Meet Jim Vaughan, PHMC's new executive director, who discusses his vision for the agency in this insightful interview. After devoting forty years to public service, Vaughan retired - but ever so briefly. He was lured out of retirement to take the helm of PHMC.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) and the Pennsylvania Heritage Society, in partnership with the Central Susquehanna and Capital Area intermediate units, are recruiting applicants for their 2012-2013 teacher professional development program. This year's program will focus on the American Revolution and Constitution periods. It is open to K-6 teachers and librarians inthe CSIU and CAIU regions. Application deadline is March 2, 2012. The program is funded by a Teaching American History grant from the US Department of Education to CSIU. More information and an application for Teaching American History (PDF)

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries, within the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 Pennypacker Fellowship Program. Named after Pennsylvania's 23rd Governor, Samuel W. Pennypacker, the Pennypacker Fellowship Program provides support for up to eight weeks of full-time research and study. Areas of focus include library, manuscript and artifact collections maintained by the State Library, as well as any PHMC facility. Read the press release (PDF) or go to more information and application forms.

PHMC launched a mobile-friendly website to make it easier to find and explore nearby state-owned historic sites and museums. The site automatically recognizes smartphones and other mobile devices, allowing users to explore nearby historic attractions along the Pennsylvania Trails of History®. To view the website, visit PATrailsofHistory.com on a mobile device.