Catching Up and Cooling Off on the Trails of History

Last week's post includes events through July 25, and the July program page does the rest. Highlights for this weekend are below.

Tips from the PA Department of Health (via Facebook)

As I write this (Thursday 7/18), the weather forecast for most of Pennsylvania is "hot, hot, hot," with the worst temps and heat index in southcentral PA. I'm not aware of any Trails of History program or schedule changes as of now, and I will do my best to add updates to this post as I can. As always, it's never a bad idea to check ahead with sites on social media or websites to be sure about schedules. Sites with outdoor events or activities will be keeping an eye on the health and safety of staff, presenters, and public (not to mention any animals that may be part of the program). Dress for the weather (as if you don't always do that), stay hydrated, and find the shady spots (more heat-related tips from ReadyPA). Of course, some Trails of History sites are fully air-conditioned - be prepared to have lots of company.



On the other hand, if you, like me, really cannot stand to leave the house when it's this hot, why not stay inside and immerse yourself in the 50th anniversary of the moon landing? I have a very sleepy memory of staying up really late to watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin take their first steps on the moon - truth to tell, 7-year-old me was probably asleep when Buzz left the lunar module. In the lead-up to the anniversary, I've watched (or watched again) a couple of documentaries and marveled at footage of the Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket projected onto the Washington Monument (see that and more from the National Air and Space Museum). You can find a list of NASA's anniversary events on their website. The National Archives has gathered all kinds of resources you can browse and dive into, including an item that has always fascinated me--the memo sent by White House speechwriter William Safire to Richard Nixon's chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, with a suggested speech for the President in case Armstrong and Aldrin were stranded on the moon ("In the Event of Moon Disaster").

The State Museum of Pennsylvania has been celebrating Moon Madness (see website for activities today and this weekend). Earlier this week, they had a program for kids to learn about rockets, which culminated in a launch just outside on the plaza (see video below).

Scheduled for this weekend (as of 7/18)...

Drake Well Museum and Park
July 20-21: Historic Pithole open. Admission charged. 10 am-4 pm.

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 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.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
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.

Pennsbury Manor
July 21: Sunday Programming—see what the cooks are up to in the kitchen. Included in regular admission. 1-4 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
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).

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 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, a special "Learn at Lunchtime" will be offered (see events page for details). Tonight for 3rd in the Burg, join Harrisburg Young Professionals for "Moon Madness," with a variety of activities from 5:30 to 7:30 (details).

PA Trails of History Events, August 3-16

Don't let the summer heat keep you from enjoying all that the PA Trails of History have to offer. The full August program page is on the sidebar. The weekly post on August 17 will include the remainder of the month.

Dance the night away at the Freeland Public Park Pavilion Aug. 4 as part of the Eckley Miners' Village "1940s Weekend" (photo Eckley Miners' Village)

Bushy Run Battlefield
Aug. 4-5: 255th Anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run—if you've attended this event before, please note that the schedule has changed. The reenactment of the first day of the battle will take place on the afternoon of Aug. 4, with the 2nd day reenactment on the afternoon of Aug. 5 (see the website or Facebook event page for details). You'll also find military camps, period craftspeople and musical performances, and food vendors at this annual event. Admission is $10 for ages 13+, $5 for ages 4-12; a two-day pass is available for $15 (adult) and $7 (child). 10 am-4 pm both days.
ADDED Aug. 11: Games Day—historically themed tabletop games are back! $5 gets you admission to the event plus guided tours of the museum and battlefield (check out the Facebook event page for more info). 9 am-5 pm.

Conrad Weiser Homestead
Aug. 5: Living History Sunday—learn about life in Berks County in the mid-18th century. Guided tours offered. Free admission. Noon-4 pm.

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Aug. 14: Lecture—Pat Freeland will present "Virtual Tour of Cornwall Iron Furnace." Part of the Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace lecture series, the program takes place in the auditorium of Freeman Community Center at Cornwall Manor. 7 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Aug. 8, 15: Sawmill Operation Days—subject to staff availability, there will be demonstrations of the site’s water-powered sawmill at 11 am and 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum
Aug. 4-5, 11-12: 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.
Aug. 5: Drake Well Marathon and 1/2—this is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. Both races (full marathon and half marathon) begin and end at the Museum and make use of Titusville streets and the bike path in Oil Creek State Park. Proceeds benefit Drake Well Museum and Park. You must register to participate.

Eckley Miners’ Village
Aug. 4-5: 1940s Weekend—learn about life during World War II through home front and military displays, music, food, and more throughout the site. Off-site at 6 pm on the 4th, there will be a Swing Dance at Freeland Public Park Pavilion. Admission charged (separate fee for dance). 10 am-5 pm.

Ephrata Cloister
Aug. 5: Ice Cream Social—ice cream sundaes, music by Ethan Fasnacht, spinning and weaving demos, therapy dogs from KPETS. What a great way to spend an old-fashioned summer afternoon. Admission is $5 per person for ages 5 and up (younger than 5 get in free). 1-4 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Aug. 11-12: A Celebration of Life and Work on Our Waterways—the centerpiece of this project is a two-gallery exhibit featuring the work of watercolor artist Daven Anderson and works by members of Erie's BLOOM Collaborative. Anderson will present a gallery talk on Aug. 11 at 2 pm. There will be an opening reception at 1-2:30 pm on Aug. 12 (more info). The exhibits continue through Oct. 27.
Aug. 14: Erie Gives—you can support the museum and ship and stretch your donation by participating in Erie Gives Day. Online giving only, 8 am-8 pm, on the Flagship Niagara League's Erie Gives page.

Fort Pitt Museum
Please visit the Fort Pitt Museum website for information on programs and events.

Hope Lodge
Aug. 5, 12: Site open—enjoy the grounds and take a guided tour of the mansion. Admission charged. 12:30-4 pm (tours at 1:00 and 2:30 pm).

Joseph Priestley House
Aug. 5: Oxygen Day—in honor of Dr. Priestley’s best known scientific contribution, this program features costumed docents throughout the house and chemistry demonstrations (more info on the website). Admission is free. 1-4 pm; chemistry demos at 1:30 and 2:30 pm.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Aug. 7: Hands-On History Day—today's theme is the letter "W": there's a School House lesson about “Washing the Sheep,” historic wooden games, wool working, and making a simple toy (more info and online ticketing on website). Cost per program is $11 per person (FREE for Landis Valley Associate members and kids age 5 and under). 10 am-3 pm.

Old Economy Village
Aug. 11: Introduction to Woodworking—stay tuned to the website for updates on this workshop. 10 am-1 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
Aug. 5, 12: Special programming—8/5, Historic Trades; 8/12, Living History Theater. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Aug. 4-5: Family History Camp—this 2-day program is designed for families with kids age 10 and older. On Day 1, learn about the history of logging in PA and the skills needed to be a successful "woodhick." On Day 2, help demonstrate those skills at the Cherry Springs Park Woodsmen's Show. Pre-registration is required (visit the museum website for details). Also on Aug. 4, the museum will offer an all ages birling clinic (weather permitting) for people who want to learn or practice log-rolling (see Facebook event for more info).

Pennsylvania Military Museum
Aug. 4-5, 11-12: On weekends in August, the 1 pm guided tour is included in museum admission.
Aug. 5: Friends' Lecture Series—local historian and author Bruce Teeple will present "War Fever! How the Government's Anti-German Propaganda Campaign Affected Central Pennsylvania." Donation requested. 2 pm.
Aug. 7: Central PA Civil War Round Table Series—Jared Frederick, history instructor at Penn State Altoona and seasonal interpreter at Gettysburg National Military Park, will present "For the People: A Photographic History of the Gettysburg National Military Park." Donation requested. 7 pm.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
As of Aug. 1: Garden Railway Tour and Swing Dance Tickets on sale—Garden Railway Tour: this year's (self-guided) tour is on Sunday, Oct. 7 (rain or shine). Tickets may be purchased at the museum starting today and will be available at Stauffer's locations in central PA starting Sept. 1. Swing Dance: Saturday night, Nov. 3, will find 1940s dance music and dancers among the trains in Rolling Stock Hall from 7 to 10 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
Aug. 4: Escape Room—two 60-minute games offered each day for up to 10 players. Solve the clues to escape from the barn. Cost is $10 per person. 10 am-2 pm.
Aug. 11: History on a Hayride—hear local tales and explore the historical center grounds from your seat in a hay wagon. Two rides each day. Cost is $10 per person, $8 for members. 10 am-2 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Please visit the Planetarium webpage for a full schedule of shows.
Aug. 8-9, 15-16: Nature Lab programs—a variety of presenters will share their expertise in Nature Lab (program details are on the events calendar). Included in regular admission. 11:30 am.
Aug. 3, 10: Summer Fridays—general admission is "pay as you wish" on Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm. Curiosity Connection will have free timed tickets available. Art docents will be on hand in the "Art of the State" exhibit from 11 am to 1 pm. Regular fees apply for planetarium shows. From 12:15 to 12:45 pm, a variety of Learn at Lunchtime programs will be offered (check website for specifics).
Aug. 3: StoryTime—this month's program will include a tour of selected works in the "Art of the State" exhibit and a reading of Art by Patrick McDonnell. Geared for children ages 3-5 with an adult. Included in general admission. 10-11 am.
Aug. 5: Artist's Conversations—take an informal tour of this year's "Art of the State" exhibit with curator Amy Hammond and artist Jo Margolis, whose work on paper, Things Embedded, is featured in the exhibit. Included in general admission. 2-3 pm.

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

Get out there and enjoy

There's lots to do on the PHMC's Trails of History this weekend, so get out there.

Summer flowers are here or coming (photo AKF)

Anthracite Heritage Museum
May 12: 250 Years of Anthracite Mining—members of the Leadership Lackawanna Core Program Class of 2018 will join museum staff and volunteers to mark two and a half centuries of history in the anthracite region. Members of the class raised funds for a commemorative plaque, which will be unveiled at 10 am (see more info on Facebook event page). Program is free and open to the public. 9 am-noon.

Brandywine Battlefield
May 12: Encampment Day—please check the website for updates. 10 am-4 pm.

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 12: Spring Nature Walk—this annual event takes participants on an exploration of the woods and fields around the site; cost is $5, free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society. No registration required; wear sturdy, water-resistant walking or hiking shoes and dress for the weather. 10 am.

Daniel Boone Homestead
May 12: Tavern Night—this fundraiser event will include food and beverage samples from local eateries and wineries, eighteenth-century tavern games throughout the evening, and music performed by County Line. Cost is $30 per person, $50 per couple; advance tickets only, none sold at the door (more info on website). 5-9 pm.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
May 12: Little Mates Discovery Day—family-friendly hands-on maritime activities. Event is free. 10 am-2 pm.

Graeme Park
May 13: Mother's Day Breakfast—enjoy a delicious meal and tour the Keith House. Prepaid reservations are required and can be made online (link to Eventbrite). Seatings at 10:30, 11, and 11:30 am.

Hope Lodge
May 13: Site open—Hope Lodge is open for tours every Sunday through October. Admission is charged. 1-4 pm.

Joseph Priestley House
May 13: Mother's Day—site closed.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
May 11-12: Herb & Garden Faire—so many plants, plus lectures by gardening experts, garden furniture, herbal products and baked goods, and lots of great food by local groups and caterers (details here). Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 ages 6-11 (free for ages 0-5 and Landis Valley Associates members). 9 am-5 pm.

Old Economy Village
May 12: Garden Mart—the Garden Mart offers free admission to OEV’s gardens, where you can purchase heirloom varieties from the greenhouses and browse among vendors and local garden-related organizations (more info on website). 9 am-2 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
May 13: Sunday Programming—"Living History Theater: Tea and Gossip." Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
May 12: Yoga Classes—two offerings today: Shake Your Soul Yoga (10-11 am) and Shake Your Seat Yoga (noon-1 pm), which uses a chair to assist with balance. Both classes incorporate elements of movement therapy, Qi Gong, yoga, and dance; no formal dance or yoga training is required. Register online: Shake Your Soul Yoga or Shake Your Seat Yoga.

Museum Week and Other Stuff

Please check the April program page for upcoming events. I've highlighted some below, but there's always more to know.

Next week (Monday, April 23, through Sunday, April 29) people who work in museums, people who visit museums, and people who like to read about museums will unite across the world during Museum Week 2018. (There's probably a not very complicated Venn diagram of that previous sentence, since people who work in museums generally fall into the other two categories as well.) This year's overall theme is "Living together, citizenship and tolerance."

The daily hashtags, starting with Monday, Apr. 23, are: #womenMW, #cityMW, #heritageMW, #professionsMW, #kidsMW, #natureMW, and #differenceMW (more info on each). Sites on the Trails of History generally post at least some days during Museum Week; @PHMC will be retweeting, as will I (@AmyKFox). Or follow your favorite museums on Twitter (if you don't already) to see what they're posting. You don't have to work in a museum (or be officially registered) to participate. Just have fun!

Tyler Gum, director of the PA Military Museum, welcomes guests to the PA Museums Awards Ceremony (photo courtesy @museumnotations via Twitter)

Museums from around the state met earlier this week in the State College area during the PA Museums annual conference. Sessions took place at the American Philatelic Society's facility in Bellefonte, with an opening reception held at the Centre Furnace Mansion in State College. The PHMC's Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg hosted the PA Museums Awards Ceremony, where 11 institutional and 2 individual awards were presented.

Crane moving Niagara’s mainmast into place.  Before work ended, the shrouds (hanging) needed to be secured to stabilize the mast. (Photo: Linda Bolla)

Frequent Trailheads guest blogger Linda Bolla, Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara, provided photos and an interesting story from this year's uprig of the ship.

As a sailing ship is built, it is traditional to place a coin beneath her mast as it is stepped. This practice is said to have begun with ancient Romans so that, should the ship sink, sailors would have coin to pay Charon the ferryman to cross the River Styx into the afterlife. The tradition may have even older origins, however, as underwater archaeology has found non-Roman vessels to have coins beneath the mast. Today, we continue the tradition with the hope for good luck for this ship and her crew.

Coins placed beneath Niagara's mainmast 2018

Two coins were recovered and cleaned by Niagara’s Carpenter Adam Stanisz when the mainmast was removed late in 2017. A 1990 “Walking Liberty” silver dollar (upper left in above photo) was placed beneath the mainmast when this Niagara was first built. When the mainmast was removed and stepped again in 2000, a golden Sacagawea dollar from that year was added (lower left).

This year three new coins were added. Flagship Niagara League (FNL) Trustee and volunteer crew member Pat Federici donated a Sea Services Challenge Coin (lower middle in above photo) made especially for War of 1812 Bicentennial events at Detroit, MI in September 2012. This coin honors the services of the U. S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard. FNL Trustee Emeritus and long-time Erie Maritime Museum volunteer docent Ed Bolla offered an 1813 silver fifty cent coin (right). Finally, a stunning silver commemorative medal (upper middle) struck for the 2013 Bicentennial of the Battle of Lake was added. The medal was published by Dave Hayes and John Dean and designed and minted by Daniel Carr at Moonlight Mint in Colorado. On the obverse, Carr’s design features a bust of Oliver Hazard Perry, the International Peace Monument at Put-In-Bay, and flags of the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, representing lasting peace. The reverse features U.S. Brig Niagara in action.

Five coins in place awaiting resetting of the ship's mainmast

Coming up this weekend

• Anthracite Heritage Museum
  April 21: Landscape and Environment Month Lecture—Robert Hughes of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) will present "The Sustainability Factor of Coalfield Community Groups in both the Anthracite and Bituminous Regions of PA and EPCAMR's Role Throughout NE & NC PA" (more info here). Lecture is free. 2 pm.
• Conrad Weiser Homestead
  April 22: Living History Sunday—enjoy an afternoon of living history; guided tours offered. Noon-4 pm.
• Daniel Boone Homestead
  April 21: Sheep and Fiber Day—the Homestead sheep will be sheared and artisans will demonstrate various steps of the textile production process (more info on Facebook event page). Vendors will be on hand with items made from alpaca and sheep's wool. Food will be available for purchase throughout the day. Cost is $7 for ages 16 and up, $4 for ages 5-15, free for Friends members and children age 4 and under. 10 am-4 pm.
• Ephrata Cloister
  April 22: Ephrata Cloister Chorus Spring Concert—the concert will be held at Church of the Apostles United Church of Christ in Lancaster (more info on the website). Included on the program is a composition from the 1740s, newly transcribed from a copy found in the Ephrata Cloister archives. 4 pm.
• Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
  April 21: Spring Benefit Auction—silent and live auctions, plus yummy food (see website for more details). Preview and silent auction begin at 4 pm, live auction begins at 6.
• Pennsbury Manor
  April 22: Bitters, Blubs and Brewing—enjoy a private tour of the kitchen garden, focused on the medicinal role of plants in the 17th and 18th centuries. Then a mixologist will teach you how to make your own bitters to take home. Must be at least 21 to participate. Cost is $20, which includes all materials and grounds admission (info on registering).
• Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
  April 21-22: Spring Antique and Collectible Show and Sawmill Run—vendors from all over the U.S. will be selling a variety of wares. The museum's sawmill will be in operation on Saturday, and the birch still will be demonstrated both days. Admission charged, includes access to museum exhibits. Food and drink will be available for purchase. 10 am-4 pm both days.
• Somerset Historical Center
  April 21: Common Threads Symposium—this program is offered in conjunction with Laurel Arts and features Sally C. Fink, fabric artist and author, and Mike Taylor, spinning wheel collector and author. Fiber artists will display and/or sell their work throughout the visitor center exhibit. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door (more info on the Facebook event page). (In conjunction with the symposium, there will be a quilt sale/fundraiser to generate funds for quilters and the Somerset Historical Center; contact c-Kross@pa.gov for details and to register.) 9 am-4 pm.

Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Summer Camps on the Trails of History)

If you're looking for something to do this weekend or in the coming weeks, visit the June program page for ideas.

So if you're "of a certain age," the title of this post will have provided you with today's ear worm. Just one of the services we offer here at Trailheads. Although we don't have sleepaway camps, there are plenty of single-day and multi-day summer camps on the Trails of History. There are also weekend and evening programs throughout the summer designed to be family-friendly (there are also programs just for grown-ups, if that's more your style). Registration deadlines are coming up for many of these camps, so please don't wait to contact sites (info is up-to-date as of June 2, based on individual websites).

Brandywine Battlefield

• Summer History Camp - seven 1-week camps (age groups vary), starting week of June 27

Bushy Run Battlefield

• Living History Day Camp - July 11-13 (deadline to register is June 15)

Daniel Boone Homestead

• History Day Camp - July 11-15

Drake Well Museum

• History Day Camp - July 11-15

Joseph Priestley House

• History Camp - July 27-29 (deadline to register is July 25)

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

• Summer Institute (summer camp for grown-ups), June 14-17 (some classes already filled)
• Summer Sampler Camp - July 12-15, for ages 5-11
• Historic Trades Camp - July 19-22, for ages 12-15

Old Economy Village

• Art Camp - offered twice, program is different for each July 11-15 and August 1-5
• Faces and Places of Old Economy Village - offered twice, July 18-22 and July 25-29 (registration brochure for both weeks)

Pennsbury Manor

• Colonial Camp - offered twice, July 11-15 and July 18-22, for students who have completed 1st-4th grade
• Time Travelers Camp - July 25-29, for students who have completed 5th-7th grade

Pennsylvania Military Museum

• Boot Camp for Kids - August 6, for ages 8-13, registration deadline is July 27 (there will be a boot camp prep class on June 25)

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

• Barons and Builders - July 11-15, for 9-10 year olds only, and SOLD OUT July 25-29, for 11-12 year olds only. The Museum's Facebook page this week posted a "last call" for the July 11-15 program, so check with them ASAP

Somerset Historical Center

• Kids' "Way Back When" Camp - Mondays, June 20 to July 25 (no camp July 4), and Friday, August 5 (different theme each week)

Washington Crossing Historic Park

• Colonial Days Camp - August 22-26, for students in grades K-5th

Friday, again?

And Friday the 13th, at that. No reason to feel unlucky when you can enjoy some old-fashioned entertainment.

4th grade students and teachers from Asbury Elementary sang a sea chantey during a recent visit at the Erie Maritime Museum and shared it on Facebook.


If you've been following the 2016 Museum Dance Off, the winner will be announced today (5/13) (along with a couple of special prize winners). Visit "When You Work at a Museum" on Tumblr.

Looking for something to do this weekend or next week? Look no further. (That is, unless you want to see what's happening the rest of the month or find out which Trails of History sites are open on Memorial Day.)

Bushy Run Battlefield
May 14: Spring Nature Walk—this annual event takes participants on an exploration of the woods and fields around the site; free for members of Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society, $5 fee for non-members. No registration required; wear sturdy, water-resistant walking or hiking shoes and dress for the weather. 10 am.

Drake Well Museum
May 14: MEET-U in 5 & 1/2—enjoy a 5-mile or 13-mile (half marathon) run through the grounds of Drake Well Museum and Oil Creek State Park and help the museum’s MEET-U educational outreach program. Registration is required; visit the Oil Valley Race Series Facebook page.
May 19: Petroleum Program Series—retired General Electric design engineer Rich Hall will present a program on coal-fired generators. Rich has been instrumental in the restoration of two steam-turbine generators (read about it in a past Trailheads post) left in place when Erie's Front Street Generating Station (Penelec) became the Erie Maritime Museum. Admission charged. Doors open at 6 pm, program starts at 6:30.

Hope Lodge
May 15: Site open—Hope Lodge is open the 3rd Sunday of each month through October. Tours of the mansion are offered at 1 and 2:30 pm; cost is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and students age 6-17 (free for age 5 and under as well as members of the Friends of Hope Lodge). 12:30-4 pm.

Old Economy Village
May 14: Saturday Interpretation—interpreters will provide extra info on a range of topics as you explore the village--The Fabric of Their Lives: Textiles. Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center. Site is open 10 am to 5 pm; special focus programs available 11 am-4 pm.

Pennsbury Manor
May 15: Sundays in May—"Open Hearth Cooking" (the cooks will prepare a full seasonal dinner suitable for the Penn family and their guests). Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
May 15: 3rd Sunday Series—this month's program is "Spring Wildflower Lecture and Trail Walk," led by current and retired forestry staff with Susquehannock State Forest (DCNR). Starts at the visitor center and included in regular admission (free for members). Museum is open 9 am-5 pm, program starts at 1.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
May 14: National Train Day—activities for all ages will be offered to celebrate the role of railroads in American life. Lots of family-friendly activities, tours of train cars and locomotives, and a random drawing for prizes. Included in museum admission. 9 am-5 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
May 15: Bookbinding Workshop—Ramon Townsend will teach participants how to assemble a book by hand and create a cover with decorative paper. Suitable for ages 14 and older; limit 6 people. Cost is $75 including all materials and equipment. Payment due before May 15. Call 215/493-4076 for details and to register.

Volunteers of the Year!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Be sure to visit the April program page for ideas.

We've come to the end of National Volunteer Week and the middle of National Volunteer Month, so let's take a look at how sites on the Trails of History are celebrating. A number of sites are highlighting their volunteers on social media - so far I've seen posts from Ephrata Cloister, Hope Lodge, Pennsbury Manor, PA Trails of History, Railroad Museum of PA, State Museum of PA, and Washington Crossing Historic Park.

Honorees, presenters, and guests, April 9, 2016 (photo by Don Giles)

On Saturday, April 9, we gathered at the State Museum of Pennsylvania to honor all PHMC volunteers and to recognize the Volunteer of the Year honorees for service in 2015. Despite the April snow that kept some attendees from making the trip to Harrisburg, it was a festive day. There were many smiling faces as we celebrated the diversity of contributions made by volunteers to the sites on the Trails of History. PHMC Executive Director James Vaughan and Commissioner Fredrick Powell presented each honoree with a resolution from the PHMC, a volunteer pin, and a one-year complimentary membership in the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation. Citations were read by Brenda Reigle, director of the Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums, and Beth Hager, interim director of the State Museum. Following a light lunch, many of the attendees enjoyed touring the State Museum with Dr. Curt Miner, curator, and volunteer coordinator Amy Jukus.

The honorees are pictured below, and there is a link for each so that you can read more about their activities. Please join me in congratulating them and thanking them for their support of PHMC's historic sites and museums.

Outstanding Service Award (photo by Don Giles)
L to R: Commissioner Fred Powell, honorees Courtney, Patty, and Bob Clendennen, PHMC Executive Director James Vaughan (text of citation)

David Berk (in memoriam), Anthracite Heritage Museum & Scranton Iron Furnaces (citation)

John Amspacher, Brandywine Battlefield Park (citation)

Wendy Stier, Bushy Run Battlefield (citation)

Kim Otto, Conrad Weiser Homestead (citation)

Don Beck, Cornwall Iron Furnace (citation)

Beverly Connor, Daniel Boone Homestead (citation)

Paul Adomites, Drake Well Museum (citation)

Regina Drasher, Eckley Miners' Village (citation)

Jane Koch, Ephrata Cloister (citation)

Jeanne Baker, Erie Maritime Museum & U.S. Brig Niagara (citation)

Carol Brunner, Graeme Park (citation)

John A. Smith, Jr., Hope Lodge (citation)

Michael Kuhns, Joseph Priestley House (citation)

Gloria Stevens, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (citation)

Eileen Gross, Old Economy Village (citation)

Ron Schmid, Pennsbury Manor (citation)

Sam Cooke, PA Lumber Museum (citation)

Thomas Gray, PA Military Museum (citation)

Doug O'Brien, Railroad Museum of PA (Craig Benner photo) (citation)

Kathy Murdy, Somerset Historical Center (citation)

Toni Donchak, State Museum of PA (citation)

Friday post [replace with witty title for April Fool's Day]

UPDATE: I'll be adding some of my favorite museum-related April Fool's Day jokes to the bottom of this post throughout the day.

The April program page is up and running, and I've highlighted some of this weekend's events below. But first...

This week's "Pennsylvania Treasure" post on the State Museum's website was written by Linda Bolla (a frequent guest blogger here on Trailheads). The focus of the piece (full text and image) is a Blue Star Service Flag from World War I that is part of the collection at the Erie Maritime Museum. It was displayed by Leila Seidel Stine and her parents at their home in Erie to denote that Leila's husband, William Stine (born 1887), was serving in the Armed Forces. William registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 (he and Leila married later that month) - he had already served 12 years in the Navy, on board USS Maine, USS Washington, and USS Wolverine (he appears in a crew photo that is part of the Museum's exhibit on the USS Wolverine/Michigan). "Pennsylvania Treasures" is a weekly post highlighting an object (occasionally a document) that is in PHMC's collection (you can subscribe and receive an email with each new post).

Speaking of Erie, I've always loved time lapse videos (even before there was anything called a "video"), so I thought I'd share this one from a past season of uprigging the U.S. Brig Niagara. This year's work has begun, and it should look something like this...



We are nearing the end of #MuseumWeek, an international Twitter event that has already featured hundreds, nay thousands, of tweets from museums all over the globe. Pennsylvania Trails of History sites @DrakeWellMuseum, @LandisValley, and @PHMC have been participating and more may join in for the remainder of the week. If you're on Twitter and want to join in, the daily hashtags are #FutureMW (today, April 1); #ZoomMW (April 2); and #LoveMW (April 3).

Dick Wanner reported on the new weathervane exhibit at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum for Lancaster Farming (the leading farm newspaper for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic). He spoke with curator Jennifer Royer and site administrator Jim Lewars and wrote a detailed article about some of the featured artifacts, including the oldest known weathervane in the U.S., produced in 1699 for William Penn and two of his business partners, Samuel Carpenter and Caleb Pusey. The exhibit will be on view through December.

Coming up...

Conrad Weiser Homestead
April 3: Spring Lecture—speaker is Mark Turdo, curator of the Peter Wentz Farmstead, presenting "Without Noise or Parade: The Spiritual and Material Culture of Moravian Indian Missions." Site is open noon-4 pm, the lecture is at 2.

Ephrata Cloister
April 2: Benefit Brunch at Ten Thousand Villages—the Ten Thousand Villages store in Ephrata will donate 15% of food and merchandise purchases between 9 am and 3 pm today to support the programs of the site. It's a win-win (or a win-win-win, since you'll also be supporting Ten Thousand Villages' fair trade programs). Site volunteers will also be on hand to talk about upcoming programs.

Erie Maritime Museum and Flagship Niagara
April 1: Tickets for Tall Ships Erie—as of today, tickets are available to the general public for Tall Ships Erie 2016, Sept. 9-11.

Old Economy Village
April 1: Village reopens for the season—open Wed-Sat, 10 am-5 pm, Sun, noon-5 pm.
April 2: Blacksmithing Demonstration—Included in regular admission.

Pennsbury Manor
April 3: Tools of the Trade—joiner and blacksmith trades demos. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.

Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
April 3: Community Day—planned events include trades demos in the logging camp, a guided walk on the Sustainable Forestry Trail (about a mile), and a 5-mile group hike on the trails around the museum. Community groups will be on hand in the visitor center to share their info, and there will be food and drink for purchase. Admission is free. Event will be held rain or shine (and there is great stuff to see inside if it's rainy). 9 am-5 pm.

Pennsylvania Military Museum
April 6: Friends Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—"The Mexican Border War" features Maj. Gen. John Stevens (U.S. Army Retired) discussing Pres. Woodrow Wilson's decision to send an American expedition (led by Brig. Gen. John Pershing) to pursue "Pancho" Villa in 1916. Donations accepted. 7:30 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
April 4: “The Umberger Murder and the Trial of the Nicely Brothers”—in 1891, the Nicely Brothers were executed for killing Herman Umberger. Gretchen Smith and Jacob Miller will share the story of the murder, the trial, the execution, and the controversy surrounding them. The program will be followed by the Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County’s Annual Meeting. Admission is free. 6 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
April 1: PA State Geography Bee—please note that Mammal Hall and the Archaeology Galleries will be closed 12:15-2 pm today for the preliminary rounds of the state geography bee.

And now...

We are pleased to announce a new partnership with City of Pittsburgh - Office of the Mayor to make Pittsburgh,...

Posted by Carnegie Museum of Art on Friday, April 1, 2016

We took our five tribbles out of storage and fed them. What could go wrong? Learn more: http://s.si.edu/tribbletrouble#StarTrek #TribbleTrouble #BoldyGo

Posted by National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution on Friday, April 1, 2016

What are you doing this weekend?

If you're like me, you spent last weekend indoors, glued to the couch, just trying to stay warm. Not that it wasn't productive. I knitted a hat, baked a batch of brownie-cupcakes, and got through the first season (and part of the second) of Gilmore Girls. That's me, always on the cutting edge of popular culture (at this time last year, my husband and I were binge-watching Mad Men to get caught up before its final episodes). So maybe you're looking for something to do this weekend. I've pulled some highlights from the February program listings to make it easier for you to decide what to do. You're most welcome.

George Washington will celebrate his birthday this Sunday at Washington Crossing Historic Park

Anthracite Heritage Museum
Feb. 21: Lackawanna Audubon Society—speaker Joe DeMarco will talk about "Birding in California." Program is free, but admission is charged to visit the museum’s exhibits. 2:30 pm.

Daniel Boone Homestead
Feb. 21: Fireside Tales—children ages 4-8 and their families are invited to enjoy an afternoon of storytelling in the Wayside Lodge, with a reading of Go Ask the Wise Woman, an Irish tale told at night fires. Dress for the weather and bring an extra blanket if it’s really chilly. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Suggested donation, $2; regular admission is charged for touring the Boone Homestead and the historic area. 2 pm.

Drake Well Museum
Feb. 20: Something More Saturday—this month, the "something more" is the popular sledding party at historic Pithole. Refreshments will be available. Weather permitting and donations welcome. Start at the Pithole Visitor Center, 14118 Pithole Rd, Pleasantville, PA. 11 am-2 pm. This event was rescheduled from Feb. 13 because of the dangerously cold temps. They got more than a foot of snow earlier this week, so they should be good to go. Nevertheless, it's always prudent to check ahead to be sure.

There will be curling at Erie's Wintertime at the Maritime!

Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara
Feb. 19: Wintertime at the Maritime—shake those winter blahs with live music, heated tents, hors d'oeuvres, and adult beverages. Must be 21 or older to attend. Details on Niagara's Facebook page. 6-10 pm.
Feb. 21: Lecture and Movie Series—the museum will show the new documentary A Good Ship and Crew Well Seasoned: The Fitzgerald and Her Legacy, produced by the National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in Nov. 1975. Immediately following, Chris Gillcrist, executive director, NMGL, will present "Tales from the Cutting Room Floor" and take questions from the audience. Event takes place in the H.O. Hirt Auditorium, starting at 2 pm.

Somerset Historical Center
Feb. 20: Tole Painting Workshop—learn about this traditional technique and paint a decorative wooden box, inspired by one in the museum's collection. Cost is $30, $25 for members. Call 814/445-6077 to register. 10 am-3 pm.

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Feb. 21: Artist Conversation—tour "PA Modern: A Photography Exhibit of Midcentury Architecture" with exhibit co-curator Carol Buck and Preservation PA executive director Melinda Crawford. The tour will focus on the architecture of the State Museum and Archives Complex, as reflected in the exhibit (which runs through April 24). Included in regular admission. 2 pm.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Feb. 20: Lecture and Book-signing—Fergus M. Bordewich will be on hand to sign and speak about his book, The First Congress. Bordewich's previous book, America's Great Debate, won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in History. Admission to the event is $30 per couple and includes a copy of the book. Free admission for students and active or retired military does not include the book, but books may be purchased on site. Only books purchased on site or included in registration will be signed by the author at the event. Reservations are required - by calling 215/493-4076 or in person at the Visitor Center (open daily 10 am-5 pm). 4 pm.
Feb. 21: George Washington's Birthday Celebration—children are encouraged to bring homemade cards for GW, who will be marking his 284th birthday. At 2 pm, the General will be on hand to receive birthday wishes and cut the birthday cake, which he will share with well-wishers. Admission is $1. 11 am-3 pm.

Catching Up

Please be sure to check out the April program listings to see what's happening on the Trails of History.

This just in! On Monday, April 6, the PA House of Representatives passed a resolution (introduced by Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Forest) honoring Col. Edwin Drake on the occasion of his 196th birthday. The folks at Drake Well Museum also celebrated the occasion on March 28 with a special program of family activities.

Many thanks to all of you who followed along or tweeted with us during #MuseumWeek (March 23-29). Bushy Run Battlefield, Ephrata Cloister, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Pennsbury Manor, Washington Crossing Historic Park, PHMC, and I (plus lots of followers and program partners) spent the week sharing behind-the-scenes photos and much, much more. Sean Adkins, PHMC's information specialist, pulled together a bunch of the tweets on Storify, if you want to see a selection. I'm already looking forward to next year!

Exhibit installation at PA Lumber Museum (photo by Lauren Jaeger)

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum reopened for the season on April 1 with a shiny new building, and work continues on the installation of the new core exhibit, "Challenges and Choices in Pennsylvania's Forests." The work of many people over a long period of time, this exhibit tells many stories about how people have shaped the forests of this state and about how the forests have shaped the people--from the history of the lumber industry to the birth of conservation and professional forestry, to current best practices and management for sustainable mixed use. The official opening for the exhibit is scheduled for May 15-16.

More exhibit installation at PA Lumber Museum (photo by Rachel Yerger)

You may have seen or heard that a frozen water main had wreaked havoc at Eckley Miners' Village, causing them to remain closed to the public for about a month (including Charter Day). The pipes have been cleared and the site is back in business. They plan to try to reschedule the March 22 "meet the authors" event, and we'll keep you posted. On May 15, they will dedicate a new state historical marker for the patch town, which celebrated its 160th anniversary last year.

It's just barely started to feel like spring, but it's not too early to think about summer camp. Registration is open at a number of Trails of History sites, and at least one week of the Barons and Builders camp at the Railroad Museum of PA is already filled. History camps are on the schedule at Anthracite Heritage Museum, Brandywine Battlefield, Daniel Boone Homestead, Drake Well Museum, Joseph Priestley House, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (for grown-ups as well as kids), Pennsbury Manor, Pennsylvania Military Museum, Railroad Museum of PA, Somerset Historical Center, and Washington Crossing Historic Park.

Balustrade from the Cadwell House hotel, Lancaster (photo by AKF)

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's new changing exhibit has opened. "1865: Lancaster County at the Close of the Civil War" chronicles life in the region in the year the Civil War ended and one of the museum's founders, Henry Landis, was born. Included in the exhibit is a balustrade from Lancaster's Cadwell House hotel that was touched by James Buchanan, Horace Greeley, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt; you can touch it too. The exhibit will be on view through December.