{"id":77818,"date":"2026-01-04T22:37:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T22:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/77818\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T22:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T22:37:11","slug":"phmc-launches-pennsylvania-250-the-keystone-of-american-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/77818\/","title":{"rendered":"PHMC launches \u201cPennsylvania 250: The Keystone of American History\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Niagara\"<\/a>The US Brig Niagara under sail during the Tall Ships Erie 2022 Parade of Sail, Aug. 25, 2022. Photo by Shani Bills, TalkErie.com.<\/p>\n

From rare Revolutionary-era artifacts to major public events across the Commonwealth, PHMC unveils a year-long slate of exhibitions and programs \u2014\u00a0exploring the themes of democracy, innovation, and resilience \u2014 in honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary this year.<\/p>\n

As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary this year, the\u00a0Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC)\u00a0today unveiled\u00a0\u201cPennsylvania 250: The Keystone of American History\u201d,\u00a0a statewide, year-long initiative showcasing Pennsylvania\u2019s central role in the nation\u2019s founding, growth, and democratic evolution.<\/p>\n

The initiative brings together exhibitions, public programs, and major commemorations across PHMC museums and historic sites \u2014 from Harrisburg to Erie \u2014 under a unifying theme of democracy, innovation, and resilience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith\u00a0Pennsylvania 250, we are inviting people to rediscover where the American experiment began\u2014and how Pennsylvanians helped shape it at every turning point,\u201d said\u00a0Andrea Lowery, Executive Director of PHMC. \u201cThe Keystone State is not just a nickname; it reflects our foundational role in the nation\u2019s history. This programming highlights rare objects, pivotal moments, and diverse voices that together tell a fuller story of America.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anchor Exhibitions at The State Museum of Pennsylvania<\/p>\n

At the center of the initiative is \u201cRevolutionary Things: Objects from the Collection\u201d, a newly opened, 3,000-square-foot exhibition at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg featuring more than\u00a0140 artifacts spanning three centuries\u00a0of Pennsylvania and American history.<\/p>\n

The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections:<\/p>\n

Witness Objects and Relics, including rare artifacts used during the American Revolution, such as the\u00a01st Continental Regiment Flag\u00a0(also known as the Thompson Rifles or 1st Pennsylvania Regiment flag).<\/p>\n

Commemorative Art, examining how early Americans expressed national identity, highlighted by Charles Weisgerber\u2019s monumental 1893 painting,\u00a0Birth of Our Nation\u2019s Flag.<\/p>\n

Centennial and Bicentennial Reflections, revisiting Pennsylvania\u2019s role as host of the 1876 Centennial and 1976 Bicentennial celebrations.<\/p>\n

Running concurrently is\u00a0Illuminating Independence, featuring\u00a035 original hand-illuminated copies of the Declaration of Independence\u00a0created in the 1920s by Harrisburg penman Sherman Notestine.<\/p>\n

Both exhibitions are on view on the first floor of The State Museum through\u00a0August 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Bringing Pennsylvania 250 to Audiences Statewide<\/p>\n

PHMC is extending the \u201cKeystone of American History\u201d theme well beyond museum walls through major public-facing events across the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

At the\u00a02026 Pennsylvania Farm Show, the Pennsylvania Military Museum will present\u00a0Patriots and Prisoners: The Pennsylvania Experience, an immersive exhibit examining the lived experiences of prisoners of war \u2014 both Allied and Axis \u2014 through artifacts, uniforms, and interpretation that move beyond battlefield narratives to explore sacrifice, captivity, and freedom.<\/p>\n

PHMC historic sites will also host signature events highlighting craft, celebration, and service:<\/p>\n

Old Economy Village\u00a0(Ambridge)\u00a0will explore craftsmanship as a civic tradition, culminating in a\u00a0Civil War Weekend\u00a0on May 2, 2026.<\/p>\n

Erie Maritime Museum\u00a0will mark the return of the\u00a0U.S. Brig\u00a0Niagara\u00a0on July 2, 2026, launching a major July 4th celebration and continued interpretation of Pennsylvania\u2019s role in the War of 1812.<\/p>\n

Pennsbury Manor\u00a0(Morrisville)\u00a0will host a\u00a0\u201cFirst Ladies of Pennsylvania\u201d luncheon\u00a0in fall 2026, examining the evolution of the role from Hannah Penn\u2014who effectively governed the colony in the 18th century\u2014to the present day.<\/p>\n

Together, these efforts position Pennsylvania as a national focal point for America\u2019s 250th anniversary \u2014 connecting local communities, historic places, and shared democratic values.<\/p>\n

More information about\u00a0Pennsylvania 250: The Keystone of American History\u00a0and upcoming programs will be available at\u00a0phmc.pa.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n

History for All Pennsylvanians<\/p>\n

The 2026 celebration extends far beyond these signature events. PHMC is committed to making history accessible throughout the entire year, meeting Pennsylvanians wherever they are. The commission will release a comprehensive virtual \u201cPA History\u201d lecture series providing an overview of state history, in addition to providing engaging content across social media platforms and specialized programs at the commission\u2019s historic sites and museums across the commonwealth. The State Historic Preservation office is also highlighting key stories in Pennsylvania history through four new themed historical marker trails.<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the\u00a0official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting\u00a0PHMC online<\/a>\u00a0or following us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The US Brig Niagara under sail during the Tall Ships Erie 2022 Parade of Sail, Aug. 25, 2022.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":77819,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[136,138,137],"class_list":{"0":"post-77818","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-erie","8":"tag-erie","9":"tag-erie-headlines","10":"tag-erie-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}