On the Trails of History, February 14-27

Many sites are on adjusted winter schedules, and February is notorious for bad weather, so it is advisable to check ahead before planning a visit. Most Trails of History sites will be closed on February 17 for Presidents Day; I’ve noted exceptions below where I have info.

Celebrate winter this weekend at the PA Lumber Museum - see details below (photo via Facebook)

Bushy Run Battlefield
Feb. 22-23: Make an 18th-Century Shift—this 2-day workshop will explore women’s shifts from 1760 to 1800, including examining an extant shift ca. 1790-1800 and a reproduction 1770s shift. Some experience is necessary—participants should be confident in their hand-sewing skills, including running stitch, backstitch, buttonhole stitch, and felling stitch. Additional details on the Facebook event page. Cost is $180 and includes all materials, catered lunch, and snacks both days. Sat., 9 am-5 pm; Sun., 9 am-3 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
Feb. 20, 27: Winter History Class—each Thursday morning participants in the Winter History Class learn about the history of the celibate brothers and sisters, the world they lived in, and the work of preserving the collections and buildings. Sign up for the series or for individual dates (visit website for session details and cost). Contact the site at 717/733-6600 to register. Class continues through March.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for info on any events and programs happening this month. Fort Pitt Museum is open on Presidents Day, Feb. 17.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Winter/Spring Workshops—February brings learning opportunities, including craft and trade classes, lectures, and classes offered by the Heirloom Seed Project. Schedules and costs vary. The full list of classes through April is on the website, along with registration info.
Homeschool Classes—this year marks the 10th anniversary of Landis Valley’s homeschool program. On six Wednesdays in February through mid-March, the site offers a series of classes designed for homeschool groups. Each week has a different focus and activities. Sign up for all or some, depending on your schedule and interest (full details are on the website). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Feb. 14-16: Snow-mobility Weekend—ride your snowmobile to the museum all weekend-long. Cross-country ski/ hike to the museum on Saturday (Feb. 15) for a Pancake Breakfast (9:30 am-1:30 pm). (Cross-country ski trek will meet at Susquehannock State Forest District HQ on Route 6, 4 miles west of the museum at the top of Denton Hill. Please be there no later than 9 am. They will have cross country skis to borrow. Call 814/274-3600 for more info.) Documentaries will be shown in the program room during breakfast. Check out the Facebook event for updates and details.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Feb. 23: Lecture/Movie—today’s event is focused on Iwo Jima; visit the museum’s calendar of events for updated info. 2-3 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Feb. 17: Presidents Day—the museum is open today, 9 am-5 pm (otherwise closed on Mondays through March).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Planetarium Shows—check the State Museum website for schedule and program descriptions.
Feb. 16: Exhibit Tour—join Dr. Curt Miner and Amy Hammond for a curatorial tour of Picturing a More Perfect Union: Violet Oakley’s Mural Studies for the Pennsylvania Senate Chamber, 1911-1919 (more info on the website).  Included in regular admission. 2-3 pm.
Feb. 21: Learn at Lunch—Jason Wilson, historian for the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, will lead a tour of Violet Oakley’s Senate Chamber murals, discussing their history and preservation (details on the website). Participants should meet at the Third Street entrance to the PA Capitol Building (if you don’t have a Commonwealth of PA id badge, you’ll need to go through security, so please gauge your time accordingly). 12:15-12:45 pm.
Feb. 27: Nature Lab—learn about Pennsylvania’s Wild Cats, native bobcats and cougars. Included in regular admission. 11:30 am-noon.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing website for operating schedules and info on events and programs happening this month. Washington Crossing will be open on Feb. 17 for Presidents Day.

Beware the Ides of February (is that a thing?)

The February program page has info on events through the end of the month. Activities coming up in the week ahead (including Presidents Day) are listed below.

Premature hopes of an early spring on February 5 (top) dashed by snow and ice on February 11 (bottom) at Pennsbury Manor. Such is life. 

I'm never sure whether February is the longest short month or the shortest long month of the year. I know we're only halfway through, but with the back-and-forth weather (see photos above), I feel like February has already lasted a month. Ah well. Here's a couple of highlights to keep us going.

Taking care of the pieces of the past entrusted to us is part of what museum and historic site people do. Sometimes that means saying goodbye to them and sending them off into the hands of others. This past week, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (RMP) transferred ownership of its historic Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive No. 757, the Berkshire, to the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue, Ohio. In its new home, the Berkshire will benefit from much-needed restoration work and will be much closer to its original areas of operation (read much more here on RMP's Facebook page). And RMP will continue to focus on its massive collection of rolling stock that operated in Pennsylvania from the 19th century into the recent past.

Moving a 75-year-old steam locomotive that has been sitting at a museum for 50 years is, it will come as no surprise, a fairly big deal that involves a lot of logistical coordination. RMP staff and staff from the Berkshire's destination in Ohio, along with folks from the Strasburg Rail Road and Norfolk Southern, cooperated to make sure No. 757 will make it to Ohio no worse the wear for its journey. See a video clip below and visit RMP's Facebook page and Norfolk Southern's for progress photos of the move.


Sometimes taking care of history includes giving it new life and form in the present. This weekend, (Feb. 17-18), a capella quartet New York Polyphony will be performing in concert at the Trust Performing Arts Center in downtown Lancaster. On the program is the world premiere of Greg Spears' "The Bitter Good," commissioned by the quartet in 2016. It is based on baritone Christopher Herbert's research into the music of the Ephrata Cloister (more info here). (Dr. Herbert, who is also a faculty member at William Paterson University, will offer a 45-minute pre-show lecture on Feb. 18 at 6:15 pm and is slated to speak at Ephrata Cloister as part of the Winter History Class on Thursday, March 14.) Concerts are at 7:30 pm (ticket information online).

Also ahead...

Brandywine Battlefield
Feb. 19: Revolutionary Dining Series—Glenn Williams Ph.D. will present "The Siege of Yorktown: The Decisive Engagement of the American War for Independence." Cost is $50 per person (includes salad, entree, dessert, and coffee); cash bar available (details and link to purchase tickets via Paypal). 6 pm at The Gables at Chadds Ford.

Ephrata Cloister
Feb. 21: Winter History Class—each Thursday morning participants in the Winter History Class learn about the history of the celibate brothers and sisters, the world they lived in, and the work of preserving the collections and buildings. Sign up for the series or for individual dates. Contact the site at 717/733-6600 for details and/or to register. Class continues through March.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for info on any events and programs happening this month. Fort Pitt Museum is open on Presidents Day, Feb. 18.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Winter Learning for Adults—weekends bring learning opportunities, including craft and trade classes, lectures, and classes offered by the Heirloom Seed Project. Schedules and costs vary. The full list of classes through April is on the website, along with a registration form.
Homeschool Classes—on Wednesdays in February through mid-March, Landis Valley offers a series of classes designed for homeschool groups. Each week has a different focus and activities. Sign up for all or some, depending on your schedule and interest (full details are on the website) 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Feb. 15-17: Snow-mobility Weekend—ride your snowmobile (or not) to the museum all weekend-long. Cross-country ski (not) or hike to the museum on Saturday (Feb. 16) for a Pancake Breakfast (9 am-2 pm). Documentaries will be shown in the program room. UPDATE 2/15: conditions won't support cross-country skiing, but it's always the right weather for pancakes!

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Feb. 18: Presidents Day—the museum is open today, 9 am-5 pm (otherwise closed on Mondays through March).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Planetarium Shows—check the State Museum website for schedule and program descriptions.
Feb. 15: Learn at Lunchtime—join curator Katie McGowan for a tour of the exhibit "Dressed for Service" to learn about the role of the American Red Cross in World War I. Included in regular admission. 12:15-12:45 pm.
Feb. 21: Curiosity Kids—this month's program takes place in Nature Lab and will focus on Magnets. Geared for young visitors, ages 3-6. Included in regular admission, but space is limited so be sure to sign up at the front desk when you arrive at the museum. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing website for info on any events and programs happening this month.

Trails of History Events, Feb. 8-21

This time of year especially, it's a good idea to double check site schedules before visiting. Some sites are on reduced hours or closed, and snow storms can interfere with schedules as well. Most Trails of History sites will be closed on February 18 for Presidents Day; exceptions (that I know of) are noted below.

The PHMC's 2017-18 Annual Report is now available online.

Snowmobiles parked in front of the Visitor Center at PA Lumber Museum in 2018 (via Facebook)

Brandywine Battlefield
Feb. 19: Revolutionary Dining Series—Glenn Williams Ph.D. will present "The Siege of Yorktown: The Decisive Engagement of the American War for Independence." Cost is $50 per person (includes salad, entree, dessert, and coffee); cash bar available (details and link to purchase tickets via Paypal). 6 pm at The Gables at Chadds Ford.

Daniel Boone Homestead
UPDATE, this event has been cancelled. Sorry I didn't catch that. There is a Fireside Tales program scheduled for Charter Day, March 10. Feb. 10: Fireside Tales—come to the Wayside Lodge storytelling by the fire (dress for the weather and bring a blanket if it's really cold). $2 per person suggested donation. 2 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
Feb. 14, 21: Winter History Class—each Thursday morning participants in the Winter History Class learn about the history of the celibate brothers and sisters, the world they lived in, and the work of preserving the collections and buildings. Sign up for the series or for individual dates. Contact the site at 717/733-6600 for details and/or to register. Class continues through March.
Feb. 17-18: Performance of Ephrata-inspired Music—a capella quartet New York Polyphony will be performing in concert at the Trust Performing Arts Center in downtown Lancaster. On the program is the world premiere of Greg Spears' "The Bitter Good," commissioned by the quartet in 2016. It is based on baritone Christopher Herbert's research into the music of the Ephrata Cloister (more info here). (Dr. Herbert, who is also a faculty member at William Paterson University, will offer a 45-minute pre-show lecture on Feb. 18 at 6:15 pm and is slated to speak at Ephrata Cloister as part of the Winter History Class on Thursday, March 14.) Concerts are at 7:30 pm (ticket information online).

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for info on any events and programs happening this month. Fort Pitt Museum is open on Presidents Day, Feb. 18.
UPDATE 2/11 on Facebook: The Fort Pitt Museum will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 12 because of unexpected maintenance. It will reopen as scheduled on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Thank you!

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Winter Learning for Adults—weekends bring learning opportunities, including craft and trade classes, lectures, and classes offered by the Heirloom Seed Project. Schedules and costs vary. The full list of classes through April is on the website, along with a registration form.
Homeschool Classes—on Wednesdays in February through mid-March, Landis Valley offers a series of classes designed for homeschool groups. Each week has a different focus and activities. Sign up for all or some, depending on your schedule and interest (full details are on the website). 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Feb. 15-17: Snow-mobility Weekend—ride your snowmobile (or not) to the museum all weekend-long. Cross-country ski (maybe not) or hike to the museum on Saturday (Feb. 16) for a Pancake Breakfast (9 am-2 pm). Documentaries will be shown in the program room. Here's a weather-related update as of Feb. 14.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Feb. 18: Presidents Day—the museum is open today, 9 am-5 pm (otherwise closed on Mondays through March).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Planetarium Shows—check the State Museum website for schedule and program descriptions.
Feb. 14: Nature Lab—learn about ducks; program is geared to a general audience, ages 7 and up. Included in regular admission. 11:30 am-12:30 pm.
Feb. 15: Learn at Lunchtime—join curator Katie McGowan for a tour of the exhibit "Dressed for Service" to learn about the role of the American Red Cross in World War I. Included in regular admission. 12:15-12:45 pm.
Feb. 21: Curiosity Kids—this month's program takes place in Nature Lab and will focus on Magnets. Geared for young visitors, ages 3-6. Included in regular admission, but space is limited so be sure to sign up at the front desk when you arrive at the museum. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing website for info on any events and programs happening this month.

Lift Every Voice and Sing

The February program page has info on upcoming events. Most Trails of History sites will be closed on Monday (Feb. 19) for Presidents Day, with the exception of (as far as I know) Fort Pitt Museum and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

Also, if you'd like a copy of PHMC's 2016-17 Annual Report (and why wouldn't you?), it is available online.

As you know, February is Black History Month. This provides an opportunity to focus particular attention on African American history and, I think and hope, a reminder that our history as Americans has always been multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-faceted. We need to hear and tell all of these stories to gain a fuller understanding of who we are as a nation, as a state, as local communities, and as families. Here are some highlights from the PHMC's Trails of History.

Granville C. Smith, Scranton business leader (via Anthracite Heritage Museum)

The Anthracite Heritage Museum has organized an exhibit entitled "Granville C. Smith: African-American Business and Community Leader," which explores Mr. Smith's business, social, and philanthropic involvements and his legacy in the community (read much more on the Facebook entry for the exhibit). The exhibit will be in place all month in the museum lobby; entry to view the Granville Smith exhibit is free (admission rates apply to visit the rest of the exhibits).

The State Museum of Pennsylvania's Black History Month exhibit, "Trailblazers: Notable African Americans in Pennsylvania History," is now a permanent feature in the East Wing of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. The exhibit features a broad array of men and women who have played significant roles in the Commonwealth's business, political, educational, and social realms. Virginia P. Florence (above), 1903-1991, was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area. Mrs. Florence was the first African American woman to receive professional training in librarianship, enrolling at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Library School in 1922. Her library career began at the New York Public Library and included work as a high school librarian in Brooklyn, NY, and Richmond, VA. (You'll find an album of Pennsylvania Trailblazers on the PA Trails of History Facebook page.)

Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founded in 1915 by Carter G. Woodson, sets an annual theme for Black History Month. 2018's theme, set to coincide with the centennial of the end of World War I, is "African Americans in Times of War."

Last weekend, Tyler Gum, director of the Pennsylvania Military Museum offered a lecture program, "They Fought Equally: USCT in the Civil War." The program highlighted the 11 Pennsylvania regiments of the United States Colored Troops, including their training at Camp William Penn (see historical marker above). One of the Pennsylvanians featured in the presentation was 1st Sergeant Alexander Kelly, Company F, 6th U.S. Colored Troops. Sgt. Kelly, born in 1840 in Saltsburg, Indiana County, was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions taken on Sept. 29, 1864, at Chaffin's Farm, Virginia. The medal citation reads: "Gallantly seized the colors, which had fallen near the enemy's lines, raised them and rallied the men at a time of confusion and in a place of the greatest danger." (You can read more about Sgt. Kelly, pictured below in post-war life, on the PA Civil War 150 website.)

Alexander Kelly (1840-1907) served with 6th USCT and was awarded the Medal of Honor

On Tuesday of this week (Feb. 13), I had the opportunity to attend a multi-agency event centered on the 2018 Black History Month theme, "African Americans in Times of War." The organizing committee for the program included Janee Corbin of The State Museum of Pennsylvania, and the program took place in the museum auditorium. Other agencies represented were the Governor's Advisory Commission for African American Affairs, Office of Administration, Dept. of Community & Economic Development, Dept. of Health, Dept. of Human Services, Dept. of Labor & Industry, Public Utility Commission, and the PA State Library. The program started with the Harrisburg School District's Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC) Color Guard presenting the colors and the assembled speakers and audience singing the National Anthem. Governor Wolf appeared via pre-recorded remarks and representatives from the organizing agencies spoke on various aspects of the theme. Two members of the NJROTC talked about their interest in military service, followed by Brigadier General David E. Wood, Director of the Joint Staff for the Pennsylvania National Guard, and Colonel Korvin "Kory" Auch, Special Advisor on Veterans Programs to the Secretary of Administration.

Col. Auch introduced the keynote speaker, Chief Master Sergeant Trae R. King, United States Air Force, Retired, who now serves in a civilian capacity as Chief, Force Support Readiness Policy for the Air Force. She spoke briefly but movingly about her experiences in the military and about the ongoing work of securing civil rights for all Americans. The program, which I found both educational and inspiring, concluded with James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Every Voice and Sing," performed by the Earth Tones (a multi-agency chorus) and the audience. My thanks to all who organized and presented at this event.

On This Day in History - February 16

In honor of the cadets from Harrisburg High School who participated in this week's program at The State Museum...

• 1944 - the first group of African American U.S. Navy enlisted men began training as officers at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois; in March, 12 were commissioned ensigns and one was made a warrant officer