Come visit our two historic houses:
Benjamin Ring House - Washington's Headquarters
Gideon Gilpin Home

History Comes to Life!
Join native Indian, settler, and military historians as they demonstrate life in the territory. We are excited to welcome Tonawanda Seneca educator, Leon Sam Briggs from Fort LeBoeuf French and Indian Museum back to provide our visitors with seldom seen opportunities to learn about native culture.

Kids will have fun with hands-on history camp activities.

Everyone can experience how settlers used the plentiful natural resources to make our area home.

Learn how Pennsylvania was chartered to William Penn.

Of course, sample PA's birthday cake!

Folks, just about a month to go for our first event of year. Help us celebrate Pennsylvania's Birthday at the Conrad Weiser Homestead. Starting with a 18th century Divine Service at noon, there is much more to see and learn.

Cornwall Iron Furnace will be offering free guided tours on Sunday March, 9th from noon - 4 p.m. as part of a statewide celebration of Pennsylvania's Birthday called "Charter Day."

The Daniel Boone Homestead Associates are excited to kick off their 2025 season with their annual Open House event – Pennsylvania’s Birthday.
Daniel Boone Homestead will offer an exciting open house and living history event featuring eighteenth century demonstrations, trades, and hands-on activities including the operation of the unique Bertolet Sawmill. Additional demonstrations include leatherworking, sewing, wool dyeing, gunsmithing, and blacksmithing. And back for their second year, we are so happy to have Stonehouse History joining us again, demonstrating tape loom weaving and traditional woodworking.

Visitors can tour the spring cellar and Boone House as they learn about the three families who lived there during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Other buildings in the historic area will also be open for viewing including the Smokehouse, Blacksmith Shop, and Homestead Barn. Throughout the historic area, visitors can learn about the skillful work of a blacksmith, the detailed work of a leatherworker, and the intricate work of a gunsmith. Visitors can also tour the three-room Bertolet Log House and enjoy colonial toys and games. Staff will be operating the Bertolet Sawmill at 1:00 and 3:00pm, and visitors are encouraged to watch this rare piece of machinery in action. The Sawmill is the oldest operating, water-powered, vertical blade sawmill in Pennsylvania and one of three in the United States. It was moved to the Homestead in 1972 from its original location in the Oley Valley.

Celebrate Pennsylvania’s 344th Birthday! Drake Well Museum and Park will be offering FREE admission to all visitors. Open 10am - 4pm

Enjoy FREE admission to Eckley Miners’ Village on Sunday, March 9, as we celebrate Charter Day!

Don’t miss this insider’s portrait of an essential Pennsylvanian as we celebrate Charter Day, the Commonwealth’s 344th Birthday! Enjoy free admission to Eckley Miners’ Village from 10am-4pm, including Flaherty’s 2pm talk.

Join us at 2pm for a presentation by Anne Flaherty, great-great-granddaughter of accused Molly Maguire John Kehoe and author of "The Passion of John Kehoe and the Myth of the 'Molly Maguires.'"

Celebrate Pennsylvania’s birthday with a FREE Open House day of history, music, and hands-on activities at Historic Ephrata Cloister on Sunday, March 9, from 12–4 PM!

Explore the historic buildings & grounds
Experience live performances by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus (1:30, 2:30, & 3:30 PM)
Engage with live demonstrations & activities onsite
Shop at the Museum Store and bring home some awesome unique, handmade gifts!

Open for FREE on Sunday, March 9 as we celebrate the 344th birthday of the Commonwealth.
Noon - 4pm
Final admission granted at 3:00 pm

Join the Friends of Graeme Park as we celebrate the founding of Pennsylvania with a free tour of the Keith House and FREE CUPCAKES (until we run out). This annual statewide event commemorates the granting of the Pennsylvania Charter to William Penn. Tours will be self-guided with a docent in each room to answer questions and tell you a bit of the history. The house opens at noon and last admission will be at 3 pm. Don't forget we "spring forward" today too.
No tickets or registration necessary.

Open 1pm - 3pm
Enjoy self-guided tours of Hope Lodge and many of the historic sites and museums along the Pennsylvania Trails of History.

Landis Valley Museum invites visitors to enjoy free admission on this historic day and experience a full afternoon of interactive history, living demonstrations, and engaging activities that bring Pennsylvania’s past to life.

Living History Demonstrations – Witness blacksmithing, woodworking, spinning, weaving, and other traditional trades that were essential to the Pennsylvania German settlers.

Historic Farm & Agricultural Activities – Learn about early farming techniques, heirloom gardening, and animal husbandry as practiced by 18th and 19th-century Pennsylvania farmers.

Guided Tours of Historic Buildings – Step inside beautifully preserved structures, including farmhouses, barns, and artisan workshops, each with a unique story to tell.

Hands-on Children’s Activities – Families can enjoy interactive crafts, storytelling, and scavenger hunts designed to engage young learners in Pennsylvania history.

Join us in celebrating Pennsylvania’s birthday at the home of founder, William Penn!

Take a tour of the exquisitely decorated Manor House, observe colonial craftspeople as they demonstrate the art of blacksmithing, woodworking and spinning, and see history come to life with a performance by our Living History Theater troupe.

This event is FREE to the public. Please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to a local food bank.

Open 10am - 4pm
Join us in celebrating Pennsylvania's 344th Birthday!

Celebrate King Charles ll granting William Penn the charter to establish the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with FREE ADMISSION to the museum! Do some crafts and watch apple fritter making demonstrations in the museum’s Mess Hall from 11:30am until supplies are gone.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania invites visitors to explore its premier collection of historic trains with free admission in observance of Charter Day on Sunday, March 9.

The Somerset Historical Center will be participating in the celebration with FREE Admission to the site, including the Pennsylvania Maple Museum and Maple Sugar Camp Pennsylvania's Birthday coincides this year with the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour, where the Somerset Historical Center is just one of 25 stops in the area, and a visit by the Pennsylvania Hardwoods "WoodMobile".

12 Noon – 4:30pm
Celebrate Pennsylvania's 344th birthday at The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Explore Pennsylvania’s story with hands-on activities throughout the building on Sunday, March 9 from 12 Noon to 4:30 PM.

On-line Sale of Museum Memberships - 20% off - Valid March 7-9, 2025 Only
Visit: https://www.paheritage.org/membership/state-museum-membership.html
Discount Code: BIRTHDAY