Blog
“Christmas Memories” exhibit now open!
Step into the season with our newest exhibit, "Christmas Memories: 1939-1950." This special exhibition presents objects and vignettes that will bring back fond memories of Christmases from the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. Enjoy vintage Christmas decorations, ornaments, toys, a holiday kitchen scene, a mantel with vintage stockings and cards, and...
Tea Through the Centuries
While in-person teas are on hiatus this year, we are happy to share the fascinating history of this delicious drink in a new video! Grab a cup and join Louise, Joanna, and Pam as they explore the history of tea through the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Discover the ancient...
Call for Contributors to Westmoreland History Magazine
Submissions are open for our magazine, Westmoreland History, the premier publication for sharing the history of Westmoreland County. We are seeking articles for all aspects of Westmoreland County's history, from pre-European settlement through the later part of the 20th century. Articles should contain well researched and documented material, source citations,...
2020 Monarch Migration Celebration
Historic Hanna's Town, a member of the Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, is proud to participate in the Penn State Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County's 2020 Monarch Migration Celebration! This seven-week long, family-friendly virtual event includes access to education posts, activities, videos, and crafts via a Private Facebook event group; geocaching sites...
Eagle Scout Projects at Historic Hanna’s Town
We have recently been working with Scout Troop 405 to complete Eagle Scout projects at Historic Hanna's Town. These projects are helping restore the historic environment by planting native plants and addressing several environmental issues at the site and creating new educational and recreational opportunities for visitors. As former...
“The People of this Place Behaved Brave” The Burning of Hanna’s Town
At 2:00 p.m. on July 13, 1782, a group of Seneca and their British allies attacked Hanna's Town, the seat of government for Westmoreland County. But what were the events that led to one of the most devastating attacks on the Pennsylvania frontier at the end of the Revolutionary War?...
Reopening our Facilities – June 2020
The Westmoreland Historical Society is pleased to share that its facilities are reopening to the public. The Westmoreland History Education Center is opening Friday, June 5. Regular hours for the Education Center are as follows: Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sundays 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. Facilities include the research library, museum shop, and...
Storytime: John Newbery and the Birth of Children’s Books
Enjoy our ninth virtual Pages of History Storytime program! This week, we are featuring Balderdash: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. While most children's books in the 18th century contained lessons and rules, John Newbery imagined them overflowing with entertaining stories, science, and...
Storytime: Because of an Acorn
Enjoy our eighth virtual Pages of History Storytime program! This week, we are featuring Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon. Read with permission from Chronicle Books. In this story, wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower,...