I fondly remember my evening outings to my downtown movie theater as a child, especially waiting in a long queue at the Eric Pacific to secure coveted tickets to see the Empire Strikes Back in 1980. While the theaters opened in Lancaster City in the 1980s were modern replacements of the landmark movie houses of the early twentieth century, the excitement of a day out at the movies was always a special memory.
Category: Counties (Page 1 of 46)
Back in July, we announced the Historical Marker Program’s plans to recognize Pennsylvania’s role in U.S. history during the Semiquincentennial with a series of marker trails. These trails highlight both familiar and lesser-known stories, encouraging visitors to build a deeper and more meaningful connection to the past. Now, the first installment of Marking the Journey is live and ready to explore!
You might remember hearing about the PA SHPO’s “Celebrate Your Barn” survey from our blog post back in June, from attending the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation’s 2025 Annual Meeting, from watching the news reporting on WGAL, from reading the newsletters from some of our state legislators, or by chatting with your neighbors – or another way. We’d love to know how you heard about our effort!
It is the edge of a stone tool under 200x magnification. By comparing this image with experimental tools used on different materials, we know this was used on hard wood.
Just in time for Halloween, this installment of “Historic Tax Credits @ Work” puts the spotlight on a project that creates office space in a former chocolate factory. The Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Factory in northeast Philadelphia made some of the country’s iconic sweets that were trick or treating staples in the early 20th century.
In the 1990s, a federal construction project for a new detention center in Philadelphia resulted in the identification of an urban archaeological site in the area of North 7th and Arch Streets.
On large stained and moss-covered stone masonry abutments over a single line of tracks in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County rested a dinosaur, a wrought iron relic of the past originally constructed to support the industry of a developing nation. Its appearance was worn and weathered from over 140 years of service.
Random holes and a mixed bag of fastener types and sizes littered the visible faces. The original railroad floor system was long gone and replaced with a timber vehicular deck. Its live load carrying capacity was a mere fraction of what it once was. However, under all of this rust was a diamond, a rare and complete example of a wrought iron pin-connected warren pony truss with built-up corrugated diagonal tension members, the last of its kind.
This is the story of relocation and reuse, adaptive reuse, of the last known remaining pin-connected wrought iron Warren pony truss in Pennsylvania – The Howellville Truss (2004RE01890).
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) recently approved 47 new historical markers, one of the largest groups in the program’s history. This year, the nomination process was simplified, making it easier for individuals and organizations to apply. Marker staff offered support earlier in the process, helping more submissions move forward.
September is International Underground Railroad Month and this week’s post features the story of Robert Purvis and Byberry Hall.
In 1844, Robert Purvis, a prominent Black abolitionist and leading figure in the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia, moved with his wife Harriet and their children to Byberry, a rural village in the far northern part of Philadelphia County.
For the next 27 years, they helped make Byberry a center of abolition and Underground Railroad activity. In 1847, Robert and two others built Byberry Hall as a meeting place for discussion of anti-slavery and other social issues. The building is now a key site on the Poquessing Trail of History.
Long time blog readers may recall back in June of 2023, the PA SHPO announced the Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant recipients of our FY23 funding. These grants are intended to advance local historic preservation activities.
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