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I\u2019ll soon be separated from my bronze beloved, however, since the museum will close early next month for major renovations expected to last until early 2029.<\/p>\n
When I was about 9 years old, my school class in State College went on a field trip that included a tour of the state Capitol building, a meet-and-greet and photo op with our local state representative and, most exciting of all, a visit to what was then known as the William Penn Memorial Museum.<\/p>\n
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A bronze statue of William Penn stands in the rotunda of the State Museum of Harrisburg. Behind the statue is a mural featuring Pennsylvania history up to 1964\u00a0\u2014 created by artist Vincent Maragliotti. The State Museum will undergo major renovations starting in August and lasting through early 2029.<\/p>\n
MARY ELLEN WRIGHT | Staff<\/p>\n
The museum, its staff and artifacts had occupied space in the state\u2019s Executive Office Building since 1907. The modern circular building where the museum now stands, along with its neighboring state archives tower, had been dedicated in 1964 by Gov. William Scranton \u2014 who was, incidentally, my first political crush; I thought he was so handsome on TV.<\/p>\n
While I don\u2019t remember everything I saw in the state museum on that elementary-school field trip, I do remember viewing a Conestoga wagon and learning about Pennsylvania rocks, plants, birds and animals.<\/p>\n
I was instantly fascinated by the Penn statue, sculpted by Janet de Coux of Allegheny County. It deviated from the standard images of our state\u2019s founding father that I had seen in textbooks. Gone is the broad-brimmed wideawake hat that telegraphs \u201cQuaker.\u201d I stared at Penn\u2019s minimalist facial features, the buttons on his jacket and the buckles on his shoes.<\/p>\n
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The William Penn statue stands tall over the rotunda of the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.<\/p>\n
STATE MUSEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA<\/p>\n
Somewhere in my childhood scrapbook, I still have the postcards I bought on that field trip: images of the Penn statue and the Conestoga wagon.<\/p>\n
Behind the Penn statue stretches the 90-by-24-foot mural of the history of Pennsylvania \u2014 said to represent Penn\u2019s ideas and ideals \u2014 painted before the 1964 museum opening by New York state artist Vincent Maragliotti. Riding the escalator up through the rotunda offers great views of the mural, which includes colorful images of Lancaster County\u2019s Amish and Mennonites, county native Robert Fulton\u2019s steamboat and more.<\/p>\n
What I didn\u2019t notice until I was an adult was the small statues of famous Pennsylvanians \u2014 including Lancaster\u2019s own abolitionist congressman, Thaddeus Stevens, leaning on his cane \u2014 in the iron gates next to Mr. Penn.<\/p>\n
Thinking about the impression that statue made on me as a young Pennsylvanian makes me want to take that long-delayed trip to Penn\u2019s estate at Pennsbury Manor to learn more about this complicated Quaker man who gave his name to our state \u2014 but also owned and traded slaves.<\/p>\n
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A taxidermy bison stands in a diorama in Mammal Hall of the State Museum of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
DON GILES | State Museum of Pennsylvania<\/p>\n
Having a ball in the hall<\/p>\n
Either on that 1960s school trip or later in my childhood \u2014 the timeline is fuzzy in my mind after 60 years \u2014 I got my first gander at Mammal Hall on the museum\u2019s third floor.<\/p>\n
The William Penn statue suddenly had serious competition for my affection. With its glowing display cases in a darkened gallery, filled with dioramas of taxidermy animals native to Pennsylvania, Mammal Hall took my breath away.<\/p>\n
The artistically staged animals stood in natural-looking habitats and displayed a variety of poses and behaviors. Two wolves snarling at each other on rocks. A mountain lion slinking along a snowy tree branch. A bison standing in the snow, bits of frost glowing on its coat. A family of black bears confronting a porcupine, with one of the young bears sporting a snout full of quills.<\/p>\n
As a kid, I wanted to live in Mammal Hall.<\/p>\n
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