Another Anniversary!

Celebrate the 275th anniversary of Hope Lodge by attending the British Car & Motorcycle Show on Saturday or the Ambler Symphony Concert on Wednesday (photo via Hope Lodge Facebook page)

Historic Hope Lodge is celebrating the 275th anniversary of the completion of the mansion (read about Hope Lodge's history). The Erie Maritime Museum just marked the 25th anniversary of the opening of the museum on Erie's waterfront. The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum has a temporary exhibit in honor of the 90th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps. And the Pennsylvania Military Museum has a temporary exhibit related to the 125th anniversary of the Spanish-American War (covered by WJAC-TV). Gives you a little taste of the variety of the Pennsylvania Trails of History. Why not give us a visit?

Up Next

Friday, June 2

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Join us in the Auditorium on the Ground Floor to learn about the symphony orchestra. The book Because by Mo Willems will be featured. Storytime participants will learn about the instruments that make up an orchestra and have a chance to play along with a few famous symphonic works. For kids age 2 to Pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (StoryTime info).

• First Fridays (in-person); 5:30-8:30 pm; Somerset Historical Center
• Enjoy an evening of music, family games, tractor rides, and food trucks. Some covered seating is provided, but feel free to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Parking is $5 per car, but there is no admission fee (June First Fridays info).

• Art and Wine with Henry! (in-person); 7-9 pm; Bushy Run Battlefield
• An art show featuring regional artists. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Must be at least 21 years old to attend. Tickets are $25 (Art and Wine event tickets).

Saturday, June 3

• Horsham Day (in-person); 10 am-2 pm; Graeme Park
• Celebrate Horsham Day with free tours of the Keith House on the hour from 10 am to 2 pm (Horsham Day info).

• Ales & Petals/Cars & Motorcycles of England Car Show (in-person); 10 am-4 pm; Hope Lodge
• Enjoy food, live music and craft beers (age 21+ with valid ID) for a tour of one of the largest British motoring shows on the East Coast with over 250 classic British cars and motorcycles. This event will also feature tours of the Hope Lodge mansion and celebration of 275th anniversary. Admission is $10 (Hope Lodge event info and ticket link).

• Exploring the Armor (in-person); 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. Tour begins at the museum, but there will be plenty of walking on the grounds, so please have appropriate footwear. This tour will not access the insides of the vehicles. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership (Exploring the Armor tickets).

Sunday, June 4

• Colonial Craft Day (in-person); 11 am-4 pm; Conrad Weiser Homestead
• A variety of craftspeople will demonstrate 18th-century skills and some vendors will have items for sale. Guided tours of the site will also be available (Colonial Craft Day info).

• Historic Trades (in-person) 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Come and witness some of the trades and crafts that were done at Pennsbury Manor during the 17th Century. Our blacksmiths, joyners and spinners will be eager to talk to you about their work and its importance during Penn’s time. Included in regular admission (Historic Trades info).

Wednesday, June 7

• Ambler Symphony Orchestra (in-person); 7-8:30 pm; Hope Lodge
• Under the musical direction of conductor Jack Moore, the Ambler Symphony will present an evening of music for all ages. Bring the family, chairs, and your picnic for an evening on the lawn. Tickets are $5 for ages 13 and up (free for members) and can be purchased at the door or in advance online (Eventbrite ticket link). Rain date is June 14.

Thursday, June 8

• Family Gallery Tour: Horse 2 Auto(in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Look back at the transition from horse-powered transportation to the automobile. Examine the similarities and struggles we face today as we look to transition from the internal combustion engine to a more energy efficient system. Included in regular admission (June 8 Family Gallery Tour info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, June 13, 3-5 pm and Tuesday, June 27, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spots in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (tickets for June 13 Sensory Hours or June 27 Sensory Hours).

• The End of An Era: Reflecting on 236 Years of Mining at Cornwall (hybrid); Tuesday, June 13, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• This presentation by Mike Weber will take a retrospective look at the Cornwall Mines at the end of an era as we reflect on the legacy of more than two centuries of iron mining at Cornwall. Attend in-person at Freeman Hall (Cornwall Manor Retirement Community) or via Zoom (Cornwall lecture info and registration).

• PHMC's Framing History Series (in-person); Wednesday, June 14, 1:30-3:30; The State Museum of PA
• Join award-winning historian Tom Sugrue, author of Sweet Land of Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the North, at 1:30 pm on June 14 at The State Museum of Pennsylvania as he discusses the Civil Rights Movement and the quest for racial equality in Pennsylvania. Tour The State Museum’s exhibit, A Place for All: Three Stories of Integration, following the presentation. Registration recommended but not required (register for Tom Sugrue lecture).

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

• Brews at the Battlefield (in-person); Saturday, June 17, 5-8 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Taste beers from local and regional breweries, listen to music, and enjoy food from Burgers by Wildwich (separate purchase from event tickets). You must be at least age 21 to attend, and photo ID will be required at the door. All tickets must be purchased in advance; designated driver tickets available (Brews at the Battlefield tickets).

• OEV Music Weekend (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18, Noon-8 pm both days; Old Economy Village
• Enjoy a wide array of bands at a beautiful historic site. Event is rain or shine (will move indoors if the weather is bad); bring chairs and blankets for outdoor seating. There will be a variety of food trucks onsite (separate purchase). Advance tickets only; choose one day or the whole weekend (OEV Music Weekend line-up and tickets).

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

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

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

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

• Bushy Run Battlefield (Bushy Run camp info)
• Colonial Life (grades 1-5), June 19-21, 10 am-3 pm - June 9 is last day to register

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

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

• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
• A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm

• Old Economy Village (OEV camp info)
• July 17-21, Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm
• July 24-28, Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm

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

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

• Railroad Museum of PA (RMP camp info)
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 9-10), July 11-14
• SOLD OUT Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 11-12), July 25-28

New Things to See

This month marks the 90th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), part of what became know as The New Deal during the Great Depression. A new temporary exhibit at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum commemorates this event and supplements the CCC section of the museum's core exhibit, Choices and Challenges in Pennsylvania's Forests. Curator Josh Fox notes in a recent issue of the PA Lumber Museum Associates newsletter that Pennsylvania was home to the second CCC camp, ANF-1, which opened on April 24, 1933, in the Allegheny National Forest. Eventually, Fox writes, "Pennsylvania would have 153 CCC camps, second only to California, and almost 200,000 Pennsylvanians would serve as CCC enrollees." The program ended in 1942.

In addition to the permanent exhibit component on CCC, the Lumber Museum is home to a chestnut cabin built by CCC enrollees of the Dyer Farm CCC camp for a state park project and a CCC Legacy bronze statue of a CCC enrollee. Here are a couple of exhibit photos to entice you.

View from the permanent exhibit's CCC section into the temporary exhibit gallery (photo courtesy PA Lumber Museum)

Cases in the temporary exhibit feature artifacts and images donated since the permanent exhibit opened in 2015 (photo courtesy PA Lumber Museum)

Back in February I shared some information about an ice boat donated to the Erie Maritime Museum that was being readied for exhibit. Well, it's ready. Earlier this week, the museum held a reception to open the new exhibit, Snipe...to Black Ice, which refers to the boat's original name and the name it came into the museum with. Worth a visit, I think.

The ice boat is on display on the museum's mezzanine level (photo via Erie Maritime Museum's Facebook page)

Up Next

Saturday, April 29

• Behind the Scenes with the Heirloom Seed Project (in-person); 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).

• Discover PA 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).

• POSTPONED to May 6 - Art in the Garden (in-person); 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).

• Spring Nature Walk (in-person); 10 am-?; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Learn about historical and modern uses for the wide variety of plant life that grows at Bushy Run. Bring some sturdy hiking boots and dress for the weather. Tickets (available at the door) are $5, free for members (Spring Nature Walk info).

• Arbor Day Book Talk (in-person); 1-2 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• In honor of Arbor Day, Dolores Parsil will talk about her book, Lancaster's Good Man: John Piersol McCaskey, A Biography. Among other things, McCaskey organized the first Arbor Day celebration in Pennsylvania in 1884 (Arbor Day book talk info).

Sunday, April 30

• EVENT POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER, but site will be open Noon to 4 pm - A "Sense" of History (in-person); Noon-4 pm; Conrad Weiser Homestead
• This living history event features activities to engage all the senses in learning about life in the Tulpehocken in the 18th century. All ages welcome (Sense of History program info).

• Animals at Pennsbury (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Meet the furry, fuzzy, and feathered inhabitants of Pennsbury and discover the important roles their 17th-century counterparts played in daily life. Included in regular admission (Animals at Pennsbury program info).

Tuesday, May 2

• Sensory Hours (in-person); 3-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (May 2 Sensory Hours tickets).

Friday, May 5

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Read What Grandma Did by Erin Miller with illustrations by Randall Harmon, the story of a little girl who learns her grandmother was a pilot during World War II. Learn about the role the museum’s Piper aircraft played in training pilots and try creating your own plane. For ages 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (StoryTime info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Presentation and Book Signing (hybrid); Wednesday, May 10, 11 am-Noon; Railroad Museum of PA
• J. Craig Thorpe will give a free presentation based on his book, Railroads, Art, and American Life: An Artist's Memoir. You can attend the presentation in person at the museum or virtually via Zoom. In-person attendees can also get copies of the book signed by the author. Admission will be charged to tour the museum's exhibits and can be purchased on the day at the admissions desk (register for the Zoom presentation).

• Herb & Garden Faire (in-person); Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, 9 am-5 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• The Faire, featuring plants from Landis Valley Museum’s Heirloom Seed Project, will also offer heirlooms, natives, and other hard-to-find varieties to purchase from vendors spread out over the historic village area of the site. The 2023 Herb & Garden Faire is the 35th year of this high-profile regional event. Food and drink will be available onsite. Tickets are available at the door or in advance online (Herb & Garden Faire online tickets).

• Mother's Day Breakfast and Cake Walk (in-person); Sunday, May 14, 10 am-Noon; Graeme Park
• Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day breakfast in the large event tent at Graeme Park! After your meal, enjoy a tour of the Keith House or participate in our cake walk (separate $10 ticket to be sold on site) to win a cake to take home with you. Tickets must be purchased in advance (tickets for Mother's Day breakfast).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, May 16, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spaces in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (May 16 Sensory Hours tickets).

• Brews at the Battlefield (in-person); Saturday, June 17, 5-8 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Taste beers from local and regional breweries, listen to music, and enjoy food from Burgers by Wildwich (separate purchase from event tickets). You must be at least age 21 to attend, and photo ID will be required at the door. All tickets must be purchased in advance; designated driver tickets available (Brews at the Battlefield tickets).

• OEV Music Weekend (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18, Noon-8 pm both days; Old Economy Village
• Enjoy a wide array of bands at a beautiful historic site. Event is rain or shine (will move indoors if the weather is bad); bring chairs and blankets for outdoor seating. There will be a variety of food trucks onsite (separate purchase). Advance tickets only; choose one day or the whole weekend (OEV Music Weekend line-up and tickets).

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

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

• Bushy Run Battlefield (Bushy Run camp info)
• Colonial Life (grades 1-5), June 19-21, 10 am-3 pm

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

• Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (LVVFM camp info)
• A Child's Life in the Civil War (ages 5-11), July 18-21, 9 am-12:30 pm

• Old Economy Village (OEV camp info)
• July 17-21, Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm
• July 24-28, Summer Art Camp (ages 6-12), 9 am-Noon, and Summer History Camp (ages 6-12), 12:30-3:30 pm

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

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

• Railroad Museum of PA (RMP camp info)
• Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 9-10), July 11-14
• SOLD OUT Barons & Builders Summer Day Camp (ages 11-12), July 25-28

We're Going to Need Another Boat

Yes, I know that's not quite the line from Jaws, but humor me. If you enjoyed last week's post about the new exhibit at Erie Maritime Museum featuring a 123-year-old ice boat, then you may also enjoy a new exhibit at The State Museum of Pennsylvania featuring a somewhat younger 1956 Cowell Runabout. Cowell Boat Works (1953-1962) was part of the recreational boat building industry in Erie in the mid-20th century. The Runabout is now on exhibit in The State Museum's second floor Transportation and Industry Gallery.

Photo via The State Museum's Facebook page

Up Next

Saturday, February 25

• Chatting Through Time (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Discover how people have used different innovations throughout history to share their ideas and thoughts with others. Create your own secret message using the same techniques George Washington used at Valley Forge. Included in regular admission (Chatting Thru Time info).

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Wade Catts, president of South River Heritage Consulting, LLC, will present "Archaeology and the Preservation of Sites of America's War for Independence, with special focus on new studies of the Brandywine Battlefield (Feb 25 Rev Speaker Series info).

• Rocks (in-person); 1-1:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Explore hands-on stations to compare rocks microscopically and uncover phosphorescent properties. Examine the use of rocks in historic tools and building materials. Included in regular admission (Rocks info).

Sunday, February 26

• African American History Month Celebration (in-person); 2-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Shirley Lee Corsey will present "Harriet Tubman – Live!" in which “Harriet” will speak to her audience about her early life on the Maryland plantation where she was born and enslaved, her escape from slavery up to Philadelphia and beyond to freedom. Pennsbury Manor will also again be displaying art quilts from the Dreams of Freedom - The Threads That Hold Us Together exhibit organized by the Sankofa Artisans Guild. These stunning works of art celebrate the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman. Included in regular admission (African American History Celebration info).

Tuesday, February 28

• Train Tour: The H6SB (virtual); 10-10:30 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Children in grades K to 6 will investigate the inside of the historic H6sb locomotive No. 2846, virtually visiting the cab and exploring behind-the-scenes in the tender and maintenance areas. Register to receive the link; admission is by donation (Train Tour registration).

• PA Museums Webinar with Pennsbury Manor (virtual); 1-2 pm
• Sponsored by PA Museums, this program features Jeremy Johnson, cultural education officer for the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and Douglas Miller, site administrator at Pennsbury Manor. Turner and Miller will talk about the partnership and collaboration that resulted in the repatriation of 180 Delaware ancestors to their homeland last spring. The program is offered via Zoom (PA Museums website to register).

• The Art of C. Edgar Patience (virtual); 7-8 pm; Anthracite Heritage Museum
• Anthracite Heritage Museum and Luzerne County Historical Society co-sponsor this African American History Month program, which features AHM curator John Fielding talking about the anthracite coal sculptures of C. Edgar Patience (Art of C. Edgar Patience info).

Wednesday, March 1

• Family Gallery Tour: PA Icons (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Take a trip through Pennsylvania to discover what makes the state iconic. Learn about people, places and industries from the State Museum collection. Included in regular admission (PA Icons Tour info).

Thursday, March 2

• Winter History Class (virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
• This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentations are "Pennsylvania German: Their Lives Through Color," with Jennifer Royer, curator at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, and "German Dairying Practices" with Susan Plaisted. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).

Friday, 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).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• 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

New Exhibit at Erie Maritime Museum

My thanks to Jim Hall and Linda Bolla for the images and info in this post.

Staff and volunteers at the Erie Maritime Museum are installing an iceboat on the second floor mezzanine, next to the USS Michigan/Wolverine exhibit

The Erie Maritime Museum, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is installing a new exhibit to add to the story of Erie's waterfront. An iceboat, built mostly of spruce in 1900 for Anna Scott Strong and named Snipe, now sits on the museum's mezzanine, next to the USS Michigan/Wolverine exhibit.

Bird's-eye view of the iceboat's backbone and car (the giant badminton racket) and the perpendicular runner plank and skates. The mast is lying on the ground nearby.

The boat was restored in 1983 by Andy Hanks, Lee Johannesmeyer, and Chris Wolford, and they used it for racing in Erie until about 2005. Wolford donated the boat (FN2020.6.1A-G), renamed Black Ice, to the Erie Maritime Museum.

From left: Chris Bloomstine, Chris Wolford, Andy Hanks, Clive Tattershall, Lee Johannesmeyer, and Linda Bolla

There's still another sail to attach and some adjustments to make before the exhibit is complete, but I think you get the idea. It's a great addition to a great museum.

I'm told that Black Ice is in this photo (FN2021.5.1), 4th from the left on the racing line with the foresail just barely visible.  

Up Next

Today, February 17

• Snow-mobility Weekend (in-person); Friday thru Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• Well, the weather isn't cooperating, so there is no snow, but the show must go on. On Saturday, enjoy a pancake breakfast (10:30 am-1 pm), documentary films, and learn how maple syrup is made (1:30). On Sunday at 2 pm, join us for a winter story time and craft (Snow-mobility Weekend info).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Brant Portner, environmental education specialist with the PA Game Commission, will talk about the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a popular spot for birds and bird watchers. The program is free and will be offered via Zoom; please register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Saturday, February 18

• Mapping Mammal Hall (in-person); 10 am-Noon; The State Museum of PA
• Locate the real-life inspirations for the Mammal Hall dioramas on a giant map of Pennsylvania. Included in regular admission (Mapping Mammal Hall info).

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Listen to a reading of Over and Under in the Snow by Kate Messner to discover what is happening under the show. Create your own winter landscape. For ages 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info).

• SOLD OUT The Dead of Winter (in-person); 5:30 pm; Graeme Park
• This program reenacts an early 20th-century seance and explores this popular form of spiritualism/entertainment. As of Wednesday, there were still some tickets available for the 5:30 pm program. Light refreshments will be served. In case of bad weather, program will be held Feb. 25. Advance tickets ($20) only (Dead of Winter info and tickets).

Tuesday, February 21

• Sensory Hours (in-person); 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Noise, light, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be quiet spaces for breaks. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (Feb. 21 Sensory Hours).

Wednesday, February 22

• Explore! (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn how epidemiologists study the cause, spread, and control of bacteria, viruses, and other "germs" that can make us sick. Mimic how scientists use "germs" to make art in a petri dish. For grades 3 to 5 and included in regular admission. Space is limited, so please sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Explore! info).

• Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 2-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join the Planetarium director for a live, in-person chat about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events coming up this month. Planetarium tickets (in addition to regular admission) must be obtained at the Ground Floor Info Desk no later than 1:55 pm (Stargazing info).

• The Harmonist Connection: Gardens (virtual); 7-8 pm; Old Economy Village
• The latest in a series of virtual programs sponsored by Harmony Society sites in Pennsylvania and Indiana. Tonight, Kent Schuette from Historic New Harmony (IN) and Joe Pulgini from Old Economy Village will talk about the work both carry out to maintain modern gardens that draw on the traditions of the Harmonists. Free and offered via Zoom (Harmonist Connection info and registration).

Thursday, February 23

• Winter History Class (in-person & virtual); 9 am-noon; Ephrata Cloister
• This course runs every Thursday through March 30. Today's presentations are "Bake Ovens in Germanic PA: Their Location, Construction and Use," with Robert Wood and "German Foodways" with Alan Keyser. If you have not already signed up for the full series, you can attend single sessions via Zoom only (Winter History Class registration options).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Feb. 25, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Wade Catts, president of South River Heritage Consulting, LLC, will present "Archaeology and the Preservation of Sites of America's War for Independence, with special focus on new studies of the Brandywine Battlefield (Rev Speaker Series info).

• Train Tour: The H6SB (virtual); Tuesday, Feb. 28, 10-10:30 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Children in grades K to 6 will investigate the inside of the historic H6sb locomotive No. 2846, virtually visiting the cab and exploring behind-the-scenes in the tender and maintenance areas. Register to receive the link; admission is by donation (Train Tour 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 tend to sell out quickly (ticket options, including designated driver tickets).

• Colonial Camp Week (in-person); Monday-Friday, July 17-21, 9 am-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Campers 6 to 8 years old will spend the week exploring the entire site with a talented team of living history experts. Sessions run 9 am-4 pm each day; before- and after-care are available for an additional fee (registration info).

Trailheads to Be First Blog on Mars

Spring has sprung at Conrad Weiser Homestead, which will be open from noon to 4 this Sunday, April 3 (photo via CWH Facebook page)

As of this weekend, all Trails of History sites have reopened for the season, so it must really be spring! Schedules vary, so please be sure to check websites before heading out for a visit. Guided tours are generally on a set schedule, so it's helpful to know what to expect. Enjoy!

Over the past month, we asked you to vote for Erie Maritime Museum in USA Today's Top 10 History Museums poll. The results were announced last week (after my posting deadline), and Erie came in at number 7! Thank you to everyone who voted. Congratulations to the staff and volunteers who make it a great place to visit.

Up Next

Today, April 1

• StoryTime (in-person), 10:30-11:30 am, The State Museum of PA
• Read Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown and plant a seed to take home and watch it grow. For kids age 2 to pre-K and included in regular admission. Sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk (StoryTime info)

Saturday, April 2

• Pysanky Egg Decorating Workshop (in-person), 9 am-4 pm, Somerset Historical Center
• This is a beginner-level class teaching the basic skills of Ukrainian decorated eggs. Open to anyone age 12 and up (age 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult). As of Wednesday, there appeared to still be tickets available. Cost is $45, which includes materials (Pysanky workshop info and registration)

• National Water Dance Art Preview (in-person), 10 am-noon, Erie Maritime Museum
• Posters and infographics by Mercyhurst Univ. artists spotlighting plastics pollution and threats to the world's coral reefs will be on display in the Orientation Theater. This is a preview for the National Water Dance event on April 23 (EMM info).

• The Great War Remembered: World War I (in-person), 10:00 am-3 pm Saturday and Sunday, PA Military Museum
• Lectures and temporary exhibits mark the 104th anniversary of American combat troops in France and the end of WWI. Included in regular admission (Great War info). At noon on Saturday, author Tom Schalata will present "The Bloody Bucket," detailing his grandfather's service in the 28th Division. On Sunday at 1 pm, Robert Potter will present "Discovering WWI: From Boalsburg to France and Back," based on his travels in rural regions of France. The lectures are free (donations welcome); seating is first come, first served.

Wednesday, April 6

• Explore! (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Learn about PA industries using T.M. Fowler's bird's-eye views of industrial towns. For kids in grades 3-5 and included in regular admission. Space is limited; sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Explore! info).

Thursday, April 7

• Family Gallery Tour: Paleontology (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Museum educators will be in the gallery with hands-on fossils of plants and animals from the Carboniferous Period to the present. Included in regular admission (Gallery Tour info).

Friday, April 8

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Bert Myers from the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection will talk about PA's successful peregrine falcon reintroduction efforts. The program is free; register to receive the Zoom link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Somerset Historical Center's Coopering School for 2022 is fully booked, but there is a waiting list for 2023, or in the event of cancellations this year (Coopering School info and waiting list).
• 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).
• On Saturday, May 2, Old Economy Village will host "Unlock Your History," a program on researching your family history and deciphering clues in old documents. Cost is $15, which includes lunch (Unlock Your History info and registration).
• 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.

Summer Camps & Activities on the Trails of History

I'll add to this as I get more info.

• Bushy Run Battlefield
• Summer History Club; activity boxes for Ages 8-12 (pick-up to use at home with an accompanying YouTube video); June 19, July 10 & 24, Aug. 7

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

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

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

Celebrating Pennsylvania's Birthday

The original 1681 Charter - Pennsylvania's Birth Certificate

PHMC traditionally offers free admission to Pennsylvania Trails of History sites as part of Pennsylvania's birthday celebration. This year, that free admission day will be on Saturday, September 24 (watch PHMC social media and this space in September for list of participating sites). There are virtual activities and on-site programs this weekend exploring multiple themes in Pennsylvania's history, so why not celebrate with us?

Don't forget that Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday at 2 am. If you have clocks that don't reset themselves, turn them ahead one hour so that you don't miss the fun. And if the weather is iffy, please check ahead with the site you plan to visit (social media is usually the most up-to-date). PLEASE NOTE: Saturday's forecast is affecting some site schedules. Be extra careful and check before you go.

Monday, March 14, at noon EDT is the last chance to cast your vote in USA Today's Top 10 History Museums poll. You can vote once a day until then. Twenty museums are on the ballot, and our own Erie Maritime Museum has been sitting in the Top 10 (during the last days of voting, USA Today stops showing the leaderboard). Please take a few minutes to cast your votes (vote for Erie Maritime Museum). Thank you for your support.

Photo via Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum website

Up Next

Today, 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).

Saturday, March 12

• Reading on the Rails (in-person), 10 am-4 pm, Railroad Museum of PA
• Story readings for kids will take place every 45 minutes (1st one at 10:15 am, last at 3:15 pm). Lots of activities as well, including travel stickers, Catcher the Cow, and KPETS therapy dogs. An American Sign Language interpreter will be part of each story reading. Included in regular admission (Reading on the Rails info).

• Maple Taste and Tour Weekend (in-person), 10 am-4 pm Saturday and Sunday, Somerset Historical Center
• SHC is one of 20 stops on this year's tour, offered in cooperation with the Somerset County Maple Producers Assn. Admission is free and there will be maple-related activities both days (Maple Taste info).

• Friends Lecture Series (in-person) 2-3:05 pm, PA Military Museum
• Today's talk explores the Truman Doctrine, marking the 70th anniversary of a pivotal policy that impacted two periods of conflict. Donations welcome (Friends Lecture info).

Sunday, March 13

• Pennsylvania Day (in-person), 10 am-4 pm, Bushy Run Battlefield
• Celebrate Pennsylvania's birthday and learn about Bushy Run's place in state history. Children's activities will be offered, and William Penn will make an appearance (PA Day info)

• Living History! (in-person), noon-4 pm, Conrad Weiser Homestead
• Today is the site's biggest living history event of the year. Learn about the French and Indian War and the skills of 18th-century life from demonstrators and volunteers. Donations welcome (Living History! info)

• Community Day (in-person), noon-4 pm, Daniel Boone Homestead
• Tour the Boone House and other structures, watch the Amity Colonial Dancers (and join in if you like), and take part in kids' activities and games (Community Day info).

• Exhibit opening (in-person), noon-4 pm, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• Enjoy the museum's latest changing exhibit, Pennsylvania Germans: Their Lives in Color, which includes painted furniture, textiles, clothing, fraktur, ceramics, and more. Included in regular admission and open during regular business hours until the end of the year (exhibit info on LVM website).

• Founder's Day (in-person), 1-4 pm, Pennsbury Manor
• Celebrate Pennsylvania's birthday at William Penn's country estate. Craft demonstrations, including beer brewing, tours of the Manor House, and more. Admission is $3 at the door (Founder's Day info).

• Joseph Priestley's Birthday Celebration (in-person), 1-4 pm, Joseph Priestley House
• Costumed docents will be on hand throughout the house as you tour on your own. Dr. Priestley will offer chemistry demos in the Pond Building at 1:30 and 2:30. A new exhibit on Dr. Priestley's friendship with Ben Franklin will be unveiled (Priestley's Birthday info).

• Charter Chats (virtual), 1 and 2 pm, 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).

Wednesday, March 16

• 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).

Thursday, March 17

• Winter History Class (virtual), 9 am-noon, Ephrata Cloister
• Today's topics are "Then and Now: The Ephrata Cloister in Photos" and "Identifying and Preserving Nineteenth-Century Photos." If you did not register for the 9-week course, you can attend today's session via Zoom for $10 (Winter History Class registration).

• Wisdom & Wine Series (in-person), 6:30-8 pm, Drake Well Museum & Park
• Tonight's topic is "Dressmaking: Civil War Fashions and Sewing Machines in the 1860s. Cost for the lecture is $5. There will be a wine-tasting happy hour at 5:30 (separate $5 fee). Registration is required (Wisdom & Wine info and registration).

Friday, 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).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• 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.

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.

False Spring Strikes Again

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum's Snowmobility Weekend drew a good crowd, with the snow sticking around just long enough

I heard from the PA Lumber Museum that the snow they needed for last weekend's event has gone. I enjoyed a lovely lunchtime walk on Wednesday with 60 degree temps. But it's all a sham. We all know it. More winter weather is on the way, because it is, of course, still winter. I fall for it every year. Ah, well. Be sure to check out the calendar below for the coming week and check the advance planning list for more things to look forward to on the Trails of History.

Erie Maritime Museum

The Erie Maritime Museum, which is home to the U.S. Brig Niagara, is currently in the running for USAToday's Top 10 History Museums list. Twenty museums are featured on the website; the top 10 vote-getters will make the final cut. As of Wednesday afternoon, Erie Maritime Museum is at number 6. You can vote once a day through 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.

Pennsylvania artists and craftspeople are invited to submit their entries for the 2022 Art of the State exhibition at The State Museum of Pennsylvania. This year is the 55th exhibition. Categories for submission and awards are Painting, Work on Paper, Photography & Digital Media, Sculpture, and Craft. The deadline to submit your work is May 6; the exhibition will be on view from September 11, 2022 through January 15, 2023. The State Museum website has details (Art of the State application info).

Up Next

Friday, February 25

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Curators Katie McGowan and Robert Hill will share the story of Mary Sharp Ward (1912-1989), who served with the American Red Cross during World War II. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration)

Sunday, February 27

• Sunday Sewing Circle (in-person), 1-4 pm, Bushy Run Battlefield
• Bring your sewing or embroidery projects and enjoy the company of others who like to sew. The program is free; chairs, tables, ironing board, and iron provided (Sewing Circle info)

Wednesday, March 2

• Explore! (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Learn about PA's architectural innovations and unique buildings. For kids in grade 3-5 and included in regular admission. Space is limited; sign up at the Ground Floor Info Desk when you arrive (Explore! info)

Thursday, March 3

• Winter History Class (virtual), 9 am-noon, Ephrata Cloister
• Today's topic is "Mystical and Churchly: An Ephrata Confession of Faith." If you did not register for the full course, you can watch today's session via Zoom for $10 (Winter History Class info and tickets)

• Family Gallery Tour: Paleontology (in-person), 11:30 am-12:30 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Join museum educators to learn about life from the Carboniferous Period to today using hands-on fossils of plants and animals (Family Gallery Tour info)

Friday, 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)

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Ephrata Cloister's Winter History Class continues each Thursday morning from 9 am to noon through March 31; if you didn't sign up for the full 9-week course, you can register to attend individual sessions via Zoom for $10 each (Ephrata Cloister website)
• Drake Well Museum and Park's Wisdom and Wine in-person lecture series will run Thursday nights from March 10 through March 31. Regional experts on the people, places, and events of local petroleum industry will present and Brokenstraw Valley Winery will host a wine-tasting happy hour (happy hour at 5:30 pm with lectures starting at 6:30). Separate admission prices for the happy hour and lecture (Wisdom and Wine info)
• 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).
• 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)
• Drake Well Marathon, August 14 - this race is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Registration for a variety of categories is now open.

Halloween and More

Please be sure to check the PHMC Events Calendar for information on upcoming programs (in-person and virtual). I've included highlights for the coming week below. The Trailheads Rec Room pages to the right of your screen offer an array of online content generated by Trails of History sites. Also, if you're looking for a Covid vaccine provider, check out Vaccines.gov and enter your zip code.

Please note that staff and volunteers at Commonwealth of PA worksites, including the PA Trails of History, are wearing masks while indoors. Visitors are encouraged, though not required, to do so as well.

Bonfires and storytelling were part of the fun at the PA Lumber Museum last weekend (photo via PLM Facebook)

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum was one of the Trails of History sites hosting Halloween events in the past couple of weeks (see more photos from their event). Curator Josh Fox also wrote a blog post this year entitled "What Chainsaw Did that Movie Use?" to provide some history for horror movie lovers. There are still opportunities for Halloween fun on the Trails of History, so be sure to check the listings below.

As we move from October into November, it's important to know that some Trails of History sites are adjusting their hours or outdoor offerings for the winter season. I always say it's a good idea to check ahead before visiting, but this time I really mean it. [Scary Halloween voice] You've been warned [end Scary Halloween voice].

Halloween isn't the only thing happening on the Trails, of course. Earlier this month, U.S. Brig Niagara sailed from Erie to Cleveland for some long-awaited maintenance and inspection at the Great Lakes Shipyard. If you aren't following Erie Maritime Museum on Facebook you may have missed the updates on the work. But here's a cool time lapse video of the ship being raised out of the water.



On October 16, the Anthracite Heritage Museum hosted an iron pour at the Scranton Iron Furnaces. Artist Brian Glaze melted iron using a cupola furnace and with the help of volunteers poured the molten iron into sand molds for visitors.


Speaking of molten iron, Cornwall Iron Furnace presented (also on October 16) a Civil War living history event with the Detachment, US Engineers, who interpreted the work of 19th-century military engineers.

This Week's Events (virtual and in-person)

Today, Oct. 29

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual): curator Robert Hill will chat with historian Leroy Hopkins, Jr. about his father's WWII service, The State Museum of PA, 12:15-12:45 pm (Learn at Lunchtime info and Zoom registration)
• Haunted Lantern Tours (in-person): your guide will take you through the shadowy rooms and halls of the Keith House, Graeme Park, tickets still available (as of 10/26) for 7:45, 8, and 8:45 tours, tickets must be purchased in advance prior to 6 pm (Lantern Tours info and ticket link)

Saturday, Oct. 30

• Workshops in Archaeology (virtual): this year's focus is "Hidden Stories: Uncovering African American History Through Archaeology and Community Engagement," The State Museum of PA, 9 am - 4:30 pm (Workshop info and registration)
• Jack-o-Lantern Contest (in-person): drop off your entry this afternoon between 2 and 5 pm and the grounds will be open 5-9, Joseph Priestley House (contest details)
• Old Economy Village After Dark (in-person): several historic buildings will be open and attendees may bring hand-held ghost hunting equipment and cameras (nor large equipment), 6:30-9:30 pm, as of 10/26 there are about 30 tickets remaining, tickets must be purchased in advance (OEV After Dark info and tickets)
• Historic Cemetery Tour (in-person): historical figures from the past will greet you at Northumberland's Riverview Cemetery, Joseph Priestley House, tours begin every 15 minutes from 7 to 8 pm, tickets available at JPH today noon-4 pm or by calling 570/473-9474 (Cemetery Tour info)

Sunday, Oct. 31

• STEM Halloween activities (in-person): kids in grades K-5 can explore STEM from 3 to 5 pm and the grounds will be open from 1 to 8 pm, Joseph Priestley House (JPH info)

Wednesday, Nov. 3

• Explore! (in-person): learn about the history of deer in PA and their changing population, The State Museum of PA, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, for kids in grades 3-5 and included in regular admission (Explore! info)

Thursday, Nov. 4

• Curiosity Kids (in-person): learn how artists use line to create art and explore the 2021 Art of the State Exhibition, The State Museum of PA, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, for kids in grades K-2 and included in regular admission, space is limited to sign up at the Ground Floor Information Desk when you arrive (Curiosity Kids info)

On Sale Now

• Wreaths & Greens Workshops: Pennsbury Manor will offer this workshop twice on Saturday, Nov. 27, 10 am-noon and 1-3 pm. Make a festive wreath to take home and learn some tips for caring for evergreens in your yard. Cost is $35 ($31.50 for members) and pre-registration is required (Wreath workshop details).
• Gingerbread Cookie Kits: Railroad Museum of PA is accepting orders for train-shaped gingerbread cookies. Choose 12 cookies per box (plain) or 6 cookies per box with vanilla icing bag and sprinkles for $20. Orders must be picked up at the museum on either Dec. 4 (10 am-3 pm) or Dec. 11 (10 am-3 pm). Deadline for orders is Nov. 29 (RMP cookie flyer for details).
• Christmas with the Conductor: kids ages 3 and older will get to board one of the Railroad Museum of PA's historic railroad cars to hear a classic holiday story. Other activities are also part of the program. The program is offered Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 with three storytimes each day. The $10 program fee is in addition to museum admission. Deadline for registrations is Nov. 29, but space is limited and this program usually sells out quickly (Christmas with Conductor info and tickets).