Charter Day Recap

Visitors waiting to see the original Charter at the State Museum of PA on March 12, 2023 (photo via PA Trails of History Facebook page)

Thank you to the more-than-7,000 of you who came out to the PA Trails of History last Sunday to help us celebrate Charter Day, Pennsylvania's Birthday! You helped our sites kick off their spring season or debut new exhibits or highlight living history activities. Thanks also to all the staff and volunteers who geared up for the free day to make sure that all visitors had a great time. We can't do it without all of you. There's more on tap in the week ahead as spring comes to the Trails of History. We hope to see you soon.

Up Next

Saturday, March 18

• Mapping Mammal Hall (in-person); 10 am-Noon; The State Museum of PA
• Did you know that the dioramas in Mammal Hall are based on real locations in Pennsylvania? Locate each of these spots on the giant map of Pennsylvania and discover some interesting facts about our state mammals. Included in regular admission (Mapping Mammal Hall info).

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

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Bradley Smith, archivist and assistant director of the Berks History Center, will present "Dr. Bodo Otto: The Patriot Surgeon of Pennsylvania," who at the age of 65 volunteered his services as a surgeon to the Continental Army. Tickets available starting Feb. 25 (3/18 tickets via Eventbrite).

Tuesday, March 21

• Sensory Hours (in-person); 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, noise, and crowd levels will be lowered, and there will be some quiet spaces if you need a break. Several historic trains will be open, with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance registration is required (Sensory Hours info).

Wednesday, March 22

• 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).

Thursday, March 23

• Winter History Class (virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
• This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentation is "Mountain Mary: Sainted Healer of the PA Dutch" with Patrick Donmoyer, Kutztown Univ., and "Rediscovering the Muhlenberg Family of Trappe, Pennsylvania," with Lisa Minardi, Historic Trappe. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).

• Planting a Seed (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join us as we discover the history of gardening in Pennsylvania. Discover the story of the Burpee Seed Co. and how they changed what we grow today. Plant your own heirloom seeds and watch them grow. Included in regular admission (Planting a Seed program info).

Friday, March 24

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Mark Hand, director, and Matt Reis, deputy director, will provide an overview of Pennsylvania's GreenGov Program and its climate goals for state agencies. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (3/24 Learn at Lunchtime registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); Friday, Mar. 31, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Fine arts curator Amy Hammond will be in conversation with 2022 Art of the State Purchase Award winner Matthew Coté. This virtual program is free, but you must register to receive the link (3/31 Learn at Lunchtime registration).

• Rails & Ales 2023 (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 1, 5:30-9 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Taste craft beers among the museum's world-class collection of historic trains in Rolling Stock Hall. Must be age 21 or older to attend; photo ID required at the door. Advance tickets only; VIP tickets are sold out (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).

• Easter Egg Hunt (in-person); Sunday, Apr. 2, Noon-3 pm; Old Economy Village
• Children age 10 and under are invited to hunt for Easter eggs in the village and visit with the Easter Bunny. The event is free, but you must register in advance (Egg Hunt info and registration).

• Tea with Louisa May Alcott (in-person); Sunday, Apr. 16, 1-2:30 pm; Graeme Park
• Author Louisa May Alcott was born in Pennsylvania in 1832, not far from Graeme Park. In this program, she returns to her home state on a speaking tour following the success of her book, Little Women. She'll read from a selection of her previous works, discuss her life and influences, and seek advice on what to include in the sequel. Enjoy light refreshments and an informal chat after the presentation. Tickets are $10 (Louisa May Alcott 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

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

Happy Birthday, PA!

Please join us this Sunday in celebrating Pennsylvania's birthday with free admission at participating Trails of History sites. See listing below for details and a few examples of special activities planned at sites. Remember that Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 am on Sunday; you wouldn't want to miss out on the fun if you forget to turn your clocks ahead an hour (the ones that don't do it on their own, that is).

The switch from winter to spring schedules continues, so be sure to check ahead before making your plans to visit.

As part of the birthday celebration, ShopPAHeritage.com is offering 10% off all PHMC titles now through March 31.

Up Next

Today, March 10

• Original Pennsylvania Charter on Display (in-person); today through March 17; The State Museum of PA
• PA's 342-year-old Charter is written on parchment using iron gall ink. 51 weeks a year, the State Archives preserves the document in a high-security vault, shielding it from strong light and environmental fluctuations. In honor of PA's birthday, the Charter will be on display at The State Museum (included in regular admission) March 10-11 (10 am-4:30 pm), March 12 (Noon-4:30 pm), March 15-16 (10 am-4:30 pm), and March 17 (10 am-1 pm) (Charter display info).

Saturday, March 11

• Maple Taste & Tour Weekend (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; Somerset Historical Center
• In conjunction with the Somerset County Maple Producers Association, SHC will be open free of charge Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, with activities centered on maple sugar and syrup production (Maple Taste & Tour info).

• Reading on the Rails (in-person); 10 am-4 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Guest readers will share stories among the historic trains at 10:30, 11, 11:30, 1:15, 1:45, 2:15, and 2:45. Kids can also pick up a cardboard suitcase and decorate with stickers they collect at each reading. KPETS therapy dogs will be on site, and of course, all of the museum's regular exhibits will be ready for viewing. Included in regular admission (Reading on the Rails info).

• Daily Life in Colonial PA (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am and 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Discover hands-on objects that explore daily life in colonial Pennsylvania. Try your hand at carrying water, churning butter, cooking meals and playing with period toys and games. Included in regular admission (Colonial Life info).

Sunday, March 12

• Participating PA Trails of History sites will be open free of charge during their regular Sunday hours (PHMC press release has list of sites). Some sites are also planning special activities; here's a selection:
• Daniel Boone Homestead: loads of activities, food trucks and concessions, and a chance to see the Bertolet Sawmill in operation (weather permitting)
• Drake Well Museum & Park: grand opening of a new temporary exhibit, PA Oil: Racing Into the 21st Century
• Eckley Miners' Village: Dr. Philip Mosley will talk about his book, Telling of the Anthracite, at 2 pm and Van Wagner, heritage musician, will perform at 3
• Graeme Park: first 100 visitors get a free cupcake
• Joseph Priestley House: celebrate Dr. Joseph Priestley's birthday as well as Pennsylvania's
• Pennsbury Manor: please bring a non-perishable food item for the site's food drive
• Pennsylvania Lumber Museum: there will be a cooking demo in the recreated lumber camp with homemade apple fritters to sample
• The State Museum of PA: staff from the PA State Archives will be on hand to answer questions about the 1681 Charter and timed tickets will be issued for the Planetarium and Curiosity Connection (if you can't visit in person, check out these virtual Charter Chats from 2021 on YouTube).

Tuesday, March 14

• All About Slag (hybrid); 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Mike Weber will provide a comprehensive overview of slag, including what it is, how it's produced as part of the iron-making process, its characteristics, and why it is so important. Attend in person (Freeman Hall at Cornwall Manor) or online (register for Zoom). Program is free, but donations are appreciated.

Wednesday, March 15

• Homeschool Program (in-person); 10-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Archivist Brett Reigh will discuss the history of the original 1681 Penn Charter and the research resources available at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Explore the process used to create the document, such as iron gall ink, quill pens, parchment paper and block printing, and then create your own document using similar techniques. Registration is required (Homeschool registration link).

Thursday, March 16

• Winter History Class (virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
• This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentation is "From Tabernacle to Cloister: Georg Conrad Beissel and Johannes Kelpius in Early Pennsylvania" with Tom Carroll, Independent Scholar. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).

• Wisdom & Wine (in-person); 5:30-8 pm; Drake Well Museum & Park
• Dr. Sherri A. Mason will present "Plastic Paradox." Admission charged. Lecture is at 6:30. Doors open at 5:30 for socializing and wine tasting from Brokenstraw Valley Winery (Wisdom & Wine info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Mar. 18, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Bradley Smith, archivist and assistant director of the Berks History Center, will present "Dr. Bodo Otto: The Patriot Surgeon of Pennsylvania," who at the age of 65 volunteered his services as a surgeon to the Continental Army. Tickets available starting Feb. 25 (3/18 tickets via Eventbrite).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); Friday, Mar. 24, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Mark Hand, director, and Matt Reis, deputy director, will provide an overview of Pennsylvania's GreenGov Program and its climate goals for state agencies. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime registration).

• Rails & Ales 2023 (in-person); Saturday, Apr. 1, 5:30-9 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Taste craft beers among the museum's world-class collection of historic trains in Rolling Stock Hall. Must be age 21 or older to attend; photo ID required at the door. Advance tickets only; VIP tickets are sold out (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).

• Easter Egg Hunt (in-person); Sunday, Apr. 2, Noon-3 pm; Old Economy Village
• Children age 10 and under are invited to hunt for Easter eggs in the village and visit with the Easter Bunny. The event is free, but you must register in advance (Egg Hunt 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

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

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

C'mon, Spring!

Feast Hall (left), Frederick Rapp House (center) and George Rapp House (right) as seen from the Rapp House Garden (photo via Old Economy Village Facebook page)

I know it's foolish to wish for spring just because it's March, but I can't help myself when I see photos like the one above. I'll keep dreaming. Some Trails of History sites began shifting from their winter schedules to their spring schedules this week, so that must mean something (although I should note that Old Economy Village, pictured above, will reopen April 1).

Visit Lebanon Valley, in partnership with the Lebanon County Branch of the NAACP, Lebanon County Historical Society, and Cornwall Iron Furnace, rounded out Black History Month by launching the Lebanon County African American Heritage Trail with a celebration attended by the participating organizations. Cornwall Iron Furnace is one of the stops on the trail.

The latest episode of the WQLN (Erie's PBS affiliate) series, Chronicles, features the story of Drake Well and Pithole City. Drake Well Museum & Park's curator, Sue Beates, provides commentary on the history of the oil boomtown and the context of oil industry history (watch Pithole City: The Ghost of America's Black Gold, Part I).

This past week, PA Museums (our statewide museum professional organization) hosted a webinar on the effort to return nearly 200 Lenape ancestors and their associated funerary objects to their Lenape homeland for burial. The 4-day event last April was the culmination of a process involving five Delaware nations and PHMC staff from The State Museum of Pennsylvania and Pennsbury Manor. The PA Museums webinar included commentary from Jeremy Johnson, cultural education officer for the Delaware Tribe of Indians, Janet Johnson, acting senior curator of archaeology at The State Museum, and Douglas Miller, site administrator at Pennsbury Manor, site of the homecoming and reburial (you can read a short article about the event in the Fall 2022 issue of Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine). The webinar was recorded and is available on the PA Museums YouTube channel. Doug Miller and Jeremy Johnson also recently appeared on an episode of the Keystone Edge podcast, which is produced in conjunction with PA Humanities. I recommend watching the webinar and listening to the podcast to learn more.

Next week's post will have more info on PA's birthday celebration coming up on March 12, but if you want to get a jump on celebrating, take advantage of a 10% discount on all PHMC titles sold through ShopPAHeritage.com now through March 31.

Up Next

Today, March 3

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

Saturday, March 4

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

• Kids Day: STEM Discovery (in-person); 10 am-2 pm; PA Military Museum
• Come experiment and learn how math and science are used by the military. Make your own rocket, conduct experiments, and more. Included in regular admission (Kids Day info).

Wednesday, March 8

• Curiosity Kids (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn about what the Sun is, its basic motions in the sky, and why it is important to us. Then make a suncatcher to take home. For grades K to 2 and included in regular admission. Space is limited, so sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Curiosity Kids info).

Thursday, March 9

• Winter History Class (virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
• This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentations are "Henry Stiegel's Vision for Manheim" with Dan Snyder and "Iron and Glass by Stiegel: One Man's Collection" with Jeff Dreisbach. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).

• Wisdom & Wine (in-person); 5:30-8 pm; Drake Well Museum & Park
• Jim Samuels will present "My Dream Job Come True...Finding, Assessing & Plugging Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells." Admission charged. Lecture starts at 6:30. Doors open at 5:30 for socializing and wine tasting from Brokenstraw Valley Winery (Wisdom & Wine info).

Friday, March 10

• Original Pennsylvania Charter on Display (in-person); today through March 17; The State Museum of PA
• PA's 342-year-old Charter is written on parchment using iron gall ink. 51 weeks a year, the State Archives preserves the document in a high-security vault, shielding it from strong light and environmental fluctuations. In honor of PA's birthday, the Charter will be on display at The State Museum (included in regular admission) March 10-11 (10 am-4:30 pm), March 12 (Noon-4:30 pm), March 15-16 (10 am-4:30 pm), and March 17 (10 am-1 pm) (Charter display info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Remembering Gnadenhutten: Missionaries, Massacre, and the Resilience of a First Nation Community (in-person); Saturday, Mar. 11, 1-5 pm; Fort Pitt Museum
• During this one-day conference, attendees will examine the experience of Moravian Delaware converts in 18th-century Ohio Country and explore the fascinating history of the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, where descendants of this resilient First Nation community live today (Gnadenhutten conference info and registration).

• All About Slag (hybrid); Tuesday, Mar. 14, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Mike Weber will provide a comprehensive overview of slag, including what it is, how it's produced as part of the iron-making process, its characteristics, and why it is so important. Attend in person (Freeman Hall at Cornwall Manor) or online (register for Zoom). Program is free, but donations are appreciated.

• Homeschool Program (in-person); Wednesday, Mar. 15, 10-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Archivist Brett Reigh will discuss the history of the original 1681 Penn Charter and the research resources available at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Explore the process used to create the document, such as iron gall ink, quill pens, parchment paper and block printing, and then create your own document using similar techniques. Registration is required (Homeschool registration link).

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Mar. 18, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Bradley Smith, archivist and assistant director of the Berks History Center, will present "Dr. Bodo Otto: The Patriot Surgeon of Pennsylvania," who at the age of 65 volunteered his services as a surgeon to the Continental Army. Tickets available starting Feb. 25 (3/18 tickets via Eventbrite).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); Friday, Mar. 24, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Mark Hand, director, and Matt Reis, deputy director, will provide an overview of Pennsylvania's GreenGov Program and its climate goals for state agencies. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime registration).

• Rails & Ales 2023 (in-person); Saturday, April 1, 5:30-9 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Taste craft beers among the museum's world-class collection of historic trains in Rolling Stock Hall. Must be age 21 or older to attend; photo ID required at the door. Advance tickets only; VIP tickets are sold out (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).

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

• Brandywine Battlefield Park (Brandywine camp info)
• Live the Battle Week (grades 3-4), June 27-30, 9 am-2 pm
• Step Into the Past Week (grades 3-4), July 11-14, 9 am-2 pm
• Live the Battle Week (grades 5-6), July 18-21, 9 am-2 pm
• Step Into the Past Week (grades 5-6), July 25-28, 9 am-2 pm

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

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

It's March Already!

Photo via Erie Maritime Museum Facebook page

Voting is still open for USA Today's Top 10 History Museums poll. Twenty museums are on the ballot, and our own Erie Maritime Museum is currently in the running to make the Top 10. You can vote once a day, with the poll closing at noon ET on March 14. Please take a few minutes to cast your vote, early and often (vote for Erie Maritime Museum). Thank you for your support.

For those of you wondering, Charter Day, a free admission day usually held in mid-March on the Trails of History, has been postponed until later in the year. Next week's post will include info on PHMC activities in celebration of Pennsylvania's 341st birthday as well as spring season kickoff events that are slated for next weekend.

Up Next

Today, March 4

• StoryTime (in-person), 10:30-11:30 am, The State Museum of PA
• Explore our solar system and read Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by Sue Fliess with illustrations by Annabel Tempest. For kids ages 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission (StoryTime info)

• Conservationist Gardener Workshop (in-person), 11 am-12:30 pm, Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
• Staff from the Potter County Conservation District will present about garden and backyard conservation. Free rain barrels and soil test kits will be offered to attendees. The workshop is free; call 814/320-4017 to reserve your spot (Garden workshop info)

Saturday, March 5

• Kids Day: Revolution! (in-person), 10 am-3 pm, PA Military Museum
• Learn about the roles of families and kids during the American Revolution through hands-on activities. Included in regular admission (Kids Day info).

Sunday, March 6

• Closed for spring cleaning, Drake Well Museum and Park

Tuesday, March 8

• Sensory Hours (in-person), 3-5 pm, Railroad Museum of PA
• Light and noise levels will be lowered during these less-crowded hours. Several historic railcars will be open, and museum staff will be on hand to answer questions. Admission is $7 for ages 3 and up (some discounts available); reservations are required by 1 pm (Sensory Hours info and tickets).

• Iron Age Evolved (virtual), 7-8 pm, Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Mike Weber will present an overview of 5,000 years of iron-making technology that led to the Cornwall Iron Furnace. Program is free, but you must register to get the link (Lecture registration).

Wednesday, March 9

• Giant PA Map (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Test your geography skills as you explore a Giant Map of our state. Included in regular admission (Giant Map info)

Thursday, March 10

• Winter History Class (virtual), 9 am-noon, Ephrata Cloister
• Today's class is "The Martyr's Mirror: Historic Background and Contemporary Reception." If you did not register for the full 9-week course, you can attend today's session via Zoom for $10 (History Class registration for 3/10). Classes continue on Thursday mornings through March 31 (info on additional classes).

• Curiosity Kids (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Learn about specialized beaks birds have to eat different types of foods, make your own bird feeder to take home. For kids in grades K-2 and included in regular admission. Space is limited; sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Curiosity Kids info)

• Wisdom & Wine Series (in-person), 6:30-8 pm, Drake Well Museum & Park
• Biologist and archaeologist Dr. Chuck Williams will present "Pipelines, Pumpjacks, and Powerhouses." Happy hour wine tasting starts at 5:30, and the lecture begins at 6:30 ($5 fee for each). Registration is required (Wisdom & Wine registration for 3/10). This series continues weekly through March 31 (Drake Well website for additional info).

• PHMC Virtual Collections Showcase (virtual), 7-8 pm
• Staff from 5 Trails of History sites will present objects on the theme "Mystery/Oddities/What is It?" and then the audience will vote. Program is free, but you must register to get the link (Virtual Showcase registration)

Friday, March 11

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Linda Ries, retired archivist with the PA State Archives, will discuss "Pennsylvania's Birth Certificate," the 1681 Charter given to William Penn by England's King Charles II. The program is free, but you must register to get the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Somerset Historical Center is hosting a Pysanky Egg Decorating Workshop on Saturday, March 12. This class is geared to beginners and the fee includes materials. Adults and kids age 12 and up welcome; ages 12 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult (Pysanky workshop info and registration).
• On Saturday, March 19, 2-4 pm, the Pennsylvania Military Museum will offer their popular history tour of the tracked vehicles on the grounds, including a look inside the crew compartments. Space is limited (in more ways than one), and reservations are required (Exploring the Armor info and registration).
• Also, on March 19, Bushy Run Battlefield will host a one-day in-person symposium on Pontiac's War. Presentations will explore causes, events, and effects from different military and cultural perspectives. Tickets are $35 for students (with ID), $60 for BRBHS members, and $75 for non-members; deadline to purchase tickets online is March 12 (Symposium info and ticket link).
• Rails and Ales: enjoy an evening of craft beer among the museum's historic trains at the Railroad Museum of PA, April 9, 5:30-9 pm; must be 21 or older to attend; variety of ticket options (VIP tickets are sold out), including designated driver tickets (Rails and Ales tickets)
• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum will offer living history tours on Saturday, May 21, based on the life and work of local inventor William Chester Ruth. Ruth was born in 1882 in Chester County; his father had been enslaved in South Carolina and his mother was a free woman of color. Ruth will be portrayed by actor Keith Henley of American Historical Theater. Tour times are 9:30, 12:30, and 3; advance tickets are required (William Chester Ruth Tour info and tickets)
• On May 22, Daniel Boone Homestead will host the Trails of History Run, which includes a 5K, 10K, and 1/2-mile fun run. There will be awards for 5K and 10K races, plus special awards for the best-dressed representation of the 1770s era. Advance registration is required (DBH trail runs info). Training runs for new runners start at 10:30 am every Sunday at the DeTurk House (near the front entrance gate off of Daniel Boone Rd).
• Drake Well Marathon, August 14 - this race is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Registration for a variety of categories is now open.

Charter Day Celebrations Continue

Please check the PHMC Events Calendar if you're looking for virtual programs. I've highlighted events below, but there's more to see in the weeks ahead. The Trailheads Rec Room to the right of your screen has all kinds of online offerings--available 24/7.

Pennsbury Manor celebrates Charter Day (photo via Pennsbury Facebook page)

Before we take another look at Charter Day (last week's post started things off), I have to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of Covid-19, officially declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Each of us has had our own Covid journey. Things seem to be looking more hopeful now, with vaccines more widely distributed. But that doesn't change any of the losses that have been part of the past year for many. I have no eloquence to offer here, I just want to acknowledge this milestone that comes with so many mixed emotions.

PHMC's Virtual Charter Day celebration continues with online programs and resources. Visit the Charter Day 2021 landing page to find videos, puzzles, and links to all kinds of info on Pennsylvania's 1681 Charter.

Usually when we talk about the charter, we use an image of the first page. One of the videos featured on the landing page is a look at pages 2 and 3 with Joshua Stahlman, archivist with the Pennsylvania State Archives.



This Sunday, March 14, at 4 pm, Pennsbury Manor and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania will "Dive into the PA Charter" with a look at various drafts of the document. The event is free, but you'll need to register in advance to get the Zoom link (Pennsbury Manor's Facebook page has details).

During the past week, the folks at Conrad Weiser Homestead have posted birthday greetings from members of reenactment groups and volunteers who make the site's programming possible. I'm sharing one below and you can find more on the Conrad Weiser Homestead Facebook page.



At Ephrata Cloister, March doesn't just bring Charter Day, it's also the birthday of founder Conrad Beissel (March 1, 1691). The site posted a 10-minute video in honor of both. You can find it on Ephrata's YouTube channel.

On Tuesday evening, we presented a special edition of the PHMC Virtual Collections Showcase in honor of Charter Day. The theme (we always have a theme) was birthdays and other celebrations. One of the contenders was the Pennsylvania Military Museum, highlighting people in military service celebrating birthdays away from home. The post below shows 1st Lieutenant Peggy Finn Reno, US Army, whose family sent her a birthday cake in Vietnam to help her celebrate.

1st Lieutenant Peggy Finn Reno, US Army, Vietnam War "Peggy (Finn) Reno (1945-2019) was born and raised in Harrisburg,...

Posted by Pennsylvania Military Museum on Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Upcoming Virtual Events

Today, March 12

• Learn at Lunchtime, The State Museum of PA, learn about Pennsylvania songbirds, 12:15 pm (State Museum Facebook to register)

Saturday, March 13

• Virtual Armor Tour, PA Military Museum, see inside military vehicles, 2 pm (PMM Facebook page to register)

Sunday, March 14

• Tonight's Sky: Live Chat with the Planetarium Director, The State Museum, 2 pm (SMP Facebook page for link)
• Dive into the PA Charter, Pennsbury Manor, 4 pm (Facebook event for link)

Thursday, March 18

• Winter History Class Week 7, Ephrata Cloister, 9 am (Ephrata website for details)
• Workin' on the Railroad, Railroad Museum of PA, program for grades K-6, 4 pm (Eventbrite for tickets)
• History of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and Early U.S. Coast Guard, Erie Maritime Museum, 7 pm (EMM Facebook for details)

Virtual Charter Day

Please check the PHMC Events Calendar if you're looking for virtual programs. Charter Day related events are highlighted below, but there's plenty of others on the calendar. The Trailheads Rec Room to the right of your screen has all kinds of online offerings--check it out when you're looking for something interesting.

First page of the 1681 Charter (photo via PA Trails of History Facebook page)

Fans of the Pennsylvania Trails of History are no doubt familiar with Charter Day, our annual celebration of Pennsylvania's birthday. In 1681, King Charles II, in payment of debts owed to Admiral William Penn, conveyed the land we call Pennsylvania to the admiral's son. Of course the story is far more complicated and includes lots of other people already living on this land. Still, it is a good day for us to highlight the history of the commonwealth and encourage people to learn more about it. This year, we'll celebrate online, since we can't yet gather in person. Starting on Sunday, March 7, and continuing through Friday, March 12, PHMC's website will have a special Charter Day 2021 landing page with links to planned activities (link added I'll add the link here when it's available, in the meantime the official press release has info).

Sunday, March 7

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will debut 5 new videos that highlight each of the platforms in the museum's Rolling Stock Hall. The videos will feature rail cars and locomotives, new exhibit elements, popular features, and behind-the-scenes info.

• Track 1: Tahoe locomotive No. 20, Reading locomotive No. 1251, and TrainWorks interactive area
• Track 2: H&BT cabin car No. 16, John Bull locomotive, GP30 locomotive No. 2233, and Innovation Giants exhibit section
• Track 3: GG1 locomotive No. 4935, P58 coach No. 1651, Lotos Club Pullman car, and Track Workers exhibit
• Track 4: Shay locomotive No. 1, Snow Plow, H6sb locomotive No. 2846, and Railway Post Office/Mail Sorting exhibit
• Video 5: Restoration Shop and Pennsylvania Middle Division operating HO layout

Videos will be posted on social media and the Railroad Museum's YouTube channel, with a new video each hour from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, March 7. Once they premiere, you'll be able to find the videos on YouTube and the Railroad Museum's Facebook page.

The Anthracite Heritage Museum is offering a unique look at Pennsylvania history through stamps, with Tom Bowman, vice president of the Wyoming Valley Stamp Club and ambassador to the American Philatelic Society. The program will be live at 2 pm on Sunday, March 7, via Zoom (Anthracite's Facebook page has details).

Joseph Priestley House will post birthday greetings for Pennsylvania and Dr. Priestley, whose birthday is March 24, with video tours of several rooms in the house and a celebratory toast with Dr. Priestley's fizzy water.

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum will open part two of "Then & Now," a virtual exhibit featuring archival photographs from the museum's collections alongside modern views of the same locations.

UPDATE: I'll list more site links here as I get more info. Check these out for Charter Day-related videos and more.

• Bushy Run Battlefield website and BRB Facebook page
• Conrad Weiser Homestead Facebook page
• Daniel Boone Homestead website and DBH Facebook page

Tuesday, March 9

In keeping with the theme for Charter Day, the March edition of "What's in a theme? PHMC Virtual Collections Showcase" will focus on birthdays and other celebrations. Folks from Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Erie Maritime Museum, the Pennsylvania Military Museum, and the Railroad Museum of PA will do 5-minute presentations about objects and stories in their collections. Then the audience will get to vote on their favorite or the one they think best exemplifies the theme. The event will be live at 7 pm via Zoom (the Facebook event has details for signing up). A recording will be available later on PHMC's YouTube channel, along with recordings of previous Showcases (Showcase playlist).

Waiting for March

Please check the PHMC Events Calendar if you're looking for virtual programs; I've highlighted some below. The Trailheads Rec Room to the right of your screen has all kinds of online offerings--great for when you need a break.

Photo of Hope Lodge via Facebook

This is your (and my) reminder that it's still winter, no matter how much we want it to be spring already. We had some lovely snow this week, and as always, Trails of History sites posted wintry beauty. Don't be fooled (I say to myself) by the warmer temps of midweek. It's a trap.

Although Black History Month is coming to a close, Black History as American History doesn't end. Pennsbury Manor posted about their garden planning this week and efforts to reflect the foodways brought to Pennsylvania by enslaved Africans and their descendants. See the post below about adding scotch bonnet peppers. Pennsbury has also shared what their research shows about some of the people enslaved at Pennsbury, including Peter, a gardener, and Chevalier, who lived at Pennsbury for many years, some of them as a free man.

Our gardener, Jessye, has been poring over seed catalogs planning the garden for this coming season and she has picked...

Posted by Pennsbury Manor on Monday, February 22, 2021

Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum hosted a presentation by DCNR's Paul T. Fagley on African-American enrollees in the Civilian Conservation Corps. The presentation included film footage from Camp S-146 in Austin, PA, also known as Bark Shanty (CCC camps generally had names in addition to their numerical designations).

Here is a link to the historic CCC film footage from Co. 2336-C, Camp S-146, Austin PA, that was shown during last night...

Posted by Pennsylvania Lumber Museum on Thursday, February 25, 2021

For National Love Your Pet Day, Drake Well Museum and Park posted images from their collections that featured people and their pets.



Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara educator Chuck Johnson posted an inaugural live tour of the museum's exhibit of the recreated hull of the U.S. Brig Lawrence. Staff on the Trails of History continue to try new things as they expand our virtual offerings.



SNEAK PREVIEW: PHMC will be celebrating Pennsylvania's birthday, Charter Day, online this year, from March 7-12. Next week's post will have more details. Trails of History sites will present the next edition of the PHMC Virtual Collections Showcase on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 pm, with the theme "birthdays and other celebrations." Registration for the Zoom event is open now (link to register).

Upcoming Virtual Events

Today, Feb. 26

• Workin' On the Railroad, program for children K-6th grades, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, 10-11 am (tickets by donation, RMP info and registration)
• Learn at Lunchtime, learn about virtual school program options, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 12:15-12:45 pm (SMP info and registration)

Sunday, Feb. 28

• America at War, discussion with Dr. Marc Blackburn about his military history podcast, Pennsylvania Military Museum, 2-3 pm (PMM info and registration)

Thursday, March 4

• Winter History Class, Week 5, Ephrata Cloister, 9 am-noon (fee charged, EC info and registration)
• Sea Shanty Session, Online Sail Training Program, Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, 7 pm (link to U.S. Brig Niagara Facebook page)

On the Trails of History, February 28 through March 12

Please note that some site operating schedules start to "expand" in March, after seasonal winter closures or reductions. Be sure to check ahead before visiting. This schedule is subject to change. For events later in March, check the March program page.

Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour for the start of Daylight Saving Time, March 8 at 2 am. March 8 is also Charter Day - site schedules and activities are listed below.

Anthracite Heritage Museum
March 8: Charter Day —the museum will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. At 2 pm, PHMC Commissioner Bill Lewis, reporter David DeCosmo, and Mae Thomas, who is related to several Titanic passengers, will explore local connections to the famed ocean liner that sank in April of 1912.

Brandywine Battlefield Park
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
March 8: Charter Day —the site will be open, free of charge. There will be reenactor demonstrations, vendor booths, a basket raffle, and more from noon to 4 pm. Guides will available for tours of the battlefield from noon to 3. The visitor center and park will be open until 5.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
March 8: Charter Day—the site’s largest living history event of the year. Check the Facebook event page for details. Noon-4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm. Guides will be stationed throughout the site to provide info and answer questions (press release has details).
March 10: Friends Lecture Series—Susan Boardman, a licensed Gettysburg Battlefield Guide, will present “Monuments of Gettysburg.” Lectures are held, free of charge, in Freeman Hall auditorium on the Buckingham Campus at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm. There will be 18th century music played on antique instruments, spinning, hearth cooking, and gun building demonstrations on site. The Boone house and other historic structures will be open for tours. The Amity Colonial Dancers will being giving dancing demonstrations with audience participation welcomed. Kids can learn quill writing, be mustered into the Revolutionary War militia, play period games, and much more! Check out the Facebook event page for details.

Drake Well Museum and Park
March 5, 12: Wisdom and Wine Series—enjoy hors-d’oeuvres and wine tasting (featuring Brokenstraw Valley Winery) and learn about a variety of topics: Mar. 5, “Back to Nature,” Ernst Conservation Seeds; Mar. 12, “Hidden History,” Jessica Hilburn. Tickets sold at the door - cost is $10 per person for wine tasting and lecture, $5 for lecture only (calendar of events has details). Doors open at 5:30 pm, programs start at 6:30.
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm.

Eckley Miners’ Village
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. The gift shop will be open noon-4:30. The main parking lot may be blocked for construction, so please look for signs directing you where to enter the site and park.

Ephrata Cloister
March 5, 12: Winter History Class—class began in January, but you can still sign up for one or more of the remaining sessions (class schedule and topics.
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal (meetinghouse) at 2, 3, and 4 pm. Visitors are also encouraged to bring a donation of paper towels; laundry detergent and cleaning products; canned fruit (low sugar); high protein items like canned tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter; cereal; jelly; snack items (boxes of crackers, peanut butter crackers, etc.); canned soup for Ephrata Area Social Services.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
March 8: Charter Day—the museum will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. Tour the Commonwealth’s Flagship, explore the museum’s exhibits, and visit the Hirt Auditorium at 2:00 p.m. for "Silkies, Sailors, and Lady Pirates," a concert by folklorist Kelly Armor of songs about women on the water. There will also be a new exhibit on the Lake Erie Sea Monster and special sea monster scavenger hunt. Visit the Facebook event page for details.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on this month's schedule and programs.

Graeme Park
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm. Tours of the Keith House will be offered (last admission to house is at 3:15).

Hope Lodge
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-3 pm.

Joseph Priestley House
March 8: Charter Day and Dr. Priestley’s Birthday—visit with costumed docents in each room (including the laboratory) and wish Dr. Priestley a happy birthday while he demonstrates the wonders of chemistry in the Pond Building. Try “Dr. Priestley’s Fizzy Water” (produced in NY state – I like the Cucumber Mint flavor) and visit the “When Pigs Fly” food truck.1-4 pm (chem demos at 1:30 and 2:30).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Multiple dates: Winter-Spring Workshops for Adults—Landis Valley offers an array of workshops and classes for adults who want to learn new skills and information. Please visit the website (for class list and registration details).
March 4, 11: Homeschool Classes—different topics and activities for each date; visit website for details and registration. 9 am-12:30 pm.
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. Part 2 of LVM's latest exhibit, Thrown, Fired, and Glazed: The Redware Tradition from Pennsylvania and Beyond, will open to the public (runs through Dec. 2020).

Old Economy Village
March 8: Charter Day—kicking off our 2020 season, the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
March 8: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, 9 am-5 pm. Guided tours of the site will be offered.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
March 7-8: Charter Day Weekend Celebration—the museum will offer guided tours and hands-on history stations, with free admission, on Saturday (10 am-4 pm) and Sunday (noon-4 pm). The Friends Lecture Series will offer a program at 2 pm on Sunday.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
March 7: Reading on the Rails—enjoy stories about trains, railroads, and amazing people, places, and things, read by a host of local notables (info on readers and story times on website). Children will receive stickers at each story-reading to decorate a cardboard suitcase. Catcher, the museum’s friendly mascot, teams from Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS), and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter will be part of the program. The Bookmobile from the Library System of Lancaster County will be on site as well (Lancaster County residents age 5 and over may sign up for a library card). All activities are included in regular admission. 9 am-5 pm.
March 8: Charter Day—the museum is open, free of charge, noon-5 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Visit the website for a complete schedule of Planetarium shows.
Feb. 28: Learn at Lunch—RESCHEDULED FROM FEB. 21: Jason Wilson, historian for the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, will lead a tour of Violet Oakley’s Senate Chamber murals, discussing their history and preservation (details on the website). Participants should meet at the Third Street entrance to the PA Capitol Building (if you don’t have a Commonwealth of PA id badge, you’ll need to go through security, so please gauge your time accordingly). 12:15-12:45 pm.
March 5: Curiosity Kids series—this month's program is "Feed the Birds!" and participants will make a feeder to take home (program details, including a nut allergy warning). Included in general admission, but space is limited so be sure to sign up at the front desk. 11:30 am.
March 6: Storytime—gather in the Anthropology and Archaeology Gallery to read Ruth Brown’s Ten Seeds and take a packet of sunflower seeds to sprout. Designed for ages 3-5 with an adult. Included in general admission. 10:30-11:30 am.
March 6: Learn at Lunchtime—Megan Evans and Darrill Ersery of the Pennsylvania State Archives will talk about the Gradual Abolition of Slavery Act of 1780, which is being displayed alongside Pennsylvania’s 1681 Charter this year. Included in general admission. 12:15-12:45 pm.
March 7-April 26: Celebrating Student Achievement—the museum will host three exhibits highlighting Pennsylvania students: South Central PA Scholastic Art Awards, National History Day in PA, and Future City Competition (see website for details). Included in general admission.
March 8: Charter Day—the museum will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm (schedule of activities).

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please check the website for information on events and programs.

How Was Your Charter Day?

Last week's post features Trails of History events through March 21, and the March program page gets you the rest of the way.

Philly Pretzel Factory in Langhorne made this pretzel version of the Manor House for Pennsbury's Charter Day celebration (via Facebook)

On Sunday, March 10, we celebrated the 338th anniversary of King Charles II of England granting William Penn the land that became Pennsylvania. As is the tradition, the original Charter went on display at The State Museum of Pennsylvania (still there through noon today, March 15). This year it was accompanied by documents related to passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in honor of the centennial of women's suffrage. The Charter will now return to the vault of the Pennsylvania State Archives and the other documents to their appropriate housing. The State Museum displays a photographic reproduction of the Charter throughout the year.

Most sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History were open free of charge in honor of Charter Day. Pennsbury Manor honored founder William Penn and his family with living history demonstrations and a unique pretzel from Philly Pretzel Factory in Langhorne (see photo above). Conrad Weiser Homestead is closed to the public during the winter, and hosts its largest living history event of the year on Charter Day to mark the start of their season (see news coverage of their day). Eckley Miners' Village featured local artists reading poetry and displaying paintings as part of their Charter Day event (more info).

Ephrata Cloister chose Charter Day to debut their new iPads, which allow guides to share historic photographs of the site with visitors and show upper floors of the 18th-century buildings not generally open to the public and not accessible at all to people with mobility issues. They also allow for closer examination of Ephrata's well-known fraktur alphabet, as in the photo below. You can read more in this article from The Ephrata Review.

Ephrata Cloister now has iPads for use on tours and in programs to provide visitors with additional visual info (via Facebook)

Charter Day was also the official opening of Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's new visitor center exhibit, "Thrown, Fired, and Glazed: The Redware Tradition from Pennsylvania and Beyond." This exhibit will run through December of 2020, with a change of objects happening over the winter 2019-20. Hundreds of objects will be on display over the course of the exhibit's run, many that come from private collections and have not been exhibited in public. The exhibit also includes information on individual potters and various techniques of forming and decorating redware and other ceramics. I had a chance to attend the exhibit preview and can highly recommend a visit. I'll need to go back to spend some time really soaking it in. Kathy Daminger from LancasterOnline visited, and you can read her article to learn more.

The exhibit opening featured gingerbread cookies decorated to look like redware, and they were delicious! (photo AKF)

Trails of History Events, March 8-21

The full March program page is available and will take you all the way to the end of the month. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour for the start of Daylight Saving Time, March 10 at 2 am.

March 10 is also Charter Day - site schedules and activities are listed below. In honor of Charter Day (celebrating Pennsylvania's founding in 1681), Pennsylvania Mercantile Store (the official source of PA tourism merch) is offering a variety of t-shirts at the low, low price of $16.81 (shop here).

Learn about historic brewing methods, and much more, at William and Hannah Penn's home on the Delaware (see Pennsbury Manor listing for details)

Anthracite Heritage Museum
March 8: Parade Day Eve—enjoy food, games, and bagpipe music, Irish Step Dancing, and more as Scranton kicks off its St. Patrick's Parade Day weekend (more info on Facebook event page). Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased by calling the museum at 570/963-4804. 6-9 pm.
March 10: Charter Day —the museum will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. Mike Buryk will present a new exhibit on the art of Ukrainian social realist artist Nicholas Bervinchak at 2 pm (the exhibit continues through July 10).

Brandywine Battlefield Park
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm.
March 19: Revolutionary Dining Series—author Nancy K. Loane will present "Beneath the Snow: Myths and Realities of the Valley Forge Encampment" at The Gables at Chadds Ford. Cost is $50 per person and includes dinner, lecture, and Q&A session; cash bar available. Visit the website for details on this and upcoming events in the series. 6 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
March 10: Charter Day —the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm. Guides will available for tours of the battlefield from noon to 3 pm, and the visitor center and park will be open until 5.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
March 10: Charter Day—the site’s largest living history event of the year, with Pennsylvania Provincial and French military units, Native American interpretation, artisans, and loads of books (details on Facebook). Noon-4:30 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm. Guides will be stationed throughout the site to provide info and answer questions (more info).
March 12: Friends Lecture Series—Susan Boardman, a licensed Gettysburg Battlefield Guide and Leadership Program Director for the Gettysburg Foundation, will present “History and Restoration of America’s Largest Oil Painting, the Gettysburg Cyclorama.” Lectures are held in Freeman Hall auditorium at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
March 10: Charter Day and Fireside Tales—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-4 pm in honor of Charter Day. In addition, there will be a Fireside Tales program in the Wayside Lodge starting at 2 pm ($2 per person donation is suggested for Fireside Tales).

Drake Well Museum and Park
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm.
March 14 and 21: Petroleum Program Series—explore a wide variety of topics: (3/14) "Kinzua Dam from Construction to Function," Douglas Helman; (3/21) "Colonel Edwin Drake," Bob Archer. Admission charged. Doors open at 6 pm, programs start at 6:30.

Eckley Miners’ Village
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. Docents will be stationed in the museum buildings to add life to your self-guided tour. Poets Erin Delaney, Susan Jaffer, Nancy Dymond, Amanda Bradley, and Laurel Radzieski will read from their book, Down the Dog Hole - 11 Poets on Northeastern Pennsylvania (edited by Thomas Kielty Blomain and Brian Fanelli), starting at 2:45 pm. Tom Hartz will display his artwork on site as well (read more about Hartz's work).

Ephrata Cloister
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal (meetinghouse) at 2, 3, and 4 pm.
March 14 and 21: Winter History Class—class began in January, but you can still sign up for one or more of the remaining sessions.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
March 10: Charter Day—the museum will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on this month's schedule and programs.

Graeme Park
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-3 pm. Tours of the Keith House will be offered.

Hope Lodge
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-3 pm.

Joseph Priestley House
March 10: Charter Day and Dr. Priestley’s Birthday—visit with costumed docents in each room (including the laboratory) and wish Dr. Priestley a happy birthday while he demonstrates the wonders of chemistry in the Pond Building. 1-4 pm (chem demos at 1:30 and 2:30).

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Multiple dates: Winter-Spring Workshops for Adults—Landis Valley offers an array of workshops and classes for adults who want to learn new skills and information. Please visit the website (for class list and registration details).
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm. Craft demonstrations and horse-drawn wagon rides are planned. Rides on a two-wheeled horse cart will be available for a $5 charge. LVM's new exhibit, "Thrown, Fired, and Glazed: The Redware Tradition from Pennsylvania and Beyond," will open to the public (runs through Dec. 2020). Event is rain or shine, but wagon and cart rides are weather-dependent.
March 13: Homeschool Class—this is the last class of the spring season; visit website for details and registration. 9 am-12:30 pm.
March 16: Lunch with the Landis Brothers—this new interactive experience includes lunch at the Landis Valley Hotel with George and Henry Landis, founders of the museum, and a behind-the-scenes look at some of their prized collections pieces. Advance reservations are required by March 8 and can be made online or by phone (details and link on website). 11 am-3 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, 1-4 pm. Living history theater presenters and colonial craft demonstrators (including the cooks and brewers) will be on hand. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Penndel Food Pantry and receive a 10% discount in the Museum Store today (more info on the website or in this article from Bucks Local News).

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
March 10: Charter Day—the site will be open, free of charge, 9 am-5 pm. Guided tours of the site will be offered between 10 am and 3 pm.
March 16-17: Potter-Tioga Maple Producers Assn Maple Weekend—be sure to stop by the Lumber Museum as you explore all things maple along U.S. Route 6.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
March 9-10: Charter Day Weekend Celebration—the museum will show Frank Capra's WWII film series, Why We Fight, in the museum auditorium on Sat., 3/9, beginning at 10:30 am. CORRECTED TO ADD SATURDAY AND CORRECT TIMES: In honor of Charter Day, the museum will be open free of charge on Saturday (10 am-4 pm) and on Sunday (noon-4 pm).
March 17: Documentary Film—You Enter Germany: Bloody Huertgen and the Siegfried Line, a German documentary released in 2007, includes archival footage and interviews with veterans. Donation requested for admission. 1:30 pm (film runs 104 minutes).

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
March 9: Reading on the Rails—enjoy stories about trains, railroads, and amazing people, places, and things, read by a host of local notables (info on readers and storytimes on website). Children will receive stickers at each story-reading to decorate a cardboard suitcase and will get to spend time with teams from KPETS (Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services). Morning storytimes will also include an American Sign Language interpreter. All activities are included in regular admission. 9 am-5 pm.
March 10: Charter Day—the museum is open, free of charge, noon-5 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
March 9-10: Maple Taste and Tour—Somerset Historical Center is a must-see stop on the Somerset County Maple Producers annual tour (more info on SHC's Facebook event page).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Visit the website for a complete schedule of Planetarium shows.
March 8: Learn at Lunchtime—archivist Joshua Stahlman will talk about Pennsylvania's 1681 Charter; the original charter, along with several documents related to the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, will be on display during regular hours through noon on March 15 (then it's back to the vault until next year). Included in general admission. 12:15-12:45 pm.
March 10: Charter Day—the museum will be open, free of charge, noon-5 pm (schedule of activities).
March 21: Curiosity Kids series—this month's program is "Feed the Birds!" and participants will make a feeder to take home (program details, including a nut allergy warning). Included in general admission, but space is limited so be sure to sign up at the front desk. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please check the website for information on events and programs.