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Historic Sites and Museums
The Value of Pennsylvania’s Trails of History ™
Three new book titles, including Seed Art: The Package Made Me Buy It! were published at Landis Valley Museum.
The 72-page Christian ABC fraktur manuscript was returned to Ephrata Cloister this year after extensive conservation treatment by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia. This rare and unique example of 18th-century Pennsylvania German frakturschriften is among PHMC's most prized paper artifacts.
The 25 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) provide unequaled value for residents and visitors. The settings, buildings and artifacts, along with talented staff and dedicated volunteers supported by associate groups, tell the exciting story that is Pennsylvania’s history. As stewards of the commonwealth’s past, these sites and museums provide unparalleled access to the hard-working, tenacious, innovative, courageous and energetic people of Pennsylvania whose stories make up our shared heritage. Each of the sites and museums that make up the Pennsylvania Trails of HistoryTM is a valued member of its community, as a source of community pride, as an educational resource and often as a major partner in tourism promotion. Students, teachers and parents value the unique educational experiences that hands-on history offers young people. On a statewide level, these sites and museums present key themes in Pennsylvania history and inspire a deeper understanding of Pennsylvania—past and present. For a complete listing of these sites, please reference the "visit us" section of the PHMC Web site at ww.phmc.state.pa.us.
The blacksmith shop at Daniel Boone Homestead was restored, including repairs made to the building and woodwork.
- Valued Experiences: During 2007-2008, PHMC sites and museums on the Pennsylvania Trails of HistoryTM welcomed more than one million visitors, including over 52,000 school students. Volunteer friends groups associated with these sites are essential partners in providing the best visitor experience. This year, Donn Neal was awarded the bureau’s Outstanding Service Award for re-creating and re-energizing the Fort Pitt Museum Associates.
- Valued Investments: Investment in Pennsylvania’s historic sites and museums ensures the preservation of these unique resources and their history. Examples of this dedication include the following: Old Economy Village completed the initial phase of planning for future restoration of an 1858 garden on the site; the blacksmith shop at Daniel Boone Homestead was restored, including repairs made to the building and woodwork; and more than $5 million of capital funds were released to begin renovation and expansion of the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Galeton—a community and tourism resource along the Route 6 corridor.
Visitors enjoy the Living the Lease tour at Drake Well Museum in Titusville.
- Valued Community Partners: The valuable contributions which sites and museums make to their communities as educational and tourism resources are reflected in the generous support they receive from foundations and corporate sponsors: Somerset Historical Center, Bushy Run Battlefield, Erie Maritime Museum and Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum all received grants to increase their tourist promotion and interpretation efforts. Pennsbury Manor received a grant from Heritage Philadelphia Program to help tellthe story of the relationship between Native Americans and William Penn. An exhibit of "David Bausman: Harnessing the Wind," sponsored by EnergyWorks, opened at Landis Valley Museum. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania received support from the North American Railway Foundation to install a traveling exhibit that features the art and photography of the late Ted Rose.
Michael Broggie, son of one of Walt Disney’s original Imagineers, visited the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to talk about his childhood spent with Walt, and the Disneyland and Disneyworld railroads.
- Valued Beginnings: In preparation for the upcoming sesquicentennial of the discovery of oil (Oil 150), film crews from Australia, Japan, Germany, England, Italy, France and Canada have visited Drake Well Museum. Live coverage of the site also appeared on CBS Nightly News and ABC’s News Nightline.
- Valued Responsibility: The bureau began an in-depth, internal study of all sites and museums, looking toward increasing our relevance and value to our audience. Results from "Planning Our Future" will be available next year and will reflect assessment of local needs, national trends and new models. The State Museum of Pennsylvania serves visitors with insights and understanding about what it means to be a Pennsylvanian. During this fiscal year, over 130,000 people visited the museum to enjoy exhibits, classes, lectures and programs. In addition, over 225,000 unique visitors to the museum’s Web site accessed online exhibits, resources, publications and museum information. This demonstrates the importance visitors place on the commonwealth’s heritage and the museum’s role as an educational caretaker. This level of visitation is the result of the museum’s efforts to assume a visitor’s first posture, to reach out to other parts of the state in a "hub and spoke fashion" and offer innovative learning programs, as part of the museum’s 2005 Master Plan. Parents and children visit the museum for fun and educational family experiences. Teachers use the museum as a part of their teaching—providing students with opportunities to use primary sources, learn thinking skills and acquire historical literacy.
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