new exhibition A Place for All: Three Stories of Integration in Pennsylvania, opening June 17. The program is free; please register to receive the Zoom link (Learn at Lunchtime registration).

• Sensory Friendly Visit (in-person), Wednesday, June 8, 10 am-3 pm, and Sunday, June 19, 10 am-noon, PA Military Museum
• Sound effects in the gallery will be turned off, and the volume on the orientation video will be lowered (captions always enabled). Please register in advance for a time slot; you can pay when you arrive (Sensory visit info and tickets).

• PHMC Virtual Collections Showcase, Thursday, June 9, 7-8 pm
• This month's theme is "sets of artifacts." Panelists from five Trails of History sites will present objects from their collections, then the audience will vote on their favorite. The program is free; please register to receive the Zoom link (Showcase registration).

• Fabric and Fiber in PA's Forests (virtual), Thursday, June 9, 7-8 pm, PA Lumber Museum
• Museum staff Josh Roth and Josh Fox will highlight fabric and clothing items in the collection, along with selected images from the photographic archive. The program is free and offered in partnership with the Galeton Worldwide Knitting in Public knitters and fiber artists (Fabric and Fiber info and registration).

• Log Birling Clinic (in-person), Saturday, June 11, 1-3 pm, PA Lumber Museum
• Join museum staff to learn how to stay on top of a rolling log while your opponent falls off. Registration is required (Clinic info and registration).

• Brews & Bites, Saturday, June 25, 4-8 pm, Pennsbury Manor
• This event features breweries from the Bucks County Ales Trail along with live music, food trucks, 17th-century brewing demonstrations, lawn games, and more on the banks of the Delaware River. General admission is $40 (includes beer tastings); designated driver tickets are $25 (Brews & Bites tickets).

• Drake Well Marathon and Half (in-person and virtual), Sunday, 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).

Summer Camps on the Trails of History (in-person and virtual)

• Bushy Run Battlefield
• Summer History Day Camp; Ages 6-11; June 20-22

• Drake Well Museum & Park
• Discovery Days Camp; Ages 8-12; July 7, 14, 21, & 28

• Joseph Priestley House
• Summer History Camp; Grades 1-6; July 27-29

• Pennsbury Manor
• Colonial Camp; Ages 6-8; July 11-15
• Time Travelers Camp; Ages 9-12; July 18-22

• Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
• History Camp; Ages 10-18; August 6-7

• Railroad Museum of PA
• Behind the Scenes of Railroading Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; June 28-30
• Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 9-10; July 12-15
• Barons & Builders Day Camp; Ages 11-12; July 26-29
• A Moveable Feast Virtual Summer Camp; Ages 9-12; Aug. 2-4

Agriculture and Art!

Please be sure to check the PHMC Events Calendar for information on upcoming programs (in-person and virtual). I've included highlights below. The Trailheads Rec Room pages to the right of your screen offer an array of online content generated by Trails of History sites. Also a quick reminder that PHMC sites participate in the Blue Star Museums and Museums for All programs.

Staff and volunteers at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum harvesting flax (photo Heirloom Seed Project)

My thanks for this week's opening photo go to Joanne Ranck-Dirks of the Heirloom Seed Project at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. Joanne sent along a series of photos, along with an explanation of the effort:

The flax harvest is underway at Landis Valley. This historic crop is planted in early April and harvested in mid-July. After drying in our hoop house, the flax is retted in a tub of water and dried again. We use the flax in our textile barn to show how it is processed into linen fiber. We also sell the flax straw to other historic sites and individual spinners and weavers.

Landis Valley's Farm and Garden Manager, Joe Schott, stacks flax bundles to begin drying 

I've saved some additional photos and info on a separate Landis Valley Flax Harvest page. Thanks, Joanne, and all the folks at Landis Valley for this update on your work.

Last weekend, Old Economy Village received a visit from the family of artist Richard Hay Kenah (1907-1982), who painted a mural of George Rapp and other members of the Harmony Society that now hangs in the Visitor Center. The mural, painted in 1934 on a canvas backing, was originally adhered to a wall at Ambridge High School and then painted over. It was later rediscovered by the Ambridge School District and donated to Old Economy. Following an extensive conservation effort that involved removing plaster and constructing a frame, the mural was installed in Old Economy's new Visitor Center when it opened in 2002. The site posted a photo of the artist's son Chris with the mural.

Upcoming Events (in-person and virtual)

Today, July 30

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), curator Katie McGowan will talk about a 1946 silk wedding dress made from a surplus WWII parachute, State Museum of PA, 12:15-12:45 pm (SMP web link for info and registration)

Sunday, August 1

• Garden Party and Oxygen Day (in-person), spend some time in the gardens (11 am-12:30 pm) and learn about Dr. Priestley's discovery of oxygen (1-4 pm), Joseph Priestley House (JPH Facebook page for details)
• Living History Sunday, guided tours will be offered, Conrad Weiser Homestead, noon-4 pm (CWH website)

Wednesday, August 4

• Explore! (in-person), kids in grades 3-5 are invited to learn about Pennsylvania Turtles, State Museum of PA, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, included in general admission - sign up at Ground Floor Information Desk (Explore! info)

Thursday, August 5

• Curiosity Kids (in-person), help kids K-Grade 2 discover what natural resources are, State Museum of PA, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, included in general admission - sign up at Ground Floor Information Desk (Curiosity Kids info)

So Much to Do

Happy First Day of Summer! With so much activity on the Trails of History, I've edited last week's post to focus on this weekend through next Thursday. The full June program page is still up if you're looking for info about next weekend, and the July page will be posted by the middle of next week (I'll add a link here when it's finished baking). Best wishes for a great weekend!

The historic meetinghouse (right) at Ephrata Cloister will be the setting for a performance by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus on Saturday, June 22 (details below). The drawing above was included on a note from a school student who recently visited the site (original and others are on Facebook)

Brandywine Battlefield
June 23: History in the Neighborhood—learn about other historic sites in the Brandywine area. Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
June 22: Bushy Run Market—local vendors and artisans will be onsite on the 4th Saturday of each month through September. Admission for the market is free for visitors (more info on website for prospective vendors). 8 am-noon.

Eckley Miners’ Village
June 22-23: Patch Town Days—this year's program will focus on Italian immigrants to the anthracite region and the influence of Italian culture. There will be live music, dance performances, living history demonstrations, bocce ball, and village tours (see website for additional details). Admission charged. 10 am-5 pm both days.

Ephrata Cloister
June 22: Concert—the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will present a 20-minute program highlighting the community's musical heritage. The concert, which will take place in the original 1741 Saal (meetinghouse), is included in regular admission. Guided tours of selected buildings are offered at 10 am, noon, 2 and 3:30 pm; the concert will take place at 1 pm.

Suffragists marching in Perry Centennial Parade, 1913 Suffragists marching in Perry Week Parade, ca. 1916-19 (photo from Erie Maritime Museum exhibit, courtesy of T. McLaughlin) [my thanks to an eagle-eyed reader and photo historian for the correction to my caption]

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Through June 30: Blue Star Museum exhibit—several items from the collection are on display in recognition of the museum's participation in the Blue Star Museums program (please note: most Trails of History sites are Blue Star Museums). The items are related to the World War I service of William L. Morrison and William H. Stine. The collection includes the earliest use of the Blue Star Flag, incorporated into personal items and a commercially-made flag to represent a man serving in the front lines. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours.
June 24th: Voting Rights Centennial—in honor of the centennial of the PA legislature’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, the museum has partnered with the Erie County League of Women Voters to offer a voter registration event in the Museum lobby 11 am-5 pm. The League of Women Voters will provide voter registration forms and information, as well as light refreshments. The Museum will display historic images and headlines from the July 8, 1913, Suffrage Parade that took place during Erie’s Perry Centennial celebrations. Erie’s Equal Franchise Association held Pennsylvania’s first suffrage march as part of the Women and Children’s Day during the Perry Centennial Week. Citizens not yet registered to vote are invited to mark this important anniversary by registering.

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

Hope Lodge
UPDATE: Hope Lodge will not be open for Sunday tours June 23, 30, or July 7. They expect to reopen on July 14. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Old Economy Village
June 24-28: Art Camp—students will use the exhibits, buildings, and gardens as inspiration as they learn various art media and techniques. Camp is open to students age 6 (if they've completed kindergarten) to 12 (registration info). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Hops growing in the garden at Pennsbury Manor (via Facebook)

Pennsbury Manor
June 23: Sunday Programming—Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights - visit the gardens and the brew house to see what's on offer. (Note: you might also want to get your tickets for Brews & Bites on June 29 - VIP and designated driver tickets are already sold out.) Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
June 22-23—the 1 pm guided tour is included in regular admission (normally an additional charge).

Pennsylvania State Archives
June 26: Archives Without Tears—this popular workshop presented by State Archives staff will be offered at The Hershey Story Museum on June 26. Details about the workshop agenda and instructions for registering with the host organization are available via the PA Museums website.

Somerset Historical Center
June 27: Lecture—presented in conjunction with the Heinz History Center and sponsored by The Fraternal Order of Eagles #1801, "The Fate of Four of Pennsylvania's Founding Fathers" explores the financial struggles faced by four signers of the Declaration of Independence (details on the website). Historian Perry K. Blatz will take a deep dive into the economic volatility of the early United States. Admission is free. 6-8 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please check the website for schedule and descriptions of planetarium shows.
June 21: Summer Fridays and Learn at Lunchtime—starting today and continuing through Aug. 23, Fridays are "Pay as you will." From 10 am to 3 pm, entrance to Curiosity Connection will be by timed tickets (numbers are limited). Regular fees apply for the Planetarium. Learn at Lunchtime program offered 12:15-12:45 pm: Wild Bird Adaptations. Museum is open 9 am-5 pm.
June 23: Exhibit opening and reception—“Art of the State,” the annual juried exhibition of Pennsylvania artists, opens today and continues through Sept. 8. Museum admission is free on June 23. Museum open noon-5 pm, exhibit awards ceremony begins at 1:30.
June 26, 27: Nature Lab—visit Nature Lab to learn about Leaf Identification (6/26) and Dinosaurs in Pennsylvania (6/27) from museum curators. Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing Historic Park events page for info on events and programs.

On the Trails of History, June 14-27

The June program page takes you all the way to June 30, so if you're planning ahead, be sure to check it out.

Brandywine Battlefield will host a living history program this Sunday (photo via Facebook)

Brandywine Battlefield
June 16: 18th Century Day—learn about life in the 18th century through living history presentations. Admission charged. Noon-4 pm.
June 23: History in the Neighborhood—learn about other historic sites in the Brandywine area. Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
June 15: Wilderness Day—a day of hands-on learning about chores and skills of daily life. Designed for adults and children. Registration and payment required by June 1 (see website for forms). $15 per person. 10 am-3 pm.
June 19: History Speaks Series—this month's topic is "The Jacobites: History and Culture," presented by the Thompson Highlanders. $10 in advance, $12 at the door (members receive 10% discount). More information is on the website. 7 pm.
June 22: Bushy Run Market—local vendors and artisans will be onsite on the 4th Saturday of each month through September. Admission for the market is free for visitors (more info on website for prospective vendors). 8 am-noon.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
June 15: Revolutionary War Demo—the 1st Regiment Flying Camp of Lancaster County will provide a living history program at the site (more info on Facebook event page or in this article from Leb Town). 9 am-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
June 15: Evening on the Green—this program includes food vendors, A'Dello Vineyard and Winery, Frecon's Cidery, and live music by Hogan's Heroes (a local band that plays classic rock and blues). Bring your lawn chairs or blankets for a relaxing evening (more info on Facebook event page). Admission is $7 per person for age 13 and up; free for age 12 and under. 5-9 pm.

Eckley Miners’ Village
June 22-23: Patch Town Days—this year's program will focus on Italian immigrants to the anthracite region and the influence of Italian culture. There will be live music, dance performances, living history demonstrations, bocce ball, and village tours (see website for additional details). Admission charged. 10 am-5 pm both days.

Ephrata Cloister
(Listing added 6/19) June 22: Concert—the Ephrata Cloister Chorus will present a 20-minute program highlighting the community's musical heritage. The concert, which will take place in the original 1741 Saal (meetinghouse), is included in regular admission. Guided tours of selected buildings are offered at 10 am, noon, 2 and 3:30 pm; the concert will take place at 1 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara will commemorate the 207th anniversary of U.S. declaration of war on Great Britain in 1812 (see below for June 18 program info)

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Through June 30: Blue Star Museum exhibit—several items from the collection are on display in recognition of the museum's participation in the Blue Star Museums program (please note: most Trails of History sites are Blue Star Museums). The items are related to the World War I service of William L. Morrison and William H. Stine. The collection includes the earliest use of the Blue Star Flag, incorporated into personal items and a commercially-made flag to represent a man serving in the front lines. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours.
June 18: 207th Anniversary of the War of 1812—the museum will be commemorating the anniversary of the U.S. declaration of war on Great Britain and kicking off this summer's "Experience History Rolling Cart" program (available Tuesday-Saturday through August 31). See if you have what it takes to serve in Commodore Perry's Lake Erie fleet. Take a recruiting "exam", pack your seabag, learn the ropes and see if you can lift a 12 pound cannon ball with the help of mechanical advantage. Ask about the new maritime art scavenger hunt while you're there. Included in regular admission. Noon-2 pm.
June 24th: Voting Rights Centennial—in honor of the centennial of the PA legislature’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, the museum has partnered with the Erie County League of Women Voters to offer a voter registration event in the Museum lobby 11 am-5 pm. The League of Women Voters will provide voter registration forms and information, as well as light refreshments. The Museum will display historic images and headlines from the July 8, 1913, Suffrage Parade that took place during Erie’s Perry Centennial celebrations. Erie’s Equal Franchise Association held Pennsylvania’s first suffrage march as part of the Women and Children’s Day during the Perry Centennial Week. Citizens not yet registered to vote are invited to mark this important anniversary by registering.
Through Fall 2019: New exhibit—“Ballast Technology: Saving Ships, Lives, and the Environment” features a history of materials used to ballast ships, as well as disasters resulting from improperly ballasted vessels. The traveling panels, sponsored by The Great Lakes Protection Fund, also focus on the need to remove invasive species from ballast water in modern ships. Erie Maritime Museum has augmented the panels with exhibit cases featuring Niagara’s ballast, 200 years ago and today, as well as examples of ballast water-borne invasive species, courtesy of PA Sea Grant. Along with environmental issues, invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels also pose a real threat to our underwater maritime heritage when they build colonies on shipwrecks. The exhibit displays dramatic images of the War of 1812 wrecks Hamilton and Scourge in Lake Ontario, showing damage done by these mussels over the past 30 years. Included in regular admission.

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

Graeme Park
June 16: Living History Sunday—learn about tavern games in the colonial era from costumed living history interpreters. The living history demos are free; fee for tours of the Keith House will be $5 for ages 12 and up, $3 for ages 3-11 (free for dads). Food and drink will be available for purchase, or you can bring a picnic lunch. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge recently hosted the Ambler Symphony for an outdoor concert (photo via Facebook)

Hope Lodge
UPDATE: Hope Lodge will not be open for Sunday tours June 23, 30, or July 7. They expect to reopen on July 14. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Old Economy Village
June 15: Introduction to Woodworking—learn about basic techniques and tools used in the 19th century. Class is free, but space is limited (registration info). 10 am-1 pm.
UPDATE 6/20 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED June 20: Culture and Foods of the Eastern European Immigrants—this event kicks off a new food series that will explore different cultures through food. Chris Furis is today's presenter. The event is free, but you must pre-register by calling the site at 724/266-4500. 7-8 pm.
June 24-28: Art Camp—students will use the exhibits, buildings, and gardens as inspiration as they learn various art media and techniques. Camp is open to students age 6 (if they've completed kindergarten) to 12 (registration info). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
June 15: Colonial Catwalk—try on reproduction 17th-century clothing and take it for a walk around the grounds. This is a members only event, but it's very easy to join (info on the website). 10 am-4 pm.
June 16 & 23: Sunday Programming—June 16, Open Hearth Cooking—the cooks will prepare 17th-century beverages; June 23, Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights—visit the gardens and the brew house to see what's on offer. Sunday programs included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
June 20: Paint & Sip—you'll be guided through the creation of an architectural painting inspired by the beauty of Pennsbury Manor. BYOB. Reservations required (more info on website). 6-8 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
June 15: Third Weekend Program—Linda Ordiway, a wildlife biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society, will discuss Pennsylvania's state bird (designated in 1931) and other topics related to forest and wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania. Included in regular admission. 1 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
June 14: Flag Day Programs—from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, the Bellefonte Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will present a program honoring Anna Keichline, architect, inventor, suffragist, and special agent in military intelligence during World War I (details on museum website and PHMC historical marker database). Featured speaker is Nancy Perkins FIDSA, DAR member and Keichline's great niece. From 6 to 7 pm, State College Elks Lodge and local veterans organizations will hold their annual Flag Day service and U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony on the Shrine parade grounds. Attendees are invited to bring U.S. flags that are no longer serviceable; the flags will be disposed of properly.
June 15-16, 22-23—on weekends in June, the 1 pm guided tour is included in regular admission (normally an additional charge).
June 16: The True Story of Winnie the Pooh—this presentation and movie explore the story of a Canadian Regimental veterinarian in World War I, a bear that ended up in the London Zoo, and how they inspired author A.A. Milne. Donations encouraged. 1:30-2:30 pm.

Pennsylvania State Archives
June 26: Archives Without Tears—this popular workshop presented by State Archives staff will be offered at The Hershey Story Museum on June 26. Details about the workshop agenda and instructions for registering with the host organization are available via the PA Museums website.

Calliope Brass (photo via Facebook)

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
June 15: Brass Quintet—Calliope Brass will be performing “Iron Horse” at the museum at 11 am and again at noon. This tribute to steam engines is a new composition for brass quintet by Kevin McKee. The New York-based Calliope Brass is an innovative ensemble on a mission to bring stories to life through music; they play a repertoire ranging from jazz to classical, pops to swing, and everything in between. Included in regular admission.

Somerset Historical Center
June 27: Lecture—presented in conjunction with the Heinz History Center, "The Fate of Four of Pennsylvania's Founding Fathers" explores the financial struggles faced by four signers of the Declaration of Independence (details on the website). Historian Perry K. Blatz will take a deep dive into the economic volatility of the early United States. Admission is free. 6-8 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please check the website for schedule and descriptions of planetarium shows.
June 20: Curiosity Kids—explore Bubbles of all types. The program is designed for kids ages 3-6 to bridge the activities in Curiosity Connection with galleries in the museum. Included in general admission, but space is limited, so be sure to sign up at the front desk when you arrive. 11:30 am-noon.
June 21: Summer Fridays and Learn at Lunchtime—starting June 21 and continuing through Aug. 23, Fridays are "Pay as you will." From 10 am to 3 pm, entrance to Curiosity Connection will be by timed tickets (numbers are limited). Regular fees apply for the Planetarium. Learn at Lunchtime program offered 12:15-12:45 pm: Wild Bird Adaptations. Museum is open 9 am-5 pm.
June 23: Exhibit opening and reception—“Art of the State,” the annual juried exhibition of Pennsylvania artists, opens today and continues through Sept. 8. Museum admission is free on June 23. Museum open noon-5 pm, exhibit awards ceremony begins at 1:30. ADDED 6/24: check out this cool interactive map showing the works of art and where the artists are from.
June 26, 27: Nature Lab—visit Nature Lab to learn about Leaf Identification (6/26) and Dinosaurs in Pennsylvania (6/27) from museum curators. Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing Historic Park events page for info on events and programs.

Memorial Day

Please check the May program listings to see which Trails of History sites will be open on Monday, May 28, and for info on events coming up this weekend. The June program listings are also now available for those of you who like to plan ahead (you know who you are).

Members of the PA National Guard line the 28th Division Shrine at the Pennsylvania Military Museum (via Facebook)

The annual Celebration of Service organized by the Pennsylvania National Guard took place Sunday, May 20, on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Military Museum. The event is a vibrant combination of family reunion, military equipment show, and solemn memorial service. You can get a good sense of the day by browsing the extensive photo album posted on PMM's Facebook page or see how WTAJ-TV covered the event. This weekend the museum will be offering its annual World War II Revisited living history program on Saturday and Sunday.

Remembering fallen soldiers (via Facebook)

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is working to find a photo of every Pennsylvania service member who died as a result of the Vietnam War. The photos are needed to complete the Vietnam Memorial Wall of Faces for Pennsylvania. As of this week, they are missing 30 photos from 8 counties. For a list of names still needing photos and to find out how to submit a photo, visit DMVA's Wall of Faces page.

This is also a good time to note that sites on PHMC's Trails of History participate in the Blue Star Museums program, which provides free regular admission to active duty military members and their immediate families. The Blue Star Museums program runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but the admission offer is good all year on the Trails of History.

Summer Break and Other Odysseys

The June program page is now up and running.

Even for those of us who don't have kids in school and whose school days are long behind us (show of hands?), the end of the school year signals the beginning of summer. Plus it's now hurricane season, so that counts as summer as well, even though the solstice isn't until the 21st.

Summer is the busiest time of year for most sites on the Trails of History. You'll find lots of programs, summer camps, craft workshops. It's a great time to take advantage of outdoor activities at sites, exploring gardens and trails and enjoying numerous festivals. The June program page will get you started with this month's activities, but find your favorite site on social media to get a look at the whole summer.

The Trails of History participate in the Blue Star Museums program, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, providing free regular admission for active duty military and their families. Actually the Trails of History offer that deal all year, so if you know folks who qualify, please be sure to point them in our direction.

Family museum pass programs are available in several parts of the state. While details vary, families can check out a pass good for free general admission and hold onto it for a week. It's a great way for families to explore their local museums. At least one of our sites also noted that the pass had encouraged older visitors as well. Erie Maritime Museum passes are available through the Erie County Library System. Pennsylvania Lumber Museum passes can be found through the Potter-Tioga Library System and the S.W. Smith Library in Port Allegany. Ephrata Cloister, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, and the Railroad Museum of PA are all part of the Library System of Lancaster County Family Museum Pass program. Check it out!

While visiting our sites during the summer (or anytime), we love it when you share your photos. You can do so via sites' Facebook pages or Twitter feeds; some are on Instagram as well. There are often also local or regional opportunities, such as the summer 2017 Bucks County photo and video challenge, promoted here by Pennsbury Manor.


In other news...

Today, June 2, 11 am-4 pm, the Railroad Museum of PA is hosting a blood drive in cooperation with the Central PA Blood Bank (details). In addition to the feeling of doing good for others, donors will receive one free adult admission to the museum and a pair of ticket vouchers for a Lancaster Barnstormers home game during the current season. If you're in the central PA area but can't donate today, visit the blood bank's website for info on additional opportunities.

June 8 is the deadline to register for the Lumber Museum's free Youth and Family Field Day, scheduled for Saturday, June 10. You can find more info and registration details on the museum's Facebook page. Did I mention the event is free? But, you must pre-register.

Today through June 8, the Cinemark Tinseltown in Erie will run a promo for daysails on the U.S. Brig Niagara before all movie showings. Enjoy!

A Tradition of Service

The February program page has info about upcoming events on the PA Trails of History.

My thanks to Linda Bolla at the Erie Maritime Museum for text and photos related to our top story this week.

Echoing Erie’s long relationship with significant events and ships of the U.S. Navy, at least once a year the Erie Maritime Museum is privileged to honor a request from service personnel to hold their reenlistment ceremony at the Museum or onboard Niagara. Last month, the Museum hosted an unprecedented four reenlistments in a two-week period.

Captain James Bier, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, administered the service oath for Staff Sergeant Kristina Perieff and Sergeant Steven Aceves on Jan. 13. Museum docent Lieutenant Colonel Bill Koehle, U. S. Marine Corps Reserves (Ret’d), facilitated arrangements and gave a tour to the Marines directly following the reenlistment ceremony. Marines served in both Oliver Hazard Perry’s squadron at the Battle of Lake Erie and in USS Michigan throughout her long career on the Great Lakes, home port Erie [both stories are told in the Museum's exhibit galleries].

Sgt. Aceves (3rd from left) takes the oath of service as SSgt Perieff (far right) and other Marines look on (photo Linda Bolla)

After the oath of service is given, another important award is always made for the families of active duty personnel. At BU2(SCW) Matthew Pfadt’s reenlistment ceremony on Jan. 19, his parents and fiancee were honored for their support and sacrifices. Matt's reenlistment ceremony and his wedding to Ashley were moved up on short notice as he is soon to be deployed to the Middle East. We wish Matt and his family the very best.

LCDR Baughier (left) honors Matthew Pfadt's (right) family - fiancee Ashley, mom Pam, and dad Jerry (photo Linda Bolla)

On Jan. 26, Petty Officer Jeremy Mong reenlisted and was promoted to “NC1” – Navy Counselor, First Class. Along with some of Petty Officer Mong’s colleagues, Lieutenant Commander Peter Hoegel drove to Erie from Pittsburgh to accept his reenlistment and commend him on his excellent work in recruitment.

LCDR Hoegel (left) congratulates Petty Officer Jeremy Mong on his promotion (photo Linda Bolla)

On a related note, we mentioned last week (or week before) that the Pennsylvania Military Museum (which also serves as a venue for military commissioning ceremonies) was hosting a town hall organized by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Site Administrator Tyler Gum recently received a thank you letter from the acting director of the VA's James E. Van Zandt Medical Center in Altoona, Charles Becker. Becker commended the museum staff and volunteers for their exemplary support of the event and their role in making it a success. "Your facility displays respect and reverence to our Nation's Heroes, and it was our honor to be associated with the Museum."

Thank you all--active duty personnel, reservists, veterans, and families--for your service. And thank you to the staff and volunteers of the Erie Maritime Museum and the Pennsylvania Military Museum for your efforts in honoring our service personnel.

In other news...

The Railroad Museum of PA has reached a significant milestone in their $250,000 "Ready for the Roundhouse" campaign, which will support media blasting, painting, and repair of 5 PRR steam locomotives destined for exhibit in the new Roundhouse. The PA Railroad Technical and Historical Society challenged the Friends of the museum, saying they would match the first $50,000 raised when the campaign was announced in November. They set a deadline of April 15 for the Friends to raise their share. As of Jan. 31, $60,000 has been raised, triggering the match. Combined that puts the museum at not quite halfway to the ultimate fundraising goal. Congratulations to all concerned and thank you to PRRT&HS for their continued support. (Read more here from Lancaster Online.) If you'd like to help them get the rest of the way, you can donate online via the Museum website.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, State Sen. Art Haywood, State Rep. Jordan Harris, DGS Secretary Curt Topper, and PHMC officials marked the beginning of Black History Month by unveiling "Trailblazers: Notable African Americans in Pennsylvania History" at the PA State Capitol. The panel exhibit originated at the State Museum of PA.

The State Historic Preservation Office has reported out some of the results of a public survey that will help inform the next statewide historic preservation plan (covering the period 2018-2022). You can read a summary of the results on the PA Historic Preservation blog; they'll be posting about more detailed analyses periodically in coming months.

A couple of deadlines...

• Undergraduate and graduate students wishing to be considered for this summer's Keystone Internship Program have until next Friday, Feb. 10, to submit their applications.
• The State Museum is accepting entries for the 50th Art of the State exhibit through Feb. 28. Submitting artists must be Pennsylvania residents. All entrants will be notified of the jurors' decisions no later than April 7. The exhibit runs from June 11 to Sept. 10.

Welcoming New Citizens at Pennsbury Manor

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the July program listings and enjoy.

As you may have heard, this year we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of Pennsbury Manor as a historic site. The reconstruction of the Manor House began in the 1930s and the site opened to the public in 1939. Today (July 18) at 10:30 am some 50 people from many different nations will become United States citizens in a ceremony held in front of the Manor House. Congratulations to our new fellow Americans and to the folks at Pennsbury for hosting this meaningful event, as well as the many other events scheduled during this anniversary year to celebrate William Penn's legacy and the Penn family's American home. @PHMC will be live-tweeting the citizenship ceremony (even if you don't catch it live, you can get the details afterward).

The Manor House at Pennsbury Manor

In other news (thanks to sites for sharing on Facebook)...

The Pennsylvania Military Museum, in the lead-up to their "Vietnam Revisited" program this weekend, has been featuring Medal of Honor awardees from Pennsylvania on their Facebook page. A nice tribute, I think. And I'll add a reminder here that all Trails of History sites are participating in the Blue Star Museums program this summer; in fact, we offer free admission to active duty military and their families year-round.

Cornwall Iron Furnace was recently voted Best Historic Attraction in the Lebanon Daily News 2014 Best of the Lebanon Valley list. If I'm not mistaken, they were similarly honored in last year's voting as well. Congratulations to all. You might want to mark your calendars for the August 8 Blast! event in order to see this wonderful site for yourself (or visit it again if you've been there before).

In preparation for their 1940s Weekend (July 26-27), some volunteers at Eckley Miners' Village received some well-timed dance instruction to be "in the mood" (sorry, that one's mine) for Saturday night's Swing Dance. A & M Ballroom Dance guided them through some steps and will be on hand for the dance. Eckley posted a few photos on Facebook. For details on the weekend activities or a bit of info on the 1940s in the anthracite region, visit Eckley's website.

The collections and buildings at Ephrata Cloister have received some good news coverage this past week or so, with the acquisition of a business ledger associated with the community and some interesting graffiti and possibly original paint color found on the Academy building. On top of that, the site has gotten some attention for its summer tour options, with Student Historians, staff, and volunteers providing visitors with more opportunities to explore the history of the site.

Classic cars at Old Economy Village for "An American Celebration"

And I'll wrap this up with a couple of items related to Old Economy Village. Last weekend's program, "An American Celebration," featured a day of activities, live music performances, and classic cars. (OEV's Facebook page has photos to give you a flavor of the event.) Yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had an article spotlighting OEV's curator, Sarah Buffington, her interest in clothing and reenacting, and her work at the site (there's still time to catch the Harmonist clothing exhibit, "A Style of Their Own," before it closes on August 10).

I hope you have a great weekend!

C'mon, Summer!

All you seasonal purists, please cut me a little slack here. I know it’s not really summer until the solstice on June 21st, but Memorial Day weekend means “summer” to me. I’ll be firing up the grill and, I hope, attending my town’s Memorial Day parade and commemoration.

Most sites on the PA Trails of History will be open on Memorial Day (be sure to check the schedule). And Memorial Day kicks off the annual Blue Star Museums program, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense. Participating museums offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day to Labor Day. PA Trails of History sites offer military families free admission year-round, and we are pleased and proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program again this summer.

Andrews Sisters Tribute Show at PMM this weekend

In related news, First Lady (and First Tourist) Susan Corbett's Facebook page included a post yesterday afternoon encouraging people to visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum this weekend for "World War II Revisited," which features encampments, tactical demonstrations, and "Letters from Home," an Andrews Sisters Tribute Show.

A dining car place setting from a past era at the Railroad Museum of PA
photo "credit" Amy K Fox

My Google Alerts (when I finally got around to checking them this week) had several items related to Trails of History sites as destinations:

• The Allentown Morning Call recommended that folks visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s new exhibit, “A First-Class Restaurant on Wheels: The Story of the Railroad Dining Car,” and have a meal on one of the dining cars across the street at the Strasburg Rail Road before spending the night at the Red Caboose Motel, where they could have breakfast in yet another dining car.
• A “pedal-by” of Cornwall Iron Furnace is on the itinerary for June 14’s Round the Valley bicycle ride fundraiser to benefit Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Inc. and Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition.
• Last week, participants in the annual Buick Driving Enthusiasts National Tour stopped by the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum as part of their day in exploring Route 6 in Potter County.
• Earlier this month, Visit Bucks County announced the Spring 2014 Tourism Grant Program awardees, and both of Trails of History sites in Bucks County were on the list. Washington Crossing Historic Park received $25,000 and Pennsbury Manor received $15,000 from the grant fund, which is generated by a portion of the county’s lodging tax. Congratulations!

For information on events and programs this weekend on the Trails of History, check out the program listings for May.

Recapping

The National Endowment for the Humanities Blue Star Museum program for 2013 has ended, but free regular admission for active duty military members and their immediate families is offered year-round on the Trails of History. Click here for the list.

For this year’s Drake Day (August 24), the annual celebration of the first successful well drilled for oil, Drake Well Museum presented an 1860s-style circus—complete with jugglers, acrobats, and fire-eaters—plus a photo booth, art activities by the Titusville Council on the Arts, a vintage band organ brought by Debence Antique Music World, food vendors, storyteller Bill Stumpf, and a petting zoo. By all accounts, a great time was had by all at this first-time (probably not last-time) event. A special admission fee encouraged local families to enjoy a day of entertainment and visit the museum’s regular exhibits as well. Thanks to Bruce Pratt, who shared the video below on Drake Well’s Facebook page.





On the other side of the state, “William Penn” visited Penn Valley School to check out a new mural depicting Pennsbury Manor. Also, in advance of Pennsbury’s 75th anniversary as a museum, summer interns conducted research on the site’s history and posted some of their findings on the blog here, here, and here.

Photo via Pennsbury Manor's Facebook page

We’ve posted lots of info about the War of 1812 bicentennial on Trailheads. Flagship Niagara has spent much of the summer travelling to events around the Great Lakes. On Labor Day, the ship and crew were in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, for a reenactment of the Battle of Lake Erie featuring tall ships as well as quite a few other watercraft. Actor Billy Campbell portrayed Oliver Hazard Perry, transferring from US Brig Lawrence (played by the Windy) to US Brig Niagara (as herself). The Toledo Blade posted a gallery of photos from the event here.

This weekend is Tall Ships Erie 2013, with 10 tall ships, entertainment, and more. Go here for details. Niagara will return to Put-in-Bay next week for a wreath-laying ceremony on Sept. 10, the actual anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie.


Other events this weekend on the Trails of History include Mountain Craft Days (today through Sunday) at Somerset Historical Center, Founder's Day (Saturday) at Ephrata Cloister, and Sunday interpretive programs at Conrad Weiser Homestead, Daniel Boone Homestead, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, and Pennsbury Manor.

Blue Star Museums

Today is the official 2013 launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013. Sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History® are among the participating museums and offer free admission to military families throughout the year. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.