Summer Hours

Lupines in the Rapp House Garden (photo via Old Economy Village Facebook page)

Although it's not officially summer yet, it feels and looks like summer on the Trails of History. Some hours change seasonally, so always be sure to check ahead to make sure you know the schedule. Many of our sites with gardens are coming into their peak season, such as Old Economy Village pictured above. Old Economy has multiple gardens and a greenhouse, tended by staff and volunteers. This summer, the garden behind the Rapp Houses will be the setting for an eclectic music series including classical, blues, jazz, and light opera performed by local bands, orchestras, and vocalists (if it's rainy, concerts will be held in the Feast Hall). Visit Old Economy's Facebook events page for details. And keep an eye on the Trailheads event listings or the PHMC events calendar for more outdoor music events on the Trails of History throughout the summer.

On Saturdays during the month of June, the Pennsylvania Military Museum is including a free 1 pm guided tour with regular admission. While you're on the grounds, check out (from a safe distance) the current project to remount the USS Pennsy guns or explore the military vehicles and monuments.

The visitor center at Historic Pithole on a beautiful summer day (photo via Drake Well Facebook page)

The visitor center at Historic Pithole City, which is managed by Drake Well Museum & Park, is now open weekends 10 am-4 pm through August (the grounds are open dawn to dusk year-round). The midcentury modern visitor center (pictured above) contains a theater, museum store, restrooms, and exhibits that explain life in the once-thriving oil boomtown. It is well worth a visit.

What will you find to do on the Trails of History this summer?

Up Next

Today, June 10

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

Saturday, June 11

• 2022 Railfest and Arts on Fire (in-person), 9 am-5 pm, Scranton Iron Furnaces
• PA Anthracite Heritage Museum and Steamtown National Historic Site are combining two popular events. The event is free, and there will be music, an iron pour, artisans, food trucks, and a community mural project (Railfest/Arts on Fire details).

• Cast Iron Cooking Demonstration and Band Concert (in-person), 11 am-3 pm, Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Cast iron cooking demos will take place (with food samples) between 11 am and 3 pm, and the Keystone Band of Rehrersburg will perform an outdoor concert at 1 pm. Demos and concert are free; regular admission charged for tours of the Furnace. Seating will be limited; visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs (Demo and Concert info).

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

• Lecture (in-person), 2-3 pm, Daniel Boone Homestead
• Author Michael Wescott Loder will read from and discuss his historical fiction book, Taken Beyond the Ohio: The Indian Captivity of Marie LeRoy and Barbara Leininger. The program will take place in the DeTurk Education Center, near the site entrance from Daniel Boone Road (lecture info).

Sunday, June 12

• Living History Theater (in-person), noon-4 pm, Pennsbury Manor
• "A Garden Tour" portrays a 1940s tour of the newly reconstructed estate, with a focus on the landscapes and gardens of Thomas Sears. Tour times are 12:15, 1:45, and 3:15 pm. Included in regular admission (living history theater info).

• Ephrata's Musical History (in-person), 1:30-2:30 (approx.), Ephrata Cloister
• Martin Hinkley and Becky Degan, Ephrata Cloister Chorus director and accompanist respectively, will present two short discussions of Ephrata's musical history following the 12:30 and 1:30 tours (which last approx. 1 hour). The music programs are included in regular admission; if you choose not to take a guided tour, you can still join the music program in the meetinghouse (music program info).

Tuesday, June 14

• Sensory Hours (in-person), 9-11 am, Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, noise, and crowd levels will be reduced, and there will be some quiet spaces around the galleries. Several historic trains will be open, with staff to answer questions. Advance tickets required (Sensory Hours tickets).

Friday, June 17

• Exhibit opening and reception (in-person), 7-9 pm, The State Museum of PA
• Tonight's event is the debut of A Place for All: Three Stories of Integration in Pennsylvania, a new long-term exhibit highlighting efforts to end racial segregation in post-WWII PA. Admission is free as part of "3rd in the Burg," and there will be refreshments and music (Exhibit opening details).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Colonial Cocktail Hour, Saturday, June 18, 7-10 pm, Bushy Run Battlefield
• Explore England's "gin craze," 1720-1765, with tastings and hors d'oeuvres. Cost is $25 per person (Cocktail Hour info and tickets).

• Sensory Friendly Visit, Sunday, June 19, 10 am-noon, PA Military Museum
• Background sound effects in the galleries will be turned off and the volume on the orientation video will be lowered (captions always enabled). Please register in advance for a timeslot; standard admission fees apply (Sensory Friendly Visit registration).

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

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual), Friday, June 24, 12:15-12:45 pm, The State Museum of PA
• State Museum archaeologists will highlight cultural resources impacted by Tropical Storm Agnes 50 years ago. The program is free; please register to receive the Zoom link (Learn at Lunchtime registration).

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

• "Room Enough for Them All" (virtual), Tuesday, July 12, 7-8 pm, Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Michael Showalter, museum educator at Ephrata Cloister, will present a program on the diverse population of Lancaster County in the late 18th century. The program is free; please register to receive the link (Cornwall lecture info).

• Drake Well Marathon and Half (in-person and virtual), Sunday, August 14, 7 am-?, Drake Well Museum & Park
• This race is a Boston Marathon qualifier, and there are in-person and virtual options. Online registration ends August 8 (Registration info for all categories).

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

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

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

• Joseph Priestley House (updated info)
• Intermediate History Camp; Grades 6-8; June 20-22
• Annual History Camp; Grades 1-5; July 27-29

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

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

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

Trails of History Info, July 12-25

This week's post will cover you for most of the rest of July, but the full July program page will get you to the 31st.

Operating demonstration of Bertolet Sawmill at Daniel Boone Homestead (ca. 2007)

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 17, 24: Sawmill demonstrations—the site's water-powered up-down sawmill will be demonstrated at 11 am and 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
July 13: MEET-U BBQ—St. Louis-style BBQ ribs with Drake Well's signature Sweet Crude Sauce plus sides, all to benefit the museum's mobile education unit (details on the website). 5-8 pm.
July 13-14, 20-21: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.

Eckley Miners' Village
July 13: Eckley Car and Bike Show—enjoy vehicles of years past, ice cream, live music, a 50/50 raffle, People’s Choice contest, and much more. If you are interested in having a car or motorcycle in the show, please complete and submit the Vehicle Registration Form. Admission charged. Noon-5 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
July 13: Ephrata Cloister Chorus—the chorus will perform a brief concert in the Saal (meetinghouse) Saturday afternoon, included in regular admission. 2 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Thursday-Saturday through August 31st: Experience History – Rolling Cart Series—the new rolling cart program presents maritime-themed activities for visitors of all ages. Find out what’s in a sailor’s seabag, learn about the busy life of a lighthouse keeper, build your own warship and more! Included with Museum admission. Stay tuned to Erie Maritime Museum’s social media accounts (such as Facebook) for more information and weekly schedules.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on upcoming events and programs. Fort Pitt Museum will be open on July 4.

Graeme Park
July 21: Living History Sunday—learn about the traditions, games, crafts, and foodways of the Lenni Lenape (more info on the website). Admission charged for tours of the Keith House. Noon-3 pm.

Hope Lodge
July 14, 21—the site is open for tours every Sunday, through mid-October. Admission is charged (cash or check only). Site is open 1-4 pm, with tours at 1 and 2:30.

Joseph Priestley House (photo via Facebook)

Joseph Priestley House
July 24-26: History Camp—this year's theme is "Dr. Priestley in Northumberland." The program offers a wide range of activities for first through sixth graders (more info and registration form). Fee charged; registration deadline is July 23. 9 am-noon.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
July 16-19: Summer Sampler Camp—kids ages 5-11 will enjoy a variety of activities, inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. Details and instructions for registering are on the website. 9 am-12:30 pm.
July 20-21: Civil War Days—the site is transformed into a rural Pennsylvania village in 1863, with reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians (more info). The event takes place rain or shine. Admission charged; tickets are available online from Brown Paper Tickets. Food will be available for purchase. 10 am-4 pm both days.

Old Economy Village
July 13: Introduction to Wine Making—instructor Frank Mazzotta started making wine as a hobby; in 2015 he decided to do it professionally and opened Mazzotta Winery. This class will discuss various types of wines and the process for making wines. Class is free, but space is limited to 50 people. Please register by July 10 by contacting David Miller, Museum Educator at davmiller@pa.gov or 724-266-4500 ext.110. 10 am-1 pm.
July 13: Crop and Kettle—learn about a community organization whose mission is to help people gain sustainable employment in food-related fields. The program is free, but reservations are requested (details and registration info). 1-2 pm.
ADDED July 14: Picnic in the Garden—bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy the beautiful gardens. There will be some tents, tables, and chairs available, and you'll have a chance to meet site administrator Michael Knecht and his wife Barbara. Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center (more info on Facebook event page). Noon-5 pm.
July 15-19, 22-26: History Camps—retired art teacher Dee Ruckert will lead the classes. Children age 6-12 (6-year-olds must have completed kindergarten) will experience a variety of activites while exploring the historic buildings for inspiration. Details and registration info are in the summer camp brochure). 9 am-12:30 pm.
July 24: Culture and Foods of the Middle Eastern Immigrants—Center Township native Patrick Michael, owner of Rafka Foods and Jemila Foods, will present a program on Lebanese culture and food. The program is free, but registration is required (info on website); there will be food samples provided. 7-8 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
July 13: Conversations in History—this month's program is "The Lenni Lenape of Pennsylvania" (more info on website). Fee charged (includes site admission). 10-11 am.
July 14, 21: Sunday Programming—something different every week: Pirates in the Tavern! (living history theater) (7/14); see what the cooks are up to in the kitchen (7/21). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 15-19: Time Traveler's Camp—this camp is for students who've finished grade 5, 6, or 7 who want to learn about life 300 years ago. Registration is required (info and online registration are on the website). 10 am-3 pm.
July 20: Paths Less Traveled—explore basements, attics, and other spaces not generally included on tours. Benefit of membership in The Pennsbury Society (joining is easy). 10-11:30 am.
July 21: Play the Past!—learn 17th-century games that families would have played during their leisure time. Fun for all ages. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Log birling competitors at the PA Lumber Museum (photo via Facebook)

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 20: 3rd Weekend Program—have you ever wanted to try log birling (aka log rolling)? This is your chance. Details are on the Facebook event page. Included in regular admission. 1-2 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Through July 14: Annual People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts—celebration of arts and artisans held on the museum grounds (visit the festival website for details). Festival is free, $5 charged for on-site parking at PMM; regular museum admission applies to tour the indoor exhibits. Fri-Sat, 10 am-9 pm (museum open 10 am-5 pm); Sun., noon-5 pm.
July 20-21: VIETNAM Revisited—living historians will be on the grounds portraying American combat and support troops “in country” in the late 1960s. 10 am-5 pm (tactical demo at 1:30 pm each day).
July 25: Registration deadline for Boot Camp for Kids—this year's Boot Camp will be held Aug. 3 (more info and registration forms.

Somerset Historical Center
Opens July 20: Traveling Exhibit—the center is hosting "We Can Do It," an exhibit from the Heinz History Center exploring Western PA's role and impact during World War II. SHC has also teamed up with the Turkeyfoot Historical Society to add a focus on Somerset County during the same period. Included in regular admission during regular operating hours (exhibit will be onsite through Sept. 15).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the State Museum website for a full schedule of Planetarium shows.
July 12, 19: Summer Fridays—Fridays are "Pay as You Wish" for general admission (through Aug. 23). Regular fees apply for the Planetarium, and Curiosity Connection will have timed tickets between 10 am and 3 pm. At 12:15 pm each Friday, a special "Learn at Lunchtime" will be offered (see events page for details). On July 19 (3rd in the Burg), join Harrisburg Young Professionals for "Moon Madness," with a variety of activities from 5:30 to 7:30 (details).
July 17: Moon Madness - Build and Launch a Paper Rocket—kids between the ages of 6 and 12 are invited to learn about rockets, design and build one out of paper, and test its flight-worthiness using Alka-Seltzer (more info). Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.
July 18: Curiosity Kids - Moon Making—this program, designed for ages 3 to 6, will teach about the moon and guide participants in making an image of it to take home. Included in general admission. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up at the front desk when you arrive. 11:30 am.
July 24, 25: Nature Lab—an assortment of programming is scheduled for the museum's Nature Lab area (visit the events page for details). Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Please visit the Washington Crossing website for a complete listing of upcoming programs and events. The site will be open on July 4.

Upcoming Trails of History Events, July 6-19

So much to do...This list covers today, July 6, through July 19. Visit the July program page for events later in the month.

Weaving demonstrations are often part of living history programs at Conrad Weiser Homestead (via Facebook)

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 7: 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-3 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
July 8: Living History Sunday—enjoy a summer afternoon at the homestead learning about life in the Tulpehocken. Admission is free. Noon-4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 11, 18: Sawmill demonstrations—the site's water-powered up-down sawmill will be demonstrated at 11 am and 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum and Park
Saturdays and Sundays: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
July 12, 19: Discovery Days—children age 8-12 will experience nature, perform experiments, discover history through artifacts and exhibits and so much more. Fees charged and registration is required (program brochure and registration form). Deadline was late June, so contact the site to see if space is still available. 9 am-4 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
Through August 17: Tall Ship Summer Camp—sail on board the schooner Lettie G. Howard and learn all kinds of nautical skills. Week-long camp sessions are still booking, geared for ages 10-14--except for Tall Ships Summer Camp RETRO week (July 2-6), which is designed for grown-ups! Details and registration info are on the website.
July 16: Annual Flagship Niagara Golf Open—details and registration are on the website. Part of your registration fee is tax-deductible and supports the Flagship Niagara League's programs. Must be at least 21 years old to attend.

Graeme Park
July 15: Living History Sunday—explore the sympathies and arguments of loyalists and revolutionaries as Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson decides what she must do (more info on the website). Noon-3 pm (presentation at 2).

Hope Lodge
Sundays in July—the site is open for tours every Sunday, through mid-October. Admission is charged. 12:30-4 pm, with tours at 1 and 2:30.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
July 7 and 11: Lend a Hand on the Farm—there's flax to be harvested and Landis Valley needs some helping hands to pitch in. Learn how flax becomes linen and help with the first step in the process, pulling the flax plants out of the ground. No tools will be used (no cutting) but those interested should bring good garden gloves and plenty of sunscreen. Landis Valley will provide water and snacks (more info on Facebook). 7/7, 9-11:30 am; 7/11, 6-8:30 pm.

Old Economy Village
July 15: Historic Fashion Show and Discussion—curator Sarah Buffington will present a program on 18th- and 19th-century clothing using antique and reproduction pieces (more info on Facebook event page). 6-8 pm.
July 16-20: Summer History Camp—kids ages 6 to 12 will explore the village and learn about life and work in the community (more info and registration form. Register by July 5. 9 am-12:30 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
Special Sunday Programming—Pirates in the Tavern! (living history theater) (7/8) and see what the cooks are up to in the kitchen (7/15). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 14: Yoga/dance classes—no experience is required to enjoy this combination of various types of dance and yoga movement. Two classes are offered - Shake Your Soul (10-11 am) and Shake Your Seat, where movements center around a chair (noon-1 pm). Click on the class you want for more info on registering. Cost is $10 per class.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 7-8: Annual Bark Peelers’ Festival—this hugely popular event recreates the 4th of July celebrations of Pennsylvania’s early 20th-century lumber camp workers and “woodhicks.” The schedule for this year's event is now available online. Admission is charged. 9 am-5 pm (events start at 10 am). NOTE: on June 7 at noon, a dedication ceremony for the relocated Webber cabin will be held (read more about the cabin project).

Pennsylvania Military Museum
July 10: Central PA Civil War Roundtable Series—the program is "Zouaves: America's Forgotten Soldiers." Donation requested. 7-8 pm.
July 12-15: Annual People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts—celebration of arts and artisans held on the museum grounds (visit the festival website for details). Festival is free, $5 charged for on-site parking at PMM; regular museum admission applies to tour the indoor exhibits. Thurs-Sat, 10 am-9 pm (museum open 10 am-5 pm); Sun., noon-5 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Through July 8: 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. Included in regular museum admission during regular hours.

Somerset Historical Center
July 7: Escape Room—work as a team (of up to 10 people) to solve your mission and escape the barn. Two 60-minute games offered per day. Cost is $10 per person. 10 am-2 pm.
July 14: Exhibit opening—"Answering the Call: Somerset County in the Great War" explores the impact of World War I from the home front to the front lines. Included in regular admission. On view through Nov. 11.
POSTPONED July 14: Historic Hayride—hear stories of the local region while you tour the grounds by wagon. Two rides offered each day. Cost is $10 per person, $8 for members. 10 am-2 pm. Due to equipment and trail issues, this event is postponed. Keep an eye on Somerset's Facebook page for updates.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Through Aug. 24: Summer Fridays—Fridays are "Pay as You Wish" this summer.
For the full listing of July programs, including planetarium shows, Nature Lab programs, StoryTime, and Learn at Lunchtime, please visit the museum's calendar of events.

The Future is Here

Please be sure to check out the May program page for events this weekend and the rest of the month.

PA Lumber Museum hosted the Potter County Conservation District's 2018 Envirothon on Thursday. High school students tested their knowledge on a variety of environmental science topics. The winning team goes on to the state level contest. (See PLM's Facebook page for more info. UPDATE: see a photo of the winning team, from Coudersport, getting their awards.)

A number of items (including the photo above) drifted across my screen in the last couple of weeks that focused my attention on the "younger generation." Or generations, I guess I should say. So I thought I'd highlight some activities involving high school and college students. I'm sure there are other stories out there - feel free to share in the comments.

Interns and apprentices will be starting their summers on the Trails of History soon. Some applied through the PHMC's Keystone Summer Internship or Summer Apprenticeship programs. Some interns applied to their host sites directly or through their schools. Depending on their assignment and interests, they will learn construction and restoration skills, care and management of object and archival collections, interpretation of historic sites, management of historic preservation programs, and much more. I hope that you'll hear from some of them through guest blog posts on Trailheads (I'll be recruiting heavily once they get started). It's always a pleasure to see new faces and learn about their career plans. (If you're a former PHMC intern, give us a shout in the comments to let us know what you're up to - I know some of you are right here at PHMC.)

My Google Alerts clued me in to a story about the Sewickley Herald's 2018 Emerging Citizen, Katie Rostek, a senior at Quaker Valley High School, near Ambridge. Among many other activities, Katie is a member of Old Economy Village's Young Harmonist group, which learns about the history of the community and shares it with the public. According to the article, she plans to double major in political science and secondary education at Penn State. Congratulations to Katie and to all of our younger volunteers who are graduating high school and moving on to the next chapter in their lives.

Bushy Run volunteers on Charter Day 2018 celebrate funds raised (via Facebook)

When we talked about Charter Day programming back in March, I think I mentioned that Bushy Run Battlefield was open on Charter Day for the first time in a while due to the efforts of a local high school student working on her senior project at Penn-Trafford High School. Emily Liska (second from left in the above photo) coordinated activities for Charter Day and organized a marketing campaign (with a GoFundMe component) to help raise awareness of Bushy Run in the local community. She helped raise more than $1,000 to support activities at the site. Emily will be giving a presentation at the high school next week to share what she learned. Thank you, Emily, for your efforts.

I recently learned about an interesting new project through the Eckley Miners' Village volunteer newsletter. This semester, students in Prof. Dan Kimbrough's video class (Misericordia University's Dept. of Mass Communication and Design) have been working on a documentary about the history of Eckley and its impact on the region. As part of the production, they interviewed a number of volunteers and others at the village to gain their insights. Students screened their work yesterday for an audience that included folks from Eckley. Word has it that the documentary will be made available online. I'll share a link if and when I'm able to do so.

Mercyhurst University Dancers perform on the Erie Maritime Museum floor, the wind in our sails!  L-R, Emily Black, Caitlin Cummings and Olivia Duke (photo by Ashlyn Duke Photography, used with permission)

This final item comes from Linda Bolla at Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, who regular readers will recognize as our most prolific guest blogger. Last month, the museum hosted Erie's participation in a project called National Water Dance, "an artist-driven collective of dancers and educators confronting critical water issues facing the United States." With its proximity to Lake Erie, the museum was the perfect venue for this multi-media event led by a group from the Mercyhurst University Departments of Dance and Chemistry.

Doug Lodge performs in the museum lobby, dragging the weight of one week’s single use plastic bottles, as collected by students from Harborcreek Youth Services. (photo by Ashlyn Duke Photography, used with permission)

Linda writes:

Because winds were high and temps were unseasonably low on April 14th, the Erie event did not commence next to the water at 4:00 p.m., as it did simultaneously at other waterways throughout our nation. An indoor start did not diminish anyone’s enthusiasm! The Erie event is unique in its scope: in addition to dance, the museum hosted live jazz, sculpture, poetry and infographs created by Mercyhurst students, along with a multitude of partners from the community. Poetry and art remain on exhibit until May 4th. [editor's note: that's today!]

Highlights from the finale mainstage performance included choreography by Elizabeth Hite, who will graduate this term. Undercurrents is her Senior Capstone thesis project. When interviewed about her work, Elizabeth cited her concerns about the environment as inspiration for this piece, and noted the challenges of representing the beauty of water and the threat to it.

Undercurrents, performed by (1st row, l – r) Jenna Swartz, Emily Black, Sophia Thorman, Caitlyn Cummings, (2nd row, l – r) Olivia Duke, Hannah Schayes, Rachel Rhodanz, Katarina Flores. (photo by Ashlyn Duke Photography, used with permission)

Stuff You May Have Missed

If you're looking for something to do this weekend (I hope it's cooler than last), the August program page is the place to look for ideas.

A old-style Radio Show was part of the 1940s weekend event at Eckley (via FB)

Eckley Miners' Village held their annual 1940s weekend earlier this month and got some good local coverage, not to mention enthusiastic visitors. In addition to a 1940s-style radio show, homefront displays, and a swing dance, the program also featured Sarah Jane "Salty" Sands, who played professional baseball for the Rockford (IL) Peaches in the early 1950s. She was on hand to talk about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which began during WWII. Salty, an Orangeville (Columbia County) native, played right field and catcher for the team that was featured in the 1992 film, A League of Their Own; she had a small part in the movie.

ABC News coverage of the opening of the new National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem (in part of the old Bethlehem Steel plant) included mentions of other industrial museums in PA, including the Anthracite Heritage Museum and the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. Cool!

Native American camp at Battle of Bushy Run event

Bushy Run Battlefield's annual reenactment of the 1763 battle between British and Native American forces drew 100 reenactors and sutlers and just over 1,300 visitors the first weekend in August. You'll find more photos and video on Bushy Run's Facebook page.

On Sept.10, the borough of Ephrata will host the 43rd Annual Arts and Crafts Fest (9 am-3 pm), and Ephrata Cloister will host its annual Artisans' Fair (10 am-3 pm). If you or someone you know is interested in participating as an artisan or vendor, you'll find more info in this article in the Ephrata Review. And speaking of Ephrata Cloister, the site is the star image on Discover Lancaster's Facebook posts about their new Faith and Heritage Trail.

The current issue of Heirloom Gardener magazine features a profile of Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum's Heirloom Seed Project by Andrew Weidman. Landis Valley's program started in the 1980s and is highly regarded nationally. Weidman's article favorably compares the Heirloom Seed Project similar types of programs at Monticello, Old Sturbridge Village, and Colonial Williamsburg.

Celebrating Earth Day on the Trails of History

If you're looking for ways to enjoy this April weather, be sure to check out the April program page.

Today's post comes from frequent guest blogger Linda Bolla, writing about the Erie Maritime Museum's participation in the local expression of a project called "National Water Dance." The event took place last weekend. I also want to note that Eckley Miners' Village worked with folks from their local Keystone Job Corps Center to plant a tree in honor of Earth Day (I believe this is the second year (or more) that they've done this).

Water Dancers from coast to coast created a “movement choir,” performing simultaneously to draw attention to pressing water issues in the United States. Using the power of art and performance, the goal is to help create a national water ethic that can inform and inspire both performers and audience to take responsibility for conserving and protecting the water we use and enjoy.

The Erie Committee (led by Mercyhurst University Associate Professor of Dance Solveig Santilliano) subtitled the local event “The Ripple Effect” to emphasize our hope that the event would create a ripple throughout Erie, educating the community on water issues and suggesting steps the community can take to improve local water quality.

All participants performed in or near a significant body of water in their own community, so it was no surprise the dance in Erie began at Dobbins Landing, the oldest historic and most accessible pier on Erie Harbor.

Water Dancers at Erie's Dobbins Landing pier (photo by Mark Santilliano)

Performers and audience, led by saxophonist Kevin Timko, then processed along the waterfront to the Erie Maritime Museum, pausing for bits of theater along their way. When the audience arrived, they were greeted by dancers performing vignettes in six separate spaces in the Museum. Unique to the Erie event was the diversity of artistic offerings. In addition to dance, the Museum hosted a visual and sculptural art exhibit (on the 1st Floor through May 8th), the Delaware Gap Jazz Combo, and demonstrating artist, Keiko Miller, who created Japanese screens illustrating the water cycle and incorporating her students’ calligraphy and origami.

Dancers in the Museum's main gallery (photo by Mark Santilliano)

An enthusiastic audience member joins in the dancing (photo by Dana Borczon)

After the audience flowed through the Museum and lobby, where Mercyhurst University student ambassadors led a rainstick activity for children, the event culminated in a main stage celebration, showcasing Mercyhurst University dancers, musicians and vocalists, as well as dancers from many other Erie dance studios. The program was woven around narrative by Dr. Amy Parente of the university’s Chemistry Department, with poetic interludes provided by the middle-school winners of the NW Pennsylvania Poetry Contest.

"Down to the River to Pray," performed by Mercyhurst Dancers (photo by Mark Santilliano)

So, are you inspired yet? Happy Earth Day – and make every day, earth day.

5 Things You Might Want to Know about the Trails of History

(If you're a regular Trailheads reader and have noticed that several recent post titles begin with the number 5, it's because I'm conducting an experiment about readership. Just move along. These aren't the droids you're looking for.)

Please visit the December program page for info on events taking place this weekend and through the end of the month/year.

The State Museum of PA has announced that entries are now being accepted for the 2016 Art of State Exhibit. This is the 49th annual show, and entries are welcome from Pennsylvania artists and craftspeople. Deadline for submission is Feb. 29, 2016 (yep, 2016 is a Leap Year, folks).

The Winter Wonderland Photo Contest at Eckley Miners' Village is underway and will run through the winter (rules and entry form). Photos may be submitted at any time between now and March 1, 2016.

Artists and craftspeople in the Berks County area might want to check out the page for the new Artisans in the Park event at Conrad Weiser Homestead. The event is scheduled for April 30, 2016, but they are recruiting now for people to participate; the event will also feature food and wine.

The first crossing of the Delaware event for 2016 was on Sunday (photos posted on Facebook), but the annual Christmas Day event at Washington Crossing Historic Park is still to come. The weather forecast is significantly warmer and clearer than the sleet and snow General Washington and his Continental Army experienced in 1776.

A little bit of whimsy from the Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara (above) to usher in the season. The museum and ship hosted their annual "Christmas Tree Ship" program, which is based on a true story as told by Jeanette Winter. The event includes lots of activities for families, a chance to visit with Santa, and lots of lights. Mark your calendar for Dec. 9, 2016, if you want to be sure not to miss it next year.

Top: Lights adorn the ramp from the museum to the plaza
Bottom: Santa emerges from Niagara's winter cover to greet the assembled crowd
(photos by John Baker)

Pulitzer Prize Winner to Speak at Anthracite Heritage Museum

Please check out the November program listings to see what else is happening on the Trails of History this weekend.

Tomorrow afternoon, Nov. 14, from 3:15 to 4:45, composer Julia Wolfe will talk about her Pulitzer Prize-winning oratorio, Anthracite Fields, at the Anthracite Heritage Museum (AHM) in Scranton. As noted in an article in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Wolfe conducted some of her research at the museum, including interviewing AHM docent Barbara Powell about her experiences growing up in the hard coal region. Wolfe told Times Leader reporter Mary Therese Biebel that her conversations with Powell provided the inspiration for the "Flowers" portion of the oratorio, shedding light on ways that mining families added beauty to their daily lives.

Anthracite Fields, which won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Music, was commissioned by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia through Meet the Composer’s Commissioning Music/USA program, made possible by generous support from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Helen F. Whitaker Fund. Additional support was made possible through the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia Alan Harler New Ventures Fund, The Presser Foundation, The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia, and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

Bang on a Can All Stars (photo provided by Wyoming Seminary)

Bang on a Can All Stars and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, conducted by Julian Wachner, will perform Anthracite Fields tomorrow night, 7:30 pm, at Wyoming Seminary's Kirby Center for the Creative Arts, Kingston (Wolfe will give a pre-concert talk at 6:30). Tickets are $10 online or at the door, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Anthracite Heritage Museum.

To learn more about Anthracite Fields and composer Julia Wolfe, check out this interview on NPR's "All Things Considered," visit Bang on a Can's website, or watch this brief clip:



In Other News...

On a related note, the State Museum's "Pennsylvania Icons" exhibit has opened. Among the objects are items carried by Marilyn McCusker, a roof bolter helper who became the first woman killed in a deep-mine accident when the roof of the Rushton Mine (Centre County) collapsed on Oct. 2, 1979. McCusker was a bituminous (soft coal) miner, but her story is similar in many ways to those told in the anthracite region about the dangers of mining.

Although leaf peeping season is pretty much over, there are still plenty of reasons to visit PA's northern tier. A new driving tour designed by the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park Association features locations and public art related to the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Lumber Heritage Region (the map was supported by LHR and other entities). Of course, one of the stops is the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, whose new exhibit (that I might have mentioned once or twice here in Trailheads) includes a section on the CCC and its legacy in northern PA. What I haven't mentioned (I don't think) is that the Visitor Center at the Lumber Museum will now be open year-round, so if you're in the area, be sure to stop in.

If you're more of an armchair tourist, you might want to see what's happening in Bucks County with new Google Street View Trekker tours that include Washington Crossing Historic Park. It took me a little while to figure out the navigation, but it was interesting once I did. Not a replacement, in my opinion, for being there in person, but a useful tool for anyone wanting to preview a visit.

August on the Trails of History

This post is updated as new info or links come to my attention.

So much to do, so little time? I hope you'll be able to make time to visit the Pennsylvania Trails of History before the summer gets away from you completely!

Photographer Scott D. Herring (center) with miners in the Harmony Mine, Mt. Carmel, PA
Photo courtesy Scott Herring (taken by mine superintendent Ivan Sweinhart)

Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces
Saturdays in August: South Side Farmers Market at Scranton Iron Furnaces
August 16: Anthracite Heritage Museum exhibit opens—"The Hardcoal Chronicles 40th Anniversary, 1973-2013" features the photography of Scott D. Herring. Herring's work to document life in the anthracite region has generated more than 162,000 images; this new exhibit is a selection of works. Opening reception is noon-4 pm, and the exhibit will remain on view during regular hours through June 30, 2015. Included in museum admission.
Aug. 24: Exhibit closes—today is the last day to see "A Geological History from the Coal Age to Dinosaurs," featuring wood carvings by Gene Moyer. Included in regular admission.
Aug. 31: Railroad Movie Day at Anthracite Heritage—I'll try to bring you more details closer to the date. UPDATE: Historian Charles Petrillo will present four films: Lyman Howe's Runaway Train (1914), March of Time: Railroads in the United States (1948), Railroads and the National Defense (1952), and Wanamie Railroad and Coal (1966). Included in regular admission. 2 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
Aug. 2-3: 251st Anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run—there are two battle reenactments (morning and afternoon), so you can learn about the events of August 5-6, 1763, all in one day. You'll also find military camps, period craftspeople, and food vendors at this annual event. (To read more about the anniversary, check out this week's post on the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation blog.) Admission is $5 (age 4 and up). 10 am-4 pm.
Aug. 30: Summer Lecture Series—"Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail" explores the history behind such popular fictional characters as Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey. Admission is $5 (free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society). 1 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Aug. 3: 18th-century Interpretive Sunday—learn about life in Berks County in the mid-18th century. Noon-4 pm.
Sundays in August: Site open, noon-4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Aug. 8: Blast!—this event features local breweries and wineries, live music, and light fare; there will be “soft” refreshments (including root beer) suitable for designated drivers and folks younger than 21. Advance tickets are $35; designated driver and under 21, $15. On the day of the event, tickets are $45 ($25 for DDs and under 21). Advance tickets may be purchased at the furnace or by calling 717/272-9711 to charge by phone. 6-9 pm.
Aug. 12: Lecture—Mal Fuller's topic will be "9/11 and the Heroes of Flight 93." Part of the Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace lecture series, the program takes place in Freeman Hall auditorium at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Interpretive Sundays—spend Sunday afternoons in August learning about farm animals (8/3); the Bertolet Sawmill (8/10); colonial games (8/17); writing and communication (8/24); and skills of the gunsmith (8/31). Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Sawmill Operation Days—subject to staff availability, there will be demonstrations of the site’s water-powered sawmill. Free of charge (admission rates apply to visit the historic area and the homestead). 11 am & 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum
Saturdays and Sundays in August: Historic Pithole Open—the visitor center will be open, so enjoy the orientation film and the excellent diorama that shows the town in its heyday. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
UPDATED: Aug. 9: Family Day AND 100th Anniversary of the DAR Monument—"Family Day" programs may feature kid-friendly film screenings, crafts, music, demonstrations and more. Also today, the site partners with the Piety Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to celebrate the monument to Drake Well dedicated by the DAR on August 27, 1914 (read more about it and see a photo). Both are included in regular admission; special family rate of $20 for up to 2 adults and 3 kids. 9 am-5 pm (DAR ceremony at 2 pm).
Aug. 23: Drake Day Circus—the oil boom era comes to life with jugglers, fire-eaters, music, and acrobats. Included in regular admission; special family rate of $20 for up to 2 adults and 3 kids. 10 am-4 pm.
Aug. 30: Oil Valley Blacksmiths Association—this monthly event brings local blacksmiths to the site to show how it’s done. Included in regular admission. 9 am-2 pm.

Eckley Miners’ Village
Aug. 16-17: Civil War Weekend—learn about soldiers' experiences and life on the homefront through encampments, demonstrations, presentations by the Eckley Players, and musical entertainment of the Civil War era. EMV's new website has the details. Admission charged. 10 am-5 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
Aug. 3: Ice Cream Social—enjoy an evening of ice cream and sundae toppings (courtesy of Turkey Hill) and music (vocalist Dean Sensenig) in a beautiful setting. Tickets are $3 and are available ahead of time at the Museum Store (you can also purchase at the door). 4-7 pm (all-you-can eat ice cream while supplies last).
Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28: Behind the Scenes in Collections Storage—get a sneak peek at artifacts that are not currently on exhibit as you tour collections storage with the curator. Included in regular admission. 1-3 pm.
Aug. 9, 23: Student Historian Saturdays—teen volunteers will share the history, crafts, and skills of the past. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.
Aug. 13: Storytime—preschoolers and their accompanying adults enjoy a story and related craft or other activity on the site. Cost (includes the program and general admission) is $6 for one adult and one child (age 3-5); $3 for each additional child. Family-level members of Ephrata Cloister Associates get in free or you can use a Library System of Lancaster County Family Museum Pass. 10-11 am.
UPDATE 8/22/14: Sorry to report that this event has been cancelled—Aug. 23: Family Fun Day Family activities, games, and food (sponsored by Westview Golf Course) let you experience the historic site in a different way. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in the Museum Store or by calling 717/733-6600. 4-8 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
Aug. 12: Erie Gives—on behalf of the museum and ship, the Flagship Niagara League is participating in this year’s community-wide online fundraising drive. Your donation (minimum $25) any time between 8 am and 8 pm on August 12 will be stretched by the Erie Community Foundation.

Fort Pitt Museum
Aug. 9: Fort Pitt Speaker Series—Dr. Holly Mayer, Duquesne University, will present a talk entitled, "Camp Followers and Community during the American Revolution." Free of charge. 5:30-7:30 pm.
Aug. 9-10: Living History Program Series—this month the focus is on the 250th anniversary of the Fort Pitt Blockhouse. 10 am-5 pm.

Graeme Park
Aug. 24: Living History Theater—"Revolutionary Graeme Park" features special tours of the Keith House, where visitors will encounter scenes related to the American Revolution and its effect on Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson and her contemporaries. Light refreshments will be served in the visitor center. Admission is $12. 1-3 pm (tours approximately every half hour).

Hope Lodge
Aug. 6: Movie Night—bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in to watch The Great Gatsby (2013 version), starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan. Presented by Whitemarsh Township Parks and Recreation. Admission is free. Starts at dusk (about 9 pm).
Aug. 17: Site open—enjoy the grounds and take a guided tour of the mansion. Admission is $5 (age 18-59), $4 (age 6-17 and 60+), FREE for Friends of Hope Lodge members and visitors age 5 and under. 12:30-4 pm (tours at 1, 2, and 3 pm).

Joseph Priestley House
Aug. 3: Oxygen Day—in honor of Dr. Priestley’s best known scientific contribution, this program features costumed docents throughout the house (which includes what may be the first laboratory in America) and chemistry demonstrations. Admission is free. 1-4 pm; chemistry demos at 1:30 and 3 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Aug. 5: Hands-On History Day—experience chores, games, and crafts from the past, take a wagon ride, and learn your lessons in the one-room schoolhouse. Cost is $10 per person. 10 am-3 pm.
Aug. 9: Tales, Legends, and Lore—a full day of storytelling around the site, plus hands-on activities and wagon rides. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.
Aug. 23: Art Show at Landis Valley—Landis Valley’s museum store will host an array of local artisans selling their wares (many will also demonstrate their crafts). Music and food (for purchase) are also on tap. Admission to the art show is free; regular admission prices apply to visit the rest of the site. 9 am-4 pm

Old Economy Village
Saturdays: 19th-century Trades and Crafts—glimpse life and work in the 19th century through demonstrations and tours - woodworking and children's games (8/2); textiles (8/9); blacksmithing (8/16); breadbaking and cooking (8/23); variety of crafts (8/30). Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center. 11 am-4 pm (site open 10 am-5 pm).
Aug. 13: Lecture—Speaker is Joe White, retired professor of history at Univ. of Pittsburgh, who is writing a new history of the Harmony Society and its leaders. Admission is free. 7-8:30 pm.
Aug. 22: River City Brass—back by popular demand, River City Brass will present a concert on the grounds of OEV. Tickets are $15; bring your own lawn chairs and/or blankets for seating and feel free to bring a picnic. Gates open at 5:30 pm, concert begins at 6. UPDATE 8/11/14: Tickets now available online.
Aug. 23: Gertrude Rapp’s Birthday Party—a full day of activities, with crafts demonstrations, ginger cookies, and ice cream. Included in regular admission. 10 am-5 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
Aug. 3: Historic Trades—the blacksmith and the joyner will demonstrate their skills. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Aug. 10: Living History Theater—“A Visit from the Neighbors” invites you to settle in for a chat and hear the latest (17th-century) local news. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Aug. 17: Open Hearth Cooking—it’s “cooks’ choice” today as the cooks select their favorite 17th-century recipes to share. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Aug. 24: Garden Highlights and Beer Brewing Demonstration—spend some peaceful time in the kitchen garden, then head to the brew house to see how hops and barley turn into beer. (You can also check out the new beehive relocated to the garden from Delaware County.) Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Aug. 31: Animals at Pennsbury—visit with the animals and the people who care for them. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Saturdays and Sundays: On weekends in August, the 1 pm guided tour is included in museum admission.
Aug. 2: Boot Camp for Kids—registration deadline was last week, so mark your calendars for next year. (You can read about it in the Centre Daily Times.)

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Aug. 21: Wags & Whistles—this new event features the latest fall fashions and therapy dogs, as well as the museum's world-class collection of railroad rolling stock. Proceeds benefit Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS) and the Friends of the Railroad Museum. Advance tickets are $10; tickets on the day of the event or at the door are $12. Admission includes the fashion show, a chance to meet the therapy dogs afterwards, and coupons courtesy of Tanger Outlets. Information on the program and ordering tickets are on the flyer. Doors open at 6 pm, fashion show begins at 6:30.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22: Learn at Lunchtime—the museum offers free admission mid-day every Friday, along with talks by museum curators. 11 am-1:30 pm (curator talks start at noon).
Aug. 7, 14, 21: StoryTime in Curiosity Connection—staff and volunteers read a different book each week, selected with children ages 3-5 in mind, and then direct a related play activity. StoryTime is included in regular admission. 10 am.
Aug. 15: 3rd in the Burg—"Artists Conversations" presents Catherine Prescott, Purchase Prize winner in this year's "Art of the State" exhibit, talking with Beverly Lichkus, special assistant for the exhibit. Admission is free. 5:30-7:30 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Aug. 27: Films at the Farmstead—a family-friendly movie night under the stars at the Thompson-Neely House and Farmstead. Tonight's feature is Frozen (and if you don't spend the next half hour singing "Let it Go" in your head, then you're a lucky, lucky soul). Admission is $5 (age 5+); please bring a blanket to sit on and feel free to bring a picnic. 7-10 pm.

Happy July on the Trails of History

I'm posting a day early this week due to the holiday. Most Trails of History sites are open tomorrow; special events are listed below (along with everything else for this month, that I know of). I hope you have a safe and festive Fourth of July and are able to extend the good times through the weekend.

Birling contest at Bark Peelers Convention
 (via PA Lumber Museum Facebook page)

Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces
July 5, 12, 19, 26: South Side Farmers Market at the Scranton Iron Furnaces
July 10: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Baseball game—Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces is the featured community organization of the night. Enjoy an evening of minor league baseball; a portion of proceeds will benefit the museum and its programs. Call the museum at 570/963-4845 for tickets.
July 13: Exhibit opens—"A Geological History from the Coal Age to Dinosaurs" features intricate wood carvings by artist Gene Moyer. Included in museum admission during regular hours.
July 15-18: Life in the Anthracite Region—Anthracite Heritage Museum summer day camp for kids ages 7-12. Fee charged and registration is required; call 570/963-4845 for details.

Brandywine Battlefield
Through August 8: Summer History Camp—new sessions each week, age groups and focus vary. Check the website for availability; July 14-18 is full.

Bushy Run Battlefield
July 13: 10th Annual 5K Trail Run/Walk—Bushy Run is the site for this annual event benefitting the Penn-Trafford Area Recreation Commission (PTARC); visit PTARC's website for registration info or pick up a form at the Bushy Run Battlefield Visitor Center.
July 20: 4th Annual Classic Car Cruise—classic and custom cars, live music, food, drink, and more. Contact the site, 724/527-5584, for details. 11 am-4 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
July 6: Patriotic Concert in the Park—this annual event honors all military veterans. Admission and parking are free, contributions are gratefully accepted. Please bring your own chairs or picnic blankets. 1:30 pm.
July 13: Weiser Interpretive Sunday—enjoy a summer afternoon at the homestead learning about life in the Tulpehocken. Noon-4 pm.
July 20, 27: Site open—the site is open every Sunday afternoon through Labor Day weekend, noon to 4 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
July 4: Independence Day Event—learn about 18th-century military service and homefront life during the American Revolution and enjoy a day of activities for the whole family. Admission is $6 (age 13+), $4 (age 4-12). As a fundraiser, Friends of DBH will be offering pulled pork sandwiches for sale; $6 (adults) or $4 (children) gets you a sandwich, 2 sides, and a drink. 10 am-4 pm.
July 6, 13, 20, 27: Interpretive Sundays—spend summer Sunday afternoons learning about blacksmithing (July 6), wool dyeing (July 13), basketmaking (July 20), and 18th-century military life (July 27). Included in regular admission. Noon-4 pm.
July 9, 17, 23, 30: Sawmill Operation Days—subject to staff availability, there will be two half-hour demos of the reconstructed sawmill on Wednesdays in July. Call 610/582-4900 to confirm. Demos are free, admission fees apply for guided and self-guided tours of the historic area. 11 am and 2 pm.
July 15-17: History Day Camp—participants will learn about the kinds of things Daniel Boone did as a child growing up in the Oley Valley. Cost is $90 per participant ($80 for Friends of DBH). Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
July 23 and 30: Junior History Workshop—These hands-on workshops for kids entering grades 3-6 teach about Hearth Cooking (July 23) and Life in the Militia (July 30). Cost is $25 per child ($20 for Friends of DBH). Space is limited and pre-registration is required. You can download a registration brochure for History Day Camp and Junior History Workshop on the website or call 610/582-4900.

Drake Well Museum
Saturdays and Sundays: Historic Pithole Open, 10 am-4 pm.
July 24: MEET-U Golf Scramble—fundraiser for the museum's mobile education unit. Participant fees vary. Visit Drake Well's website for details. July 26: Blacksmith Demonstrations—monthly demonstrations take place the last Saturday of the month through October. Included in regular admission. 9 am-2 pm.

Eckley Miners’ Village
July 26-27: 1940s Weekend—learn about wartime on the homefront and in the military, circa 1944. Military and civilian reenactors will be on site; Holocaust survivor Severin Fayerman will share his experiences. A swing-era USO Dance will be held off-site the evening of July 26. Visit the website for details. 10 am-5 pm (dance is at 6).

Ephrata Cloister
July 9: Storytime—Preschoolers are invited to bring a parent or guardian to enjoy a story inspired by colonial life followed by a related craft activity. Cost is $6 for one adult and child (age 3-5), $3 for each additional child (and it's FREE if you have a Family Membership in the Ephrata Cloister Associates). 10-11 am.
July 12, 26: Student Historian Saturdays—members of Ephrata Cloister's teen interpreters group will be on hand two Saturdays in July (as well as on August 9 and 23) to help bring the stories of the site to life and answer questions for visitors. Included in regular admission. 10 am-3 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
July 4: Friends and Family Day—hands-on activities for the kids, free admission to the museum and tours of the ship, a free hot dog, and a chance to win a Day Sail--what more could you ask for? 9 am-5 pm (kids' activities 11 am-3 pm).
July 21: 3rd Annual Flagship Niagara Open—details and registration are on the website. Part of your registration fee is deductible and supports the Flagship Niagara League's programs.
UPDATE 7/7/14 (ONE I MISSED) Discovery Day—Little Mates Kids Club members will learn about the life of a sailor through hands-on activities and music. For details (or questions about membership info), email Julie Wagner.

Fort Pitt Museum
July 4: Fourth at the Fort—there will be a variety of activities throughout the weekend. Check the website for details. 10 am-5 pm.

Graeme Park
July 7-11: Visual Arts Storytellers Camp—Graeme Park is the host site for a creative expression workshop for children who have completed grade 3, 4, or 5. Workshop is offered as part of the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project (PAWLP); details are available through the PAWLP website.

Hope Lodge
July 20: Site is open—visit the grounds and take a guided tour of the mansion (at 1, 2, or 3 pm). Admission is $5 (age 18-59), $4 (60+ and 6-17), free for age 5 and under and Friends of Hope Lodge. 12:30-4 pm.

Joseph Priestley House
July 23-25: History Camp—designed for elementary age students, this program takes place in the morning. Enrollment is limited; please register by July 21. Registration form and details are on the website.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
July 8-11: Summer Camp Sampler—lessons, chores, and games explore the Colonial, Victorian, and Great Depression eras with day campers age 5-11. $90 per child. 9 am-12:30 pm.
UPDATE July 12-13: Lancaster Folk Music and Fiddlers Society—enjoy live music Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the Millstone Grove. Included in regular admission (so, free for members!). 1-3 pm.
July 15-18: Historic Trades Camp—Day campers age 12-17 explore various trades and learn about being apprentices. $130 per child. 9 am-12:30 pm. A flyer with more information and registration instructions for both camps is on the website.
July 26-27: Civil War Weekend—the site is transformed into a rural Pennsylvania village in 1863, with reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians. Included in regular admission. 10 am-4 pm.

Old Economy Village
July 5, 19, 26: 19th-Century Trades and Crafts—each Saturday has a different focus. Included in regular admission. 11 am-4 pm.
July 12: An American Celebration—pre-1950s antique cars will be on display around the village, along with food, games, entertainment, and artisans. There will also be a spelling bee (word list is available for study purposes) and live music (full schedule of performances). Included in regular admission. 10 am-4 pm.
July 21-25 and July 28-August 1: With Heart, Hands, and Harmony—this interactive summer history camp invites kids ages 6-12 to explore the village with the help of volunteer artisans and demonstrators. The program brochure has details and a registration form.

Peace Church
July 27: Rediscovering Peace Church—learn about the history of the church and visit the adjacent cemetery. 3-4 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
July 6: Historic Trades—the blacksmith and the joyner will be demonstrating their skills with iron and wood. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 7-11 and 14-18: Colonial Camp—each week-long camp provides hands-on learning as students explore life in the 17th century. Camp is open to children who have completed 1st through 6th grade. The camp brochure has the info you need.
July 13: Living History Theater—“Anti-Slavery Protest” explores the first documented protest against slavery in America during a historic gathering at the Germantown meetinghouse. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 20: Open Hearth Cooking—the cooks have winter on their minds as they start the work of preserving summer's bounty for the months ahead. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
July 27: Garden Highlights and Beer Brewing Demonstration—spend some time in the kitchen garden and see what the gardeners are up to, then see how the hops growing in the garden get turned into beer. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
July 5-6: 40th Annual Bark Peelers’ Convention—this hugely popular event recreates the 4th of July celebrations of Pennsylvania’s early 20th-century lumber camp workers and “woodhicks.” Details are available on the Museum's Facebook page, and you can also see photos from previous years. Admission: $10 (age 12+), $3 (age 3-11).

Pennsylvania Military Museum
July 10-13: 22nd Annual People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts—celebration of arts and artisans held on the museum grounds. ($5 charged for on-site parking; regular admission applies to tour the exhibits.)
July 19-20: VIETNAM Revisited—living historians portray American combat and support troops “in country” in the late 1960s; visitors have the opportunity to accompany squads on short range patrols (closed shoes and long pants recommended if you plan to participate in these demos). (Photos from last year's event are on the website.) 10 am-4 pm (tactical demo at 2 pm each day).
July 25: Registration deadline for Boot Camp for Kids—camp takes place August 2 and is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 13; details and registration info.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
July 1-6: 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 the website. Included in regular museum admission.

Somerset Historical Center
UPDATE July 25: An Evening with Thomas Jefferson Thomas Pitz, of Orange County, Virginia, will portray our third President and one of our most intriguing (in my opinion) founders. Visit Somerset's Facebook page for more info closer to the date. Free admission. 6:30 pm.
UPDATE July 27: Somerset County Appreciation Day—Somerset County residents are invited to come and enjoy an afternoon of baseball, band music, and local history as they explore a historic site in their own backyard. Free admission. Noon-4 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Thursdays in July: Summer Storytime Series in Curiosity Connection—geared to ages 3-5, but all are welcome. Each week includes a different book and a related activity. (List of books.) Included in regular admission.
Fridays in July: Learn at Lunchtime—admission is free every Friday between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; free docent tours at 12:15 p.m. and 1 p.m. (List of topics and speakers).
July 18: 3rd in the Burg—Enjoy the 2014 Art of the State exhibit and the first "Artist Conversations" program of the summer. New PHMC Information Specialist Sean Adkins attended the exhibit's opening reception and blogged about them earlier this week on Trailheads. Program is free. 5:30-7:30 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
July 4: Independence Day Celebration—Living history demonstrations, a military encampment, tours of historic buildings, and readings of the Declaration of Independence are on tap. Admission: $8 (age 12+), $4 (age 5-11). 10 am-4 pm (readings are at 11 am and 2 pm).
July 6: Meet the Artist—meet featured artist Scott Spicer, see some of his work, and enjoy light refreshments. 10 am-4 pm.
July 8, 15, 22, 29: Nature by the Yard—interpretive naturalist Pam Newitt will teach a different natural history topic each week, geared to children grade 5 and below. Cost is $12 per child per class or $45 for all four classes. Call 215/493-4076 to register. 9:30-11 am.
July 10, 17, 24, 31: Nature Classes—staff from the Academy of Natural Sciences will focus the class on a different animal each week. Target audience is children in grades 5-8. Call 215/493-4076 for details and to register. 9 am-noon.
July 30: Films at the Farmstead—a family-friendly movie night under the stars at the Thompson-Neely House and Farmstead. Tonight's feature is "The LEGO Movie." Admission is $5 (age 5+); please bring a blanket to sit on and feel free to bring a picnic. 7-10 pm.