“Lou Tullio: A Real Erie Guy” showcases the gritty underbelly of city government in a mid-sized Rust Belt manufacturing town. Cory Vaillancourt tells the story of Tullio’s life, his six terms as mayor of Erie, and the key political players from the 1950s through the 1980s who lived and worked alongside the man who left […]
Isolated on an island where two rivers meet, the Lazaretto quarantine hospital is the first stop for immigrants who wish to begin new lives in Philadelphia. The Lazaretto’s black live-in staff forge a strong social community, and when one of them receives permission to get married on the island the mood is one of celebration, […]
“Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania” includes over 252 species birders are most likely to see in the commonwealth. Illustrated with over 400 crisp color photographs, it includes clearly written descriptions along with tips of where and when to see birds by an expert birder. George Armistead is the events coordinator for the American Birding […]
Originally published in 1959 and written by one of the seminal figures in American folklife studies, this classic work examines the folk origins of Christmas in the Keystone State. Composed of interviews and contemporary newspaper reports, it records holiday traditions from the eighteenth century through the early twentieth century, including mummers, Christ-Kindel and Kriss Kringle, […]
Founded in 1980, the Museum of Indian Culture in Allentown displays art and artifacts of Native American peoples from throughout the Western Hemisphere. The museum’s exhibits include stone tool collections, beadwork, ceramics, basketry, and weapons. Join It’s History! as we tour Pennsylvania’s oldest museum dedicated exclusively to Native American culture. Order this episode on the […]
Located in Pittsburgh’s North Side, Bicycle Heaven bills itself as the country’s largest bicycle museum. Close to 2,000 bikes ranging from vintage to new are on display; including the Bowden Spacelander, the first fiberglass bike. Two floors of bicycles, accessories, and exhibits are just the beginning of what this unique museum has to offer. Join […]
Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) was a chemist, theologian, political thinker, and writer. He is known for the discovery of oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbonation, and the invention of the timeline. After his home in England was burned in a riot, he left England for Northumberland, PA in 1794 where he lived the last ten years of his […]
As the United States industrialized in the late 1800’s, old handmade tools and products were being replaced by mass-produced items. Henry Mercer began to collect these artifacts of the pre-industrial era and in 1916 build a concrete castle to house them. Today’s Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA contains around 40,000 items including old tools, a […]
The John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion in Harrisburg is named for two of its owners. John Harris, Jr. was the son of the man for whom Harrisburg is named. He built the house in 1766 along the Susquehanna River. Simon Cameron was a long-time U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and later served as Secretary of War and […]
It’s History! visits the Johnstown Flood Museum to learn about the city’s tragic past. This museum tells the story of the 1889 flood through exhibits, photographs and artifacts. Join us on this episode as we explore the flood and the struggle to rebuild the City of Johnstown. Order this episode on the PCN Store