It’s History!: Rebecca B. Hadden Stone House Museum

Join It’s History! as we explore the history of Saltsburg, PA with the Rebecca B. Hadden Stone House Museum. Located in a historic stone house, the museum is operated by the Saltsburg Area Historical Society. The museum details how the area grew from first settlement, to a canal and railroad stop, to a regional trade […]

It’s History!: Cumberland County Historical Society, August 25 at 8 pm

Join It’s History! for a tour of the Cumberland County Historical Society museum in Carlisle. Founded in 1874, the museum includes exhibits on the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the Underground Railroad, and more than thirty carved animals by folk art wood carver Wilhelm Schimmel.

African American Experience: Camp William Penn and the U.S. Colored Troops

In 1863 when the Union Army began accepting African American men, Camp William Penn was established outside Philadelphia to train them. During the course of the war more than 10,500 soldiers comprising 11 infantry regiments were trained at the camp before leaving for battle. Camp William Penn soldiers fought in many battles, won Medals of […]

The William C. Goodridge Freedom Center & Underground Railroad Museum

William Goodridge was born in Baltimore to an enslaved mother and a white man. He was not allowed to be legally sold as a slave and was instead indentured to a tanner in York, PA. He was freed at 16 and went on to become a barber. Goodridge would later become a very successful businessman […]

It’s History!: DeBence Antique Music World, July 14 at 8 pm

On this episode of It’s History!, we go to Franklin, PA to visit DeBence Antique Music World.  Join us as we explore their collection of antique mechanical music devices and see the progression from music boxes to vinyl records.  The tour will also highlight some of the museums rare instruments like phonographs, band organs, and […]

African Americans in the Civilian Conservation Corps

During the Great Depression in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps was created to provide jobs to young, unemployed, single men. The CCC planted trees, built roads and dams, developed state parks, and fought forest fires. Joining us to talk about African Americans in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania are Paul Fagley, an Environmental Education […]

It’s History!: Brinton 1704 House

Join It’s History! on a tour of the historic Brinton 1704 House in Delaware County. Built in 1704 by William Brinton, Jr., the house has 22-inch thick stone walls and was built to resemble English medieval architecture. We’ll see how 18th century Quakers lived as we tour the historically furnished great hall, bedrooms, and basement […]

It’s History!: Independence Seaport Museum – USS Becuna

The USS Becuna was launched in 1944 and conducted five war patrols during World War II. The submarine was credited with sinking 3.5 Japanese merchant ships. The Becuna’s service continued into the Cold War until it’s decommissioning in 1969. Join It’s History! for a tour to learn what life was like aboard a submarine.

“Slavery in South Central Pennsylvania”

As British settlers moved into Pennsylvania’s south central region in the early 1700s, they brought enslaved people with them. As slavery was dying out in the eastern part of the state it would continue to thrive in what is now Cumberland, Adams, Franklin, and York counties. In this episode of The African American Experience, we […]

It’s History!: PA State Archives

The PA State Archives is home to more than 250,000,000 documents including Pennsylvania’s original Charter, the 1780 Gradual Abolition Act, Native American treaties, state land records, and railroad industry documents. Join It’s History! to learn more about these historic documents and how archivists select, process, and manage the collection.