Mid-Summer Snapshots

Ranunculus (buttercups) blooming in the logging camp at Pennsylvania Lumber Museum (photo via PLM Facebook page)

Here in the northern hemisphere, we've just passed the mid-point of summer (meteorologically speaking), and the gardens and landscapes on the Trails of History are in peak form. Sites have been posting photos, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from the past week or so. Please check out the calendar below for programs but also remember that you don't need a special program to enjoy our sites. Pick one that's close to you and pay them a visit. I hope you have a great week.

Sunflowers in the garden at Graeme Park with the stone barn (visitor center) in the background (photo via GP Facebook page)

Ephrata Cloister's traditional German four-square garden with vegetables in the center beds and herbs around the fence line (photo via EC's Facebook page)

View of the barn (left) and blacksmith shop from inside the Boone House at Daniel Boone Homestead. A project to apply UV-filtering film to the Boone House windows was recently completed by PHMC staff (photo via DBH Facebook page)

Up Next

Today, July 21

• It's ALIVE! (or maybe not): Living and Non-Living Things (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Younger visitors are invited to explore living and non-living things and the properties that something needs to exhibit to be alive. Included in regular admission (Living & Non-Living Things program info).

• Family Gallery Tour: Geology Hall (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Get hands-on with the rocks and minerals of Pennsylvania. Learn about Pennsylvania’s landforms and resources. Meet on the 3rd Floor Balcony for this presentation. Included in regular admission (July 21 Geology Hall tour info).

Saturday, July 22

• Life Under the Canopy: The Vietnam War (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Military Museum
• 2023 closes the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Join museum staff and living history volunteers in our final event of the anniversary. Immerse yourself in the controversial conflict that defined the second half of the twentieth century; walk through a military camp and experience life on the front in Southeast Asia. Explore how conflict often falls on the shoulders of youth, changing the lives and perspectives of many young Americans in the 1960s and 1970s. Encampment is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Regular admission rates apply to tour the Museum Gallery (Vietnam War program info).

• Storytime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Hear a reading of Birds by Kevin Henkes, learn about the many colors of birds, and paint with bird feathers. For ages 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (State Museum StoryTime info).

• Explore PA Industry with the Giant Map (in-person); 1:30-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Travel across the Giant Map of Pennsylvania to discover the industries that shaped our state. Included in regular admission (PA industry program info).

Sunday, July 23

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

• Discovering Dioramas (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Observe how the art in the Mammal Hall dioramas blends light, color, and sculptural elements to capture a moment in time and connect with Pennsylvania mammals and wild places. Discover close looking and use your new knowledge and creativity to design your own paper diorama! Included in regular admission (Dioramas program info).

Tuesday, July 25

• Garden Workshop Series (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
• Today's workshop is about preserving produce. Geared for ages 12 and up. Registration required - $35 for non-members, $30 for members. Call 215/946-0400 (July Garden Workshop info).

Wednesday, July 26

• State Symbol: Fossil (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• On December 5, 1988, the fossil of an extinct arthropod, Phacops rana, was chosen to represent the state of Pennsylvania. Now re-classified as the species Eldredgeops rana, this trilobite once dwelled in the water that covered Pennsylvania during the Cambrian period. Learn more about this fossil and make a “fossil” to take home. Included in regular admission (State Fossil program info).

• Giant Map of Pennsylvania (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Challenge your knowledge of the geography of Pennsylvania while exploring the giant map of the state. Included in regular admission (Giant map program info).

• Music on the Lawn (in-person); 7-8:30 pm; Joseph Priestley House
• Rolf Sturm and Jenna Mammina will present an evening of jazz music on the lawn of the Joseph Priestley House (Music on the Lawn program info).

Thursday, July 27

• What's Cooking (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Visit the Summer Kitchen in Village Square to discover cooking in the early 1900s, featuring innovative items from the industrial revolution. Test your skills with hands-on tools and take home some period recipes. Included in regular admission (Summer Kitchen program info).

• Highlights Tour (in-person); 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Pennsylvania is the only state named for both its people and the place, “Penn’s Woods.” Discover how this relationship of people and place shows throughout the history, art, and science of the Commonwealth with a tour of featured exhibits on each floor. Included in regular admission (Highlights Tour info).

Friday, July 28

• A Place for All Tour (in-person); 11:30 am and 1:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Discover three stories of integration in Pennsylvania during the Civil Right movement. Hear the stories of the men and women whose courageous steps helped change our state. Included in regular admission (A Place for All Tour info).

• Returning the Wild to the Wilderness (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Thomas Keller, Furbearer Biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, will share the history of wildlife loss within the Commonwealth, the legacy of rewilding, and the possibility of returning the American marten to the forests of the state. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Returning the Wild program info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spots in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (tickets for Aug. 8 Sensory Hours and tickets for Aug. 22 Sensory Hours).

• The Colemans and Martic Forge (hybrid); Tuesday, Aug. 8, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Jim Polczynski will present a program centered on the ownership of Martic Forge by three generations of the Coleman family (who also owned Cornwall Iron Furnace). You can attend the program in person at Freeman Hall, Cornwall Manor Retirement Community, or virtually via Zoom (Martic Forge lecture info and registration).

• Captain Vicary and Life in Beaver County (in-person); Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6-7:30 pm; Old Economy Village
• Brenda Applegate, executive director of the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation, will present a program based on the journal of Captain Vicary, a transplanted Philadelphia sea captain who settled in Beaver County as a gentleman farmer. The program will provide glimpses into everyday life in the county as well as Vicary's interactions with the Harmonists. The program is free, but registration is required (Captain Vicary lecture info and registration).

• The "Dead" of Summer (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 19, 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
• Experience a reenactment of an early 20th-century seance focused on the period when many had lost loved ones to the 1918 flu pandemic or World War I and were susceptible to this form of entertainment. Tickets are limited and will be available online (Dead of Summer info and tickets).

• Exploring the Armor (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 26, 2-4 pm; PA Military Museum
• Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles, but we will walk outside on the grounds, so please dress for the weather with appropriate footwear (Exploring the Armor registration).

Summer Camp Programs (camps are in-person)

• Brandywine Battlefield Park (Brandywine camp info)
• 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 27, 9 am-4 pm

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

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

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

What's New and Old on the Trails of History?

A display of 18th- and 19th-century farming tools at Daniel Boone Homestead

What's New?

Several new temporary and long-term exhibits opened on the PA Trails of History this past weekend, ready for the 2022 visitation season. The photo above (courtesy of my colleague Janice Mullin) is one element of a new visitor center exhibit at the Daniel Boone Homestead. The exhibit explores the history of Berks County's Oley Valley, the people who lived (and live) there, and the families that made what we call the Daniel Boone Homestead their home.

As I mentioned in last week's post, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum opened their new changing exhibit for 2022, Pennsylvania Germans: Their Lives Through Color. The colorful pieces on display, including textiles, fraktur, ceramics, and furniture, support the notion that Pennsylvania Germans led lives that were not monochrome but were woven with color.

On Sunday, as part of their celebration of Dr. Joseph Priestley's birthday, the Friends of Joseph Priestley unveiled a new temporary exhibit exploring Dr. Priestley's friendship with Benjamin Franklin. The two met in London around 1765 and became long-time friends. Franklin is credited with encouraging Priestley's interest in science, including the study of electricity. The exhibit includes timelines of their lives, showing where they overlapped, as well as excerpts from their letters. During Sunday's festivities, WVIA, the local PBS station, visited the site to conduct interviews and filming to be used as part of a preview screening of Ken Burns's new documentary on Franklin, which will debut in April. The Daily Item posted an article on Saturday that provides a nice overview of Sunday's event and the new exhibit.

What's Old?

As part of its ongoing project to create a baseline survey of older and historic places all across Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), part of PHMC, is reaching out to people who live and work in the following counties: Berks, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Crawford, Delaware, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, McKean, Montgomery, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Westmoreland. SHPO is working to find properties that have not previously been included in the Pennsylvania Historic Places Inventory. This includes places of local significance, such as recreational properties, fraternal buildings, industrial resources, African American churches and cemeteries, ethnic communities, and properties that represent local building styles and traditions. Survey teams will be in these counties starting in April and continuing through early 2023. If you know of places that should be considered for inclusion, please submit the information to the Baseline Survey on Survey Monkey or email it to ra-bhpmail@pa.gov. To learn more about the larger baseline survey project visit Baseline Survey Effort, 2020-2024.

Up Next

Today, March 18

• Charter Chat (virtual), noon, PA State Archives
• Archivist Josh Stahlman will explore the story of Pennsylvania's Charter in honor of our 341st birthday. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Charter Chat info and registration).

Saturday, March 19

• StoryTime (in-person), 10:30-11:30 am, The State Museum of PA
• This month's book is Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by Sue Fliess with illustrations by Annabel Tempest; learn about Earth's solar system and make a rocket picture to take home. For kids age 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission; sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).

• Exploring the Armor (in-person), 2-4 pm, Pennsylvania Military Museum
• Take a tour of the tracked vehicles on the museum grounds and get a look inside some of the crew compartments. Space is limited, and reservations are required; as of Wednesday, there were still some tickets available (Armor tour info and registration).

Sunday, March 20

• Open-Hearth Cooking (in-person), 1-4 pm, Pennsbury Manor
• It's spring, and the cooks will demonstrate some seasonal recipes that would have been prepared for William Penn and his family. Included in regular admission (Open-Hearth Cooking info).

Tuesday, March 22

• Sensory Hours (in-person), 3-5 pm, Railroad Museum of PA
• Light and noise levels will be lowered and the museum will be less crowded. There will also be some quiet spaces for breaks. Pre-registration is required (Sensory Hours info and tickets).

Wednesday, March 23

• Games & Puzzle Challenge (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Test your knowledge and skills with a variety of games and puzzles. Included in regular admission (Challenge info).

Thursday, March 24

• Winter History Class (virtual), 9 am-noon, Ephrata Cloister
• Today's topic is "The Moravians: A Fresh Look at their Origin." If you did not register for the full course, you can attend today's session via Zoom for $10 (History Class info and registration).

• Curiosity Kids (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Learn how artists use line as an element in their work and make your own artwork. For kids in grades K-2 and included in regular admission. Space is limited, so please 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
• Historian and retired pastor Dr. Barry Cressman will present "The Sometimes Unholy Entanglement of Church and Oil. Tickets are $5 (free for members). At 5:30 pm there will be a wine-tasting happy hour for a separate $5 fee. Registration is required (Wisdom & Wine info and registration).

• Virtual Lecture Series, 7 pm, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Abby Baer, executive director of the Demuth Foundation, will present "The Demuths of Lancaster City: Moravians, Merchants, and a Modern Artist," exploring the history of the Demuth family from businessman Christopher Demuth to artist Charles Demuth. The program is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link (Virtual Lecture info and registration).

Friday, March 25

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Nevin Welte from the PA Fish and Boat Commission will talk about freshwater mussels and efforts to improve their populations in PA's rivers and streams. Offered via Zoom; registration is required (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

• Ritchie Boy Secrets (in-person and virtual), 1:30 pm, Pennsylvania Military Museum
• Dr. Beverley Driver Eddy will discuss her book, Ritchie Boy Secrets, which explores the history of the Military Intelligence Training Center in northern Maryland during World War II. The program is presented in cooperation with Penn State's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and will be offered in-person and via Zoom. Registration is required for both. In-person tickets are $20 and include admission to the museum; Zoom tickets are $15 (PMM Lecture info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Somerset Historical Center has rescheduled their Pysanky Egg Decorating Workshop to Saturday, April 2. 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).
• 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)
• Tickets are on sale now for Bushy Run Battlefield's Art and Wine with Henry! event on Saturday, April 23. Enjoy some history and view the work of local artists (Art and Wine info and tickets).
• On Wednesday, April 27, Graeme Park will host a lunch and learn program, "Forgotten Heroes - Women and the Fight for the Right to Vote." The program includes continental breakfast, a lecture, and a buffet lunch; tours of the Keith House will be available after lunch. Tickets are $35; reservations are required (Forgotten Heroes info and 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.

Welcome to September

Be sure to check out the September program page for upcoming online programs. The Trailheads Rec Room (to the right of your screen) has samples of online offerings available anytime day or night.

Well, campers, this week got away from me, so today's post is even more random than usual. I hear some of you asking, "How is that possible?" Trust me, I have not yet reached my limits on randomness. Buckle up! Oh, and please celebrate responsibly on Labor Day. I know you will.

An Imperial Moth photographed at Daniel Boone Homestead (photo via Facebook)

In honor of National Wildlife Day, here's a nature photo taken at Daniel Boone Homestead (they regularly post on #WildlifeWednesdays). According to the info posted, this "imperial moth of the family Saturniidae is one of our largest and most spectacular moths with a wingspan reaching up to seven inches. As with most moths the adult imperial moth is largely nocturnal but can be spied resting on trees, rocks or vegetation during the daytime. This example was spotted in a grassy area near the North Picinic Area." Although the historic buildings and visitor center at the site are closed, outdoor areas at Daniel Boone Homestead (and other sites on the Trails of History) are open for visitors during posted hours.

Trenches alongside the Frederick Rapp House at Old Economy Village for the installation of pipelines as part of a large preservation project (photo via Facebook)

Major building and collections preservation projects continue on the Trails of History. At Old Economy Village (see above) the work includes pipeline installation at the Frederick Rapp House and a new roof on the Feast Hall (visit Old Economy's Facebook page for additional photos of the ongoing work. At Cornwall Iron Furnace (see below) a stationary steam engine is undergoing needed restoration work. According to Cornwall's Facebook page, the work includes "cleaning the engine, fabrication and installation of missing oil cups, and repairs to the masonry and wooden base." The engine dates from the late 1850s but has had some modifications over the years. (You can hear site administrator Mike Emery talk about preservation and Cornwall history on a recent edition of the Practical Preservation Podcast.)

1850s steam engine at Cornwall Iron Furnace, prepped for restoration (photo via Facebook)

Exhibit of artifacts related to the U.S. Army Signal Corps' use of pigeons to carry messages (photo via Facebook)

The staff at the Pennsylvania Military Museum have been using Facebook and their blog to share all kinds of interesting artifacts and stories from the collection. With a new season upon us, they're looking for input on what their readers might be interested in. They've posted on Facebook with room in the comments to suggest ideas or ask questions.

Recent and Upcoming

The July program page has events listed through the end of the month. I've highlighted some of this weekend's events below.

Before we jump ahead to the weekend, I thought I'd share some coverage of recent events at sites, ongoing projects, and well, just some stuff I found interesting. Thanks Facebook, Twitter, and Google Alerts!

Independence Weekend programming

Horse-drawn log skidding demo at 2017 Bark Peelers' Festival (via Facebook)

The long holiday weekend provided lots of time for programs and events on the Trails of History. See more at the links below:

• Pennsylvania Lumber Museum's annual Bark Peelers' Festival (which commemorates the early 20th-century gatherings of lumbermen for feats of strength and airing of grievances) drew about 2,000 people June 1-2 for music, food, history, and demonstrations of skill. The museum shared photos of the overall event and the birling (log rolling) contest on Facebook. Aerial/Renegade/AlexanderRenn Photography shared a great overview video on their Facebook page.
• 450 people attended the annual Ringgold Band concert at Conrad Weiser Homestead, honoring local veterans and carrying on a long-time tradition. You'll find info in this Reading Eagle article.
• The Reading Eagle also reported on Daniel Boone Homestead's Independence Day Celebration on July 1 (see article here).
• Somerset Historical Center's 3rd annual "Frosty Mugs of Thunder" brewfest took place on July 1 and the Daily American has photos to prove it.
• Young visitors to the PA Military Museum on July 4 were given the opportunity to try on military gear from the museum's education collection and sit in a World War II era jeep. "Kids' Day: Dress Up and Discover" is presented 3-4 times throughout the year as part of PMM's hands-on history offerings (next event is August 12). There are photos on Facebook.

High season for tourism

• Ephrata Cloister museum educator Michael Showalter (left in photo above) led a recent field trip to New England (group shown here at Plimoth Plantation). You'll find more photos of the trip on Facebook, along with lots of other photos of the site highlighting its history and activities.
• An article in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader highlighted numerous visitors who attended Patch Town Days at Eckley Miners' Village to explore their Irish roots.
• Several Trails of History sites are included in VisitPA's summer road trip itineraries: Pennsbury Manor and Washington Crossing Historic Park are found on Day 2 of the "Philadelphia and Countryside North" road trip, and The State Museum of PA (Day 2) and the PA Military Museum (Day 3) are on the Military History road trip.
• The Anthracite Heritage Museum's blog recently featured several guest posts about a choral group from Valley View High School's recent tour to Wales. On a related note, the museum will host a lecture on July 16 about movie star and singer Allan Jones, an Old Forge native who grew up in a family of Welsh coal miners.

Coming up this weekend

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 8: Annual Classic Car Cruise—classic and custom cars, live music, food, drink, and more. Event is free; regular admission applies to visit the exhibits. 11 am-4 pm.
July 9: Annual 5K Bushy Run Trail Run/Walk—Bushy Run is the site for this annual event benefitting the Penn-Trafford Area Recreation Commission (PTARC). For more info and to register, contact PTARC at 724/744-2171 ext 205 or lbires@penntwp.org.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
July 9: Living History Sunday—enjoy a summer afternoon at the homestead learning about life in the Tulpehocken. Noon-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 8: Presentation—"18th-Century Law" will explore legal issues and include some 18th-century law books and forms. 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum
July 8-9: open hours—Historic Pithole Open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.

Fort Pitt Museum
July 8-9: Guided Tours of the Museum—museum docents will offer overview tours of the museum's exhibits twice daily on weekends this summer, hours will vary. This weekend, tours are at 11 am and 2 pm both days.

Old Economy Village
July 8: Saturday Spotlight—this week, Meet the Gardeners. Included in regular admission. 11 am-4 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
July 9: Special Sunday Programming—this week, Pirates in the Tavern! (living history theater). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Thru July 9: Reading Railroad Days—offered in conjunction with the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society, this program features an enormous HO-scale model railroad and highlights Reading Company rolling stock in the Museum’s collection. Details are on Facebook. Included in regular museum admission.

Somerset Historical Center
July 8-9: Living History Weekend—help commemorate the 100th anniversary of U.S. involvement in World War I. Regular admission charged. 10 am-5 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
July 7: StoryTime—this month's selection is Roadwork, by Sally Sutton. The read-aloud session will take place in the Pennsylvania Turnpike exhibit and children will have a chance to explore. StoryTime is geared to children ages 3-5. Included in regular admission (which is free on July 7). 10-11 am.
July 7: Artist Conversations—artist and PA First Lady Frances Wolf and artist Andrew Guth, winner of this year's first place award for Works on Paper, will lead an informal tour of the 50th Art of the State exhibit. Admission is free today. 12:15-12:45 pm.

How Did it Get to Be So Late?

This week is turning out to be a little tight on time, so I thought it would be great to provide a few updates on events coming up before the end of August.

But before I do, a few tidbits:

If you enjoyed the August 12 guest post about Pennsylvanians and the Olympics, you might enjoy this wrap-up from Penn Live about how all of the 2016 PA athletes fared in Rio.

Vikings have invaded Erie! On its way from tall ships events in the Great Lakes to Connecticut (where it will spend the winter) Viking ship Draken made a stop at the Erie Maritime Museum. Not a sight you see everyday in Pennsylvania. Of course, there's "film at 11" on the local news (although I guess the 24-hour news cycle means that phrase, like so many I use, is outdated). Thanks to Linda Bolla for additional photos.

Viking ship Draken docked in Erie (top), detail from bow of ship (bottom) (photos by Linda Bolla)

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger of the Carlisle Sentinel wrote about a visit to Bucks County that included Pennsbury Manor in a recent article, "Stepping Back into History with a Visit to Pearl S. Buck House and Pennsbury Manor."

And speaking of Pennsbury, photographer Jennifer MacNeill has posted images from a visit to Pennsbury on her Facebook page. In addition to her other photography interests, MacNeill regularly shares photos of Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum. Her work is also included in the current "Art of the State" exhibit at the State Museum of PA.

Saturday, August 27

• Drake Day Circus at Drake Well Museum - experience a 19th-century style traveling circus and learn about life in the oil region during the boom. More info on Facebook about tickets and other details (and read about in the Titusville Herald). 10 am-4 pm. (Please note that because the circus is an "all hands on deck" event, the visitor center at Historic Pithole will be closed on 8/27.)
• Spotlight Saturday at Old Economy Village - this week's feature is woodworking and children's games. Included in regular admission, 11 am to 4 pm.
• Please note that the Youth and Family Field Day scheduled for 8/27 at the PA Lumber Museum has been cancelled. They hope to reschedule for June 2017 and we'll have more info in the new year.

Sunday, August 28

• Picnic at Bushy Run Battlefield - bring a picnic lunch and enjoy old-fashioned fun (such as Capture the Flag and face-painting) and new-fashioned fun (a Pokemon Go tournament). Entry to the battlefield is free. Noon-4 pm.
• Learn to make a one-pie basket at Daniel Boone Homestead - details are on the website, but you might want to call ahead to make sure there is still room in the workshop.
• Enjoy the late summer garden at Pennsbury Manor and visit the brew house, where they will be making "Garden Surprise" beer. Included in regular admission, 1 to 4 pm.

I'm planning to post the September program page next week, along with a list of Trails of History sites open on Labor Day. Stay tuned and enjoy the summer while it lasts.

8 Reasons I Heart History This Week

Please be sure to visit the February program page to see what's up on the Trails of History. Fort Pitt Museum and the Railroad Museum of PA will be open on Presidents Day (Mon., Feb. 15); all other Trails of History sites will be closed.

When I think of Valentine's Day, I think about my sweetie. And then I think about sweets (really, it's true). Somerset Historical Center has some great programs and exhibits related to maple sugaring, historically and currently important to life and commerce in Somerset County (and elsewhere in Pennsylvania as well). They were recently featured on the cover of Pennlines magazine (published by the Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative) and will be part of a maple-themed tour March 12-13, with lots of maple-related activities (and maple kettle corn, oh my).

They're already tapping maple trees at Somerset Historical Center (via FB)

Or check out an article from Lancaster Online about a recent hearth cooking class at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum. The article has lots of pictures of the sweets and savories baked by the students in the museum's outdoor bake oven.

And we can't talk about Valentine's Day and sweets without talking about chocolate! At least I can't. For Charter Day, March 13, Daniel Boone Homestead will host presenters from Mars Chocolate Company's American Heritage Chocolate program. So, okay that's a month from now. You might want to get some chocolate to tide you over. A number of sites on the ol' TOH sell American Heritage Chocolate in their museum stores. Just a thought.

I ran across a personals ad earlier this week: "Museum of lumber history ISO loveable bear that disappeared from parking lot. No questions asked. Just want you back." Seriously, though. The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum posted on Facebook this week looking for information about a large fiberglass statue of Smokey Bear that was unceremoniously chainsawed from its base (cut off at the ankles, actually) more than 35 years ago. At the time of the theft, there were no leads. The museum staff are hoping that through the power of social media, they may be able to turn up some clues. They'd like to at least know what happened to the statue, even if it's not recoverable.

In the "Romance of Ruins" department (my motto: anything for a theme), RoadsideAmerica.com posted an article about Historic Pithole City earlier this week (or maybe reposted, since the director quoted in the piece retired several years ago). To grossly oversimplify, Pithole was an oil boomtown that sprang up and disappeared in the space of a few years. It is part of the Trails of History and is under the care of Drake Well Museum. If you can stand the cold, they're hosting a sledding party tomorrow (2/13), assuming there has been enough snow (if not, it will be moved to Feb. 20, so check ahead). UPDATE, 2/12/16: it's just going to be toooooooo cold tomorrow, so the sledding party is postponed until Feb. 20.

Did you ever write the initials of your latest "crush" on the book cover of your math textbook? No? It's just me? Well, in 1835 16-year-old Amanda Degall embroidered the name and initials of her main squeeze, Matthew B. Rodgers, on a sheer muslin fichu (shawl) that is now in the collection at the State Museum of PA. Read more (including the sentimental lines Amanda also embroidered) and see photos on this week's PA Treasures feature.

And two non-Trails of History items, just because...

PA Museums tweeted a link to the Franklin Institute's Nerdy Valentines for 2016. Very cute (and there's a Ben Franklin electricity one, so that's history, too). It made me wonder if any history museums had created anything similar, but I wasn't able to find anything with a quick Google search. I did find some non-museum history-themed and very funny (some of them anyway) valentines, but they were NSFT (Not Safe for Trailheads). UPDATE 9:30 AM: Thanks to the folks at Washington Crossing, who shared the New York Public Library's Presidential Valentine Card page on FB.

Things are gearing up for Museum Dance Off 3: Tokyo Drift, a music video contest run by the wonderful folks at the "When You Work at a Museum" tumblr. To find out more about submitting a video or to mark your calendar to start viewing and voting on entries in April, visit the contest page. You can watch the official trailer for last year's contest on YouTube. I'm including this because I love Museum Dance Off almost as much as I love chocolate (but not nearly as much as I love my sweetie).

It's going to be very cold this weekend, campers. So whether you're snuggling up with a loved one, a favorite pet, or your Netflix subscription (or all three), stay warm and think about the Trails of History!

How Was Your Thanksgiving, etc.?

I hope that you and yours had a safe and happy Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Gimme-a-Break Sunday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, Whatever Wednesday, and Thfffft Thursday (sorry, I ran out of steam). Please be sure to check the December program page to see what there is to do this month on the Trails of History. I've highlighted this weekend's offerings below, but you may want to plan ahead for events later in the month. As always, be aware that some site schedules change during the winter, so it's always a good idea to check before visiting.

Ephrata Cloister held a candlelight open house last weekend and welcomed quite a few visitors interested in getting a different view of the site. Musicians and craftspeople were on hand to talk with visitors as they explored the historic buildings (WGAL covered the event and posted video on their website). If you missed it, fear not. The annual Christmas at the Cloister (Dec. 14-15) and Lantern Tour (Dec. 26-29) programs are still to come. Tickets are required for both, and Christmas at the Cloister may be sold out by the time you see this, but call 717/433-6600 to check on availability.

Staff from the Railroad Museum of PA set up the traditional model train layout at the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence this week, featuring G-scale (for Garden) locomotives and railcars from Bachmann. They posted a short video on their Facebook page and you can see the layout in person if you attend the open house and tour events starting next week. Of course, you can always see model trains and their life-size counterparts at the Museum.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania staff installed an operating layout at the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence today. Great G scale trains are courtesy of our friends at Bachmann!

Posted by Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Conrad Weiser Homestead: Christmas Open House, Sunday 12/6, noon-4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace: Christmas at Cornwall House Tour, Saturday 12/5, 10 am-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead: A Homestead Christmas, Sunday 12/6, noon-4 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village: Christmas at Eckley, Saturday and Sunday 12/5-6, noon-4 pm.

Hope Lodge: Christmas at Hope Lodge, Saturday 12/5, 11 am-5 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum: Country Christmas Village, Saturday 12/5, 10 am-4 pm, and Sunday 12/6, noon-4 pm (event also held Dec. 12-13 but program varies).

Old Economy Village: A Visit with Belsnickel, Saturday 12/5, 10 am-3 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: Home for the Holidays and Christmas with the Conductor, Saturday 12/5, 9 am-5 pm (and again on 12/12).

Somerset Historical Center: Ethnic Traditions of Somerset County, Sunday 12/6 at Friedens Lutheran Church. Advance tickets only, call 814/445-6077.

Festivities on the Trails of History

Well, we're into it now, campers. The stretch between this week and the first week of January includes numerous holidays and seasonal celebrations. Whatever your traditions are, I hope that you and the ones you love (and maybe even the-ones-that-you're-not-crazy-about-but-it's-the-holidays-and-what-are-you-gonna-do) have a chance to enjoy laughter, light, and good food together. If you're traveling, may your roads, rails, and/or skies be clear of ice and snow. If you're looking for things to do with the kids or the out-of-town guests, be sure to peruse the December program listings. Be aware that sometimes sites close a little early on "the eves," so check ahead to avoid disappointment. (UPDATE 12/22/14: some sites will be closed on Dec. 26, one more reason to check ahead.)

If your holiday celebrations include gift-giving, consider selecting something from your favorite museum store. Or browse the list of Trails of History sites and pick one that interests you (a few sites do e-commerce or at least list some of their merchandise on the web for you to order the old-fashioned way).

And so to a retrospective of programs from the past week or two...



A Homestead Christmas (more photos on Daniel Boone Homestead's Facebook page)

Drake Well Museum hosted a Holiday Shoppe program that explored 19th-century traditions and included a chance for kids to make a "Christmas cracker." Photos on Facebook show kids hard at work on their creations.

This year, Eckley Miners' Village combined their "Victorian Christmas" and "Children's Christmas" programs from previous years into a single "Christmas at Eckley" program. Offered last Saturday and Sunday, the event drew a larger audience than in the past few years. You'll find some nice photos on Facebook.



The Christmas Tree Ship (more photos on US Brig Niagara's Facebook page)

The Ephrata Merchants Association posted photos from Ephrata Cloister taken as part of the first annual Jingle Bell Trolley tour that visited various points of interest in the community. Tickets are still available for Ephrata Cloister's Lantern Tours program - Dec. 26 & 27, Jan. 2 & 3 - but they're getting [link added 12/22/14] some good local coverage, so don't wait too long to buy. This year's theme is the great comet of 1743 (which, according to NASA, had the 6th closest earth approach of any comet). For reservations, call 717/733-6600.

When PHMC's social media specialist and the editor of Pennsylvania Heritage magazine visited the Anthracite Heritage Museum recently, they learned about the legend of the Christmas spider. You can too, by watching this short video posted on the Pennsylvania Trails of History Facebook page.

Christmas at the Village, Old Economy (photo from 2013 via Facebook)

What's New, What's Old?

Bonfire at Scranton Iron Furnaces, Oct. 2014 (via Facebook)

Now is the time to recognize historic properties or locations with statewide or national significance. 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the state Historical Marker program (the first markers didn't look like the blue and yellow signs we use today). The postmark deadline for nominations is December 1 (details on the program and how to submit).

Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces has posted photos from last weekend's Bonfire at the Furnaces, and the Scranton Times-Tribune had a great write-up of the program and its representation of Scranton's rich ethnic history and traditions.

The folks at Daniel Boone Homestead have shared photos of their Heritage Day celebration on Sunday, featuring the Bertolet Sawmill demos, colonial-era fly fishing, horse-drawn wagon rides (thanks to Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum), and much more.

The restoration project at the George and Frederick Rapp Houses at Old Economy Village is wrapping up in time for a grand re-opening in early November. Curator Sarah Buffington's two most recent blog posts feature the installation of new replica carpet and the work to return artifacts to their proper places.

The Pennsbury Society, the associate group at Pennsbury Manor, was recognized earlier this week by Foundations Community Partnership in Bucks County. They were among 14 non-profits cited for their work benefitting the county's children. Congratulations.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania celebrated National Fossil Day last Wednesday, and you can read about it on Storify.

This weekend:
Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces
Oct. 26: Remember Johnny Mitchell Day—Admission ($5) includes presentation of A Miner's Tale. Museum is open noon-5 pm; the play is at 2 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Oct. 24 & 25: Haunted Homestead Tour—recommended for ages 8 and up. Admission charged (combo tickets with Sunday's program are available). 7-10 pm.
Oct. 26: Halloween at the Homestead—there will be loads of activities for kids and their families, including trick-or-treating (costumes encouraged). Admission charged (see website or Facebook for info). Noon-4 pm.

Drake Well Museum
Oct. 25: Family Day and Oil Valley Blacksmiths—Included in museum admission. Museum open 9 am-5 pm (blacksmiths on site until 2).

Eckley Miners’ Village
Oct. 24-25: Halloween Lantern Tours—this event is family-oriented but not recommended for children younger than 6. Admission charged. First tour leaves the visitor center at 6:30 pm, the last at 9 pm sharp.

Ephrata Cloister
Oct. 24-25: Mysterious, Melancholy, and Macabre—this year's program draws from some of the classics of Gothic literature. Admission charged. Performances at 7 and 8:30 pm each night.
Oct. 25: Gideon's Bones—geared for children 13 and younger. Admission charged. 1-3 pm.
Info on both programs and images from Mysterious, Melancholy and Macabre.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
Oct. 27: Storytime at the Maritime—This month's story is Theodore and the Scary Cove. 10 am.

Graeme Park
Oct. 24: Moonlight Tales—see the Keith House by night and listen to spooky stories. Ticket sales begin at 6 pm, with performances at 7 and 8.
Oct. 26 Mini-Moonlight—a family event geared for kids age 4-9. RSVP requested. 2 pm.
Info on both programs.

Pennsbury Manor
Oct. 26: Family Halloween and Living History Theater—Family trick-or-treating and a presentation of the 1684 trial of Margaret Mattson, accused of witchcraft by some of her neighbors. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
Oct. 25: Historical Halloween—Trick-or-treating along lantern-lit pathways. Admission is $5 per car. Please bring canned goods for the local food pantry and an apple for the cider press. 5-8 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Oct. 24: Films at the Farmstead—tonight's feature is Hotel Transyvlvania. Admission charged. Movie starts at dusk (about 7 pm).
Oct. 26: Lecture at the Visitor Center—Rick Wiggins will present a talk entitled "Embattled Farmers: Campaigns and Profiles of Revolutionary Soldiers from Lincoln, Mass., 1775-1783." Free of charge. 1 pm.

Next weekend:
The November program listings will appear in next week's post, but that's cutting it too close for these events scheduled for Nov. 1-2:
1777 Whitemarsh Encampment at Hope Lodge
Trains & Troops/1940s Swing Dance at the Railroad Museum of PA

U.S. Brig Niagara Invades Baltimore (and other news)

U.S. Brig Niagara (photo by AKFox)

In a new IMAX film currently being shown at the Maryland Science Center, the U.S. Brig Niagara plays the role of a British warship, and Lake Erie stands in for the Chesapeake Bay. (WBAL in Baltimore has footage.) Branching out from its type-casting as the victorious American ship of the Battle of Lake Erie (Sept. 1813), Niagara takes a star turn (among a fleet of computer-generated ships) during the 1814 British attack on Baltimore’s Fort McHenry that led Francis Scott Key to write the words to what became the U.S. national anthem in 1931. [Whoa, that’s a really long sentence, sorry] “Star-Spangled Banner Anthem of Liberty” is the science center’s first history-themed IMAX film; it will remain on view through the fall.

George Rapp's Coat and Cap from "A Style of Their Own" (photo by Sarah Buffington)

It's a busy summer at Old Economy Village. In addition to a new exhibit on Harmonist clothing (now through August 10), work continues on the restoration of the George and Frederick Rapp Houses. The long-awaited reproduction wallpaper is being installed and it won’t be long before furnishings can be returned to their proper places. To keep up with the progress, check out curator Sarah Buffington’s blog.

Evening on the Green, 2014, (via Facebook)

The folks at Daniel Boone Homestead shared photos of their recent Evening on the Green. Looks like a lovely way to spend a summer night. In the spirit of Trails of History cooperation, the wagon, horses and driver made the trip over from Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum to help out.


There’s probably other stuff I’ve missed. Info for this weekend on the Trails of History was posted late last month and has been updated. Look for the July program preview mid-week next week, in time for Independence Day. Enjoy your weekend.

How Cold Is It? The Saga Continues

The polar vortex came and went last week, but not before setting off a winter weather Trailheads throwdown. I posted a photo last week shared by the folks at Pennsbury Manor showing ice on the Delaware River. From the opposite corner of the state, I received a tongue-in-cheek note from Linda Bolla at the Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara, a frequent contributor to Trailheads. With her permission, I’m including an excerpt and a couple of Linda's photos:

Top: Ice Fishermen, Erie Bay
Bottom: Agitators keep the ice away from Niagara's hull
Photos by Linda Bolla, January 2014

"Oh, Amy – do you really think that puny ice sheet at Pennsbury Manor impresses anyone up here in the great northwest (insert coyote howl)? Erie has led the pack all this year as #1 Snowiest US City…and as I write, we’re still well ahead of Buffalo, despite their latest efforts to unseat us….We Erie folks all know in our hearts that when Paul Allman Siple (see PHMC historical marker in front of the Erie Maritime Museum) devised the “Wind Chill Index,” he was not thinking about his adventures with Admiral Byrd in Antarctica, but rather was fondly remembering his boyhood in Erie, walking to school on a typical winter’s day.

"The U.S. Brrrrrr-ig Niagara would be held fast in the ice were it not for strategically placed agitators keeping the water moving alongside her hull. The crew is working diligently on off-season maintenance tasks, often outdoors. Even as I write, we are experiencing a bit of a heat wave (38° F), which has not totally discouraged ice fishermen, who prefer it a bit brisker. Erie Bay had frozen all the way over earlier this week, when temps were closer to -10° F, and will refreeze next week."

Thanks, Linda, for the response. I am hopeful that this does not escalate into a full-on Trails of History [censored] contest. Unless it would increase readership—then I’m all for it.

Drake Well Museum’s Mobile Energy Education Training Unit (MEET-U) received some good news coverage this week when it visited the Learning Enrichment Center in Warren County.

Upcoming programs:
Friday, Jan. 17 (i.e. tonight)

• 3rd in the Burg, opening reception for the Susquehanna Art Museum Doshi Gallery’s new exhibit, “Lost World/Found World,” State Museum of Pennsylvania, 6-8 pm, admission free

Saturday, Jan. 18

• Knox Mine Disaster Program, Anthracite Heritage Museum, 2 pm
• Fraktur and Ephrata’s ABC’s, learn basics of fraktur calligraphy and create your own art based on Historic Ephrata Cloister’s collection (registration required, please call 717/733-6600 to check on availability)

Sunday, January 19

• Fireside Tales, Daniel Boone Homestead, 2 pm, $2 suggested donation per child

Monday, January 20

• Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania open, 9 am-5 pm (all other Trails of History sites closed)

Saturday, January 25

• Folk Art & Friendship: Make a heart-shaped tin basket, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (registration required)

More Holiday Programs on the Trails of History

All sites on the Pennsylvania Trails of History will be closed on Dec. 25 for Christmas, with the very notable exception of Washington Crossing Historic Park (visit their website for program details). This time of year, it’s always a good idea to check with the site you want to visit to confirm operating hours.

Winter weather has been causing all kinds of fun on the Trails of History, mostly creating a snowy backdrop for holiday programs, but disrupting some as well. Daniel Boone Homestead had to reschedule their event from last weekend to tomorrow, where Santa will be greeted with temps in the 50s.

Last week’s post included links to photos of programs from the first part of December. This week, I’d like to point you toward photos from Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, and Eckley Miners’ Village.

"Santa's" WWII Draft Card via PA Military Museum Facebook page

The Pennsylvania Military Museum shared a copy of Santa’s World War II draft card on their Facebook page. They explain that their copy was donated by a friend of the museum who received it during a speaking engagement in Missouri. If you need additional documentation, you can also see a copy of Mr. Claus’s WWI draft registration online.

If you’re shopping for last-minute gifts (you know, to supplement what Santa will be bringing), don’t forget the museum stores on the Trails of History for books, local arts and crafts, Pennsylvania food items, and other good stuff.

In addition to Daniel Boone Homestead’s rescheduled event and the Christmas Crossing (see links at the top of this post), there are several other items to note in the next week or so:

• Ephrata Cloister will present their annual Lantern Tour program, Dec. 26-29 (I strongly advise calling the site at 717/733-6600 to check on ticket availability), 6:30-8 pm.
• Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum offers a Winter Day Camp for kids Dec. 26 & 27. Registration is required; call 717/569-0401.
• The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s photography exhibit, “From Your Lens: Images of Contemporary Railroading,” closes on Dec. 31.
• Young children and their families can ring in 2014 a few days early as part of the State Museum’s “Noon Year’s Eve” program, Dec. 27, 10 am-noon.

On a non-Christmas topic, during 2014 Sarah Buffington, curator at Old Economy Village, will be blogging about the project to restore the homes of Harmony Society founder George Rapp and his adopted son Frederick.

Thank you all for being Trailheads readers. Whatever you are celebrating in the coming weeks, I wish you warmth, joy, and light.