Leadership through Experience and Preservation

In celebration of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's new entrance, PHMC leaders and partners cut the ribbon marking a major improvement to this popular destination.

Pennsylvania has long been recognized as a leader in preserving and interpreting its history through the sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) along the Pennsylvania Trails of History. As steward of the commonwealth's past, PHMC sets a high standard for the historical accuracy of its restoration projects, the care of unique collections and the innovative educational and interpretive programs that make history come to life for residents and visitors. In size and scope, this network of historic sites and museums constitutes one of the nation's largest public state and national programs addressing the agricultural, industrial, political, religious, ethnic and military history.

The stories of these unique Pennsylvania places are preserved and presented by talented staff and dedicated volunteers supported by associate groups, which help maintain the tradition of excellence in programming and stewardship:

• PHMC sites and museums on the Trails of History welcomed more than one million visitors including over 52,000 school students during 2006-2007.
• Construction of a new visitor center at Pennsbury Manor in Morrisville, Bucks County, was completed in June 2007. A major new addition at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Lancaster County, providing an enhanced, attractive entrance, additional visitor services and operational improvements was completed in May 2007. A stabilization and exterior restoration project for 12 historic buildings at Eckley Miners' Village, Weatherly, Luzerne County, was substantially completed in June 2007. A subsequent phase for stabilization and restoration is being planned for next year at this site including 11 additional buildings.
• Friends of Old Economy Village transferred ownership of an original Harmonist dwelling adjacent to Old Economy Village in Ambridge, Beaver County, to the PHMC.
• Legislative authorization was received to accept an additional 34 acres of land for Bushy Run Battlefield in Harrison City, Westmoreland County, from the Conservation Fund.
• Strategic plans were completed for the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Eckley Miners' Village, Somerset Historical Center, Somerset, Somerset County, Joseph Priestley House in Northumberland, Northumberland County, and Fort Pitt Museum in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.
• The U.S. Brig Niagara, Erie in Erie County, developed an innovative three-week course for college students through the University of Pittsburgh. Students live, study and work on the brig as part of a course to examine the development of maritime power on the Great Lakes during the 18th and 19th centuries.

As educational leaders, PHMC staff on the U.S. Brig Niagara provide a three-week sailing course to students for college credits.

New Exhibitions

During 2006-2007, new exhibitions opening at PHMC historic sites and museums included:

• A major long-term installation on the USS Wolverine at the Erie Maritime Museum
• "Tracks, Trestles and Trustees: Transportation Moves Visitors to Old Economy" at Old Economy Village
• "Pressed to Perfection: A Collection of American Pressed Glass, Fragments of History" and "Captured on Film: 45 Years of Walt Bowen's Photography" at the Somerset Historical Center
• "An American Homecoming" at the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton, Lackawanna County
• "Scranton/Lackawanna Iron Furnace," an outdoor interpretive exhibit at the Scranton Iron Furnaces in Scranton, Lackawanna County
• "The Strength and Beauty of Metal" and "Spread the News" at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Lancaster County
• "A Moveable Feast" and "Spanning the Centuries: Railroad Bridges of Pennsylvania" at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

A new interpretive exhibit was unveiled at the Scranton Iron Furnaces, Lackawanna County.

Grants Received

• The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania received a $132,634 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services for photography of collections to document railcars, artifacts, archival material and automation of collections records.
• Bushy Run Battlefield was awarded an American Battlefield Protection Grant of $36,000 to support a historic landscape study.

Awards and Recognition

• Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, received an Honorable Mention from the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations for its program entitled "Remember the Ladies." The American Association for State and Local History also recognized the project with a national Award of Merit in June 2007.
• "Answering the Call: Pennsylvanians in Service to the Nation," the orientation video for the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, Centre County, received a Platinum Best of Show Award for the visitor center presentation category of the Aurora Awards, an international film and video competition for commercials, cable programming, documentaries and industrial, instructional and corporate videos.
• Ephrata Cloister, Ephrata, Lancaster County, was cited by USA Today as one of the ten best places to visit and learn about America's German-speaking heritage.

• Pennsylvania Military Museum's award-winning facade design.

  The Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, Centre County, received a design award from the Society for Environmental Graphic Design. The Juror's Award recognized the graphic representation of the military ribbons on the facade. "The large, full-color service ribbons immediately identify the building in a bold way that could not have been accomplished with just words," the jury commented.
• Walter P. Rybka, relief captain of the U.S. Brig Niagara and site administrator at Erie Maritime Museum, was named Sail Trainer of the Year by the American Sail Training Association, in recognition of his significant and continuing contributions to the field of sail training.