Join us for an afternoon genealogy workshop and find out how you can self-publish your own family history!

Richard Barnard, a local resident of Westmoreland County, has spent years doing family research on his Barnard heritage and put together his findings into unique keepsake books. This talk will provide you with information on the process, tools, and steps to start your own family history preservation project. Richard will also speak on how he researched and organized information, how he designed and formatted his books, and the steps he went through to publish.

As we commemorate America250 this year, it’s important to remember that historic preservation is a continuous process, and there are things you can do to preserve your own piece of history.

Richard, a native and life-long resident of Greensburg, is proud to be a part of a five-generation military family from Westmoreland County. A 1966 Greensburg Salem High School graduate, Barnard earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Salem University in 1970 and retired in 2010 after a long career as a regional manager for the Eastman Kodak Company. He researched and wrote three privately published books about the Barnard family that are part of the Calvin E. Pollins Memorial Library and the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Free for Members. $5 for non-members.

Please call 724-836-1800 x210 or RSVP using the form below to let us know you’re coming!

https://westmorelandhistory.org/genealogy-workshop-a-guide-to-self-publishing-your-family-history-rsvp-form/

The 2026 Arthur St. Clair Awards will be presented on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 beginning at 5:45 pm so please come and honor our 2026 Awardees: Rosalind Ashmun, Dr. Millie Pipman, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and Fort Ligonier.

The award is named in honor of Arthur St. Clair, an important figure in the founding of Westmoreland County.  When the cause of the American Revolution beckoned, Arthur St. Clair answered that call and rose to the rank of Major General in the Continental Army.  After the war he served as the president of Congress under the Articles of Confederation and as the first governor of the Northwest Territory.

The St. Clair Award is presented to those individuals, organizations, businesses or educational institutions that have made a significant and sustainable contribution to the preservation of our historic places, documents, records or stories, and by doing so, are keeping alive Westmoreland County’s rich history and heritage for future generations.

The Awards Dinner will be held at Rizzo’s Malabar Inn in Crabtree, PA.  Tickets are $90 each and a table of 8 is for $690.

Your reservation can be online by clicking this link: HERE

Sponsorships Opportunities can be submitted by clicking HERE

Discover what the Westmoreland Historical Society has to offer!

Explore our exhibit gallery featuring our current exhibit, “Cut from the Same Cloth: A Turn of Phrase Explored through Historic Textiles,” where beautiful, ornate, and rare clothing pieces originally housed in our collection are out on full display. Stick around for special gallery talks to hear the personal stories tied to the clothes, the fascinating intricacies of textile conservation, and what it took behind the scenes to put this exhibit together.

Want to learn more about the curious objects and oddities we house in our collection? Sit in for a Collections “Show and Tell” to see the vast array of artifacts we house and preserve. From tools, accessories, toys, and collectables, some of these mysterious objects may leave you scratching your heads…

Check out our Research Library to see what resources are available to use, whether you’re looking for research tips and tricks, tracing your family’s history, or wanting to discover more about Westmoreland County’s history.

Don’t forget to browse our Museum Shop and check out some new items and merchandise this year. It’s not a trip to the museum without a quick stop at the gift shop!

Feeling outdoorsy? We have walking trails! Grab a trail map in the Education Center and explore the beautiful scenery or our trails and gardens.

Historic Hanna’s Town is also open for the season! Step back into the 18th century and learn about life on the Pennsylvania frontier.

All this and more!

Admission by donation.

Stay tuned for more details. We can’t wait to welcome you in!

Historic Hanna’s Town opens for the 2026 season on Saturday, May 2nd!

We are opening our doors for America250! Explore Historic Hanna’s Town, a Revolutionary War-era site, that features several reconstructed and renovated log buildings and stockade. Step inside our buildings and learn about daily life on the frontier, what made Hanna’s Town unique, and immerse yourself in a world 250 years ago.

More details to come!

Learn to sew an accessory with Jessica Young of Penny River Costumes!

Jessica will guide you step by step and provide you with the all education and materials needed. Whether it’s a pocket, apron, or handkerchief, you’ll have your very own hand stitched accessory to take home with you!

This workshop includes:

• Fabric and sewing materials
• Access to “Cut from the Same Cloth” Exhibit Gallery
• Creation of a unique accessory made by you!

$65 for Members | $75 for Non-Members

Spots are limited. Check back here soon for registration link. 

Jessica Young is the owner/operator of Penny River LLC, a company that specializes in making and teaching about 18th century clothing and accessories.  A graduate of the University of Richmond with degrees in theatre/costuming and history, Jessica has worked for Colonial Williamsburg as a costumer, and Carnegie Mellon University’s drama department.  Through Penny River, she has made garments for a number of museums, theaters, films, and television series, including Outlander and Bridgerton.

Learn to sew an accessory with Jessica Young of Penny River Costumes!

Jessica will guide you step by step and provide you with the all education and materials needed. Whether it’s a pocket, apron, or handkerchief, you’ll have your very own hand stitched accessory to take home with you!

This workshop includes:

• Fabric and sewing materials
• Access to “Cut from the Same Cloth” Exhibit Gallery
• Creation of a unique accessory made by you!

$65 for Members | $75 for Non-Members

Spots are limited. Check back here soon for registration link. 

Jessica Young is the owner/operator of Penny River LLC, a company that specializes in making and teaching about 18th century clothing and accessories.  A graduate of the University of Richmond with degrees in theatre/costuming and history, Jessica has worked for Colonial Williamsburg as a costumer, and Carnegie Mellon University’s drama department.  Through Penny River, she has made garments for a number of museums, theaters, films, and television series, including Outlander and Bridgerton.

Do you know about Westmoreland County’s connections to the Revolutionary War? Or the Hanna’s Town Resolves? A precursor document to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

Join Mike Giorgianni for a talk about our region’s fascinating history during the dawn of our nation’s formation. A perfect occasion to reflect on America’s 250th anniversary and remind ourselves what it took to get here.

Afterward, we invite you to explore Historic Hanna’s Town and walk the path of those who lived here 250 years ago.

Check back soon for Registration link!

About the Speaker:

Michael Giorgianni is a lifelong western Pennsylvania resident with a deep passion for American history, particularly the Civil War and the role of Pittsburgh in our nation’s development. He has taught middle school social studies in the Hempfield Area School District for over 25 years, inspiring generations of students with his enthusiasm for the past. Michael is especially drawn to human interest stories found throughout history and is excited to share his research and meet fellow history enthusiasts. He has also seen his research extend beyond presentations with several articles published onto the website Emerging Civil War. 

Learn to sew with Jessica Young of Penny River Costumes!

You will learn about a dozen historical hand sewing stitches and make sample swatches that get assembled into a reference book! Jessica will help guide you through each stitch and provide you with all the materials you’ll need.

This workshop includes:

• Fabric and sewing materials
• Access to “Cut from the Same Cloth” Exhibit Gallery
• Creation of a unique accessory made by you!

$55 for Members | $65 for Non-Members

Spots are limited. Check back here soon for registration link. 

Jessica Young is the owner/operator of Penny River LLC, a company that specializes in making and teaching about 18th century clothing and accessories.  A graduate of the University of Richmond with degrees in theatre/costuming and history, Jessica has worked for Colonial Williamsburg as a costumer, and Carnegie Mellon University’s drama department.  Through Penny River, she has made garments for a number of museums, theaters, films, and television series, including Outlander and Bridgerton.