Executive Director’s Letter

Written by in the From the Executive Director category and the Fall 2006 issue Topics in this article: David Hackett Fischer, Delaware River, Harrisburg Area Community College, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Pennsbury Manor, Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Ruth Ann Hubbert-Kemper, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Washington Crossing Historic Park
From the Executive Director features news and reflections on the work of PHMC by its chief administrator.

Autumn is a busy season and this issue of Pennsylvania Heritage offers many exciting opportunities to connect with Pennsylvania history. The celebration of the centennial of our magnificent State Capitol is marked by an interview with Ruth Ann Hubbert-Kemper, executive director of the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, and the monumental efforts to restore this landmark building so that Pennsylvania residents and visitors can truly appreciate its beauty and rich history.

For a taste of Pennsylvania’s food traditions, don’t miss Harvest Days at the Landis Valley Museum and Washington Crossing Historic Park, beer brewing and cider making at Pennsbury Manor, and the many holiday events that showcase our diverse ethnic and regional hospitality. “A Moveable Feast: From the Farm to the Table by Train” is a special exhibition at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania on view through the spring.

Take advantage of opportunities which allow you delve even deeper into history through public seminars and lectures presented by leading scholars. A conference on Native American heritage will be hosted by The State Museum of Pennsylvania in mid-October, in partnership with historical, archaeological, and cultural organizations. Award-winning author David Hackett Fischer will speak about Washington Crossings on Saturday, December 2, as part of the Pennsylvania Heritage Society’s Signature Series at Washington Crossing Historic Park, the site where the general launched his famous crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776.

We are pleased to begin a new tradition with the opening, on Saturday, November 18, of “Pennsylvania Craft,” an exciting exhibit at The State Museum undertaken with partners, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and Harrisburg Area Community College.This annual juried exhibition will provide a showcase for the long tradition of craft production in the Commonwealth, from traditional to contemporary, and will support efforts to nationally promote and market our vibrant craft industries.

This holiday season, please consider giving gifts made in the Keystone State. The shops at our historic sites and museums, including Radius at The State Museum, will feature distinctive local and regional crafts. Or share your enthusiasm for Pennsylvania’s history by giving a gift membership in the Pennsylvania Heritage Society. Simply visit www.paheritage.org on the Web or telephone (717) 787-2407, and our cheerful staff will be happy to assist you. A gift membership in the society is one that keeps giving all through the year!

Barbara Franco
Executive Director, PHMC