A Radical Shift: Pennsylvania’s Constitution of 1776

Posted by on Aug 13, 2026 in | Comments Off on A Radical Shift: Pennsylvania’s Constitution of 1776 “Our form of government still continues, but I think it cannot last long,” John Penn (1729–95) wrote to his family in England in October of 1775. The grandson of William Penn, John Penn was serving as governor of Pennsylvania. For some time, he had been observing changes in the attitudes of Pennsylvania residents regarding their relationship with the mother country. In June of 1774, he had...
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Heller–Wagner Grist Mill

Posted by on Aug 13, 2026 in | Comments Off on Heller–Wagner Grist Mill   It’s a common misconception that all places in the National Register are of national significance; however, many sites and buildings have been listed for their local importance as well. The Heller–Wagner Grist Mill, listed in August 2025, is an example of one such place. The mill was built around 1764 by Simon Heller, whose family named the town where the mill still stands today,...
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The Bicentennial Raft

Posted by on Aug 13, 2026 in | Comments Off on The Bicentennial Raft In concurrence with the national Bicentennial events of 1976, Pennsylvania counties and local municipalities also staged celebrations for the nation’s birth. Smaller events such as parades, picnics and performances were frequently held throughout the state during the year. One unusual event held in the north-central part of the commonwealth was the Bicentennial Raft project. After the...
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First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry: America’s Oldest Active Service Unit

Posted by on Aug 13, 2026 in | Comments Off on First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry: America’s Oldest Active Service Unit On November 17, 1774, three members of Philadelphia’s Committee of Safety met with 28 citizens at Carpenters’ Hall to discuss forming a volunteer troop amid rising tensions with Great Britain. From that meeting emerged the Philadelphia Light Horse, later known as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry (FTPCC), or simply the “First Troop.” Its founders pledged to equip and support themselves...
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Editor’s Letter

Posted by on Aug 13, 2026 in | Comments Off on Editor’s Letter Natural rights, individual liberties and the social contract — these Enlightenment ideals were at the core of the transformation of America in the second half of the 18th century. Such values would serve as not only the basis for the American Colonies to dissolve their “political bands” with Great Britain but also the catalyst for internal revolutions that were beginning to foment in the new...
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From the Executive Director

Posted by on Aug 13, 2026 in | Comments Off on From the Executive Director As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we find ourselves not only celebrating a defining moment in our nation’s history, but also reflecting on the deeper, ongoing story of Pennsylvania. I will admit that when we first started planning for 2026, I wondered if the anniversary would resonate with people. Would they care about an anniversary year...
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Fort Pitt Block House

Posted by on Apr 17, 2026 in | Comments Off on Fort Pitt Block House The Fort Pitt Block House, a pentagonal-shaped structure of brick and stone, was built in 1764 as an outlying redoubt of Fort Pitt at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers in what is today Pittsburgh. The British constructed Fort Pitt in 1759–61, after gaining control of the Ohio River valley from the French. The fort was built using the star-shaped, bastion trace design...
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Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation Newsletter – Spring 2026

Posted by on Apr 17, 2026 in | Comments Off on Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation Newsletter – Spring 2026 Topics in the Spring 2026 Newsletter: Spring Bus Trip to Historic Bethlehem PHF Essay Scholarships Now Open Motley Joins PHF Board In Remembrance: Lenwood “Leni” Sloan Spring-2026-PHF-Newsletter...
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Theatres of the Body: Dance and Discourse in Antebellum Philadelphia by Lynn Matluck Brooks

Posted by on Apr 17, 2026 in | Comments Off on Theatres of the Body: Dance and Discourse in Antebellum Philadelphia by Lynn Matluck Brooks Theatres of the Body Dance and Discourse in Antebellum Philadelphia by Lynn Matluck Brooks Temple University Press, 306 pages, hardcover $119.50, paperback $36.95 With Theatres of the Body, Lynn Matluck Brooks weaves together two seemingly disparate histories — blackface minstrelsy and the increasingly female art of ballet — to analyze embodied performance in 19th-century Philadelphia. Brooks, a...
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Lancaster Gunsmiths of the Early Republic

Posted by on Apr 17, 2026 in | Comments Off on Lancaster Gunsmiths of the Early Republic In August 2026, as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum will open Lancaster Gunsmiths of the Early Republic, a major exhibition exploring the artistry, innovation and historical significance of Lancaster County firearms during the Revolutionary era and the early years of the United States. Presented as part of the national...
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