From the Executive Director
Written by Andrea Lowery in the From the Executive Director category and the Winter 2026 issue Topics in this article: historic preservation, Lenape Indians (Delaware Indians), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, public history, State Museum of PennsylvaniaAt the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, our mission is to help Pennsylvanians discover and use history in ways that are relevant to their lives. We are always looking to engage with new audiences, and we try to reach Pennsylvanians through a variety of channels. In recent months, we have developed several new programs for outreach.
In September, we partnered with Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Shippensburg University to hold our first Historic Preservation & Education Workforce Summit at The State Museum of Pennsylvania. We convened professionals, educators, and undergraduate and graduate students to share their expectations and experiences in fields related to history and culture. The 65 attendees talked about career paths in public history, preservation and cultural resource management, and current and future workforce needs.
In October, several of us traveled to Hermitage in Mercer County to review a number of PHMC’s programs, including historical markers, grants and tax credits. It was a great opportunity to engage with a group of history supporters in a part of the state that participates less frequently in PHMC’s programs. The October session was a pilot that we will refine and take to other areas of the commonwealth that also see less engagement.
In November, we held a Lenape Symposium at The State Museum, offering our sister agencies, historical societies, and local universities and museums the chance to learn about the history and culture of the Delaware Tribes, now in Oklahoma and Wisconsin, from their perspective. This gave our colleagues an opportunity to form their own connections with the Tribes and to engage with this important Pennsylvania history.
We will be evaluating these new programs and adjusting them based on participant feedback. This review process will help us ensure that we are delivering content that is valuable to Pennsylvanians and that we are meeting the needs of participants. With each of these programs, we hope we come closer to our mission to inspire others to value and use Pennsylvania history in ways that are meaningful to them.
Andrea Lowery
Executive Director, PHMC