I’ll start by offering an apology to anyone who now has this holiday classic from the Sound of Music running on a loop in their head. I was looking for a new twist on our traditional end-of-year blog highlights and the “My Favorite Things” song kept popping up in my mind.

I initially tried my hand at a fun fill-in-the blank, playing with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s lyrics to create a Pennsylvania preservation version of the song for today’s post.

My results were not quite as successful as I’d hoped… perhaps our readers can come up with a fun, less-cringy version than I did.

Here are a few of your favorite blog posts from 2025 for inspiration. We’d love to hear from you if you have a preservation rendition to share!

Banked barn painted red and surrounded by green fields and woods.

Celebrate Your Barn!

From the rolling hills of Lancaster County to the quiet valleys of the Alleghenies, Pennsylvania’s barns are as diverse and storied as the landscapes they are part of. Now, we’d love to help tell the story behind your barn.

(This follow up post, Check out our Harvest! An Update on our Ongoing Celebrate Your Barn Survey, also ranked high in your favorite things list for PA SHPO blog posts.)

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Your History Starts Here: America250 Historical Marker Trails

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historical Marker Program is launching a series of interpretive “trails” that highlight Pennsylvania’s significant role in shaping the nation. These trails will guide the public through well-known and less-known stories, encouraging a deeper and more meaningful connection to the past.

Paved walkway across bridge with guardrails and light post.

The Howellville Truss Bridge: A Historic Journey

The Howellville Truss Bridge is a great example of a Warren Pony Truss bridge, originally built in 1879 to serve the Northern Central Railway, which ran between Baltimore, Maryland, and Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

Large group of people stand outside theater building.

A Delaware County Landmark Reopens!

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.

Small masonry marker with metal stars and American flag in a field.

John Brown, Civil War Veteran, Grave Marker. Photo provided by IUP.

Untold Stories of PA’s State Parks and Forests at Laurel Hill

Two Black men, Edenborough Smith and John Harshberger appear in the 1850 census on tracts of land now situated in Laurel Ridge State Park overlooking Johnstown’s West End.

Color-coded map of Pennsylvania with each county in a different shade of blue and a number in a circle.

A Blast from the PASS: The 2024 Annual PASS Report

On this day 12 years ago…. *Insert horrible photo with questionable style choices and aggressive side bangs* Thankfully, this is not that kind of blast from the past. This is your yearly recap on archaeological site recording and survey efforts throughout Pennsylvania.

Large three story stone house with deep front porch and three gables on the roof.

Historic Tax Credits @ Work: Fairelawn

This latest installment of “Historic Tax Credits @ Work” features the rehabilitation of a Tudor Style mansion into local office space.

Two story wood frame story with first floor storefront, colorful awning, and stair to second floor porch.

Volunteer a Few Minutes of Your Time to Advance Baseline Survey Recommendations

There are many ways in which we contribute to our communities, and if you are reading this blog, I have a hunch that you are interested in recognizing, protecting, and celebrating historic places in your community.

Two-story red brick farm house with a group of people standing on the front steps waiting to enter.

Preservation Success at Gilfillan Farm

One of the more rewarding parts of my job as the PA SHPO’s Community Preservation Coordinator for the Western Region is assisting non-profits, developers and municipalities understand and think through how historic buildings fit into economic development strategies and projects.

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PA-SHARE Updates and Introducing PA-SHARE SearchLite

We are nearing the end of our PA-SHARE 2.0 investment, but we still have a number of enhancements and improvements to share with you all! The biggest feature coming out of our most recent release cycle is the new PA-SHARE SearchLite application.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2026!

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