Harrisburg, PA – The State Museum of Pennsylvania’s
upcoming HomeSchool Day offers a look at Colonial Pennsylvania through history,
archaeology, natural history, and the fine arts. The event, tailored for
families and organizations that teach in a home setting, is scheduled for 10:00
AM to 2:00 PM, Wednesday, March 14.
Presentations
from the Pennsylvania State Archives will focus on William Penn’s original 1681
Charter, Pennsylvania’s “birth certificate,” as well as four rarely seen Indian
deeds. Penn had insisted on paying the Indians for their land. His first
purchase in 1682 was negotiated by Deputy Governor William Markham, but Penn
went on to personally negotiate at least 10 deeds of purchase, beginning in
1683. An archivist will be on hand to discuss the documents and their
importance to the commonwealth.
The museum’s
curatorial and education staff will be giving gallery presentations on historical
archaeology, the Pennsylvania long rifle, Native Americans and William Penn,
and the exhibit Every Thing of Interest
Shown: T.M. Fowler’s Pennsylvania Bird’s-Eye Views.
Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) librarians from the State Library of
Pennsylvania will present “Sherlock Academy: Help Solve the Case of the Rotten Receipt,” using forensic handwriting
analysis.
Hands-on
stations, Colonial Era games, and arts and crafts will be offered throughout
the museum during the event.
The Planetarium
will feature a special classroom-style live lecture, “The Moon and Revolutionary
Events: The Boston Massacre.” Using primary documents, this lecture will use
history, art, and science to provide a deeper understanding of this pivotal
moment in the early formation of our nation. There will also be showings of Constellations, a planetarium presentation
that looks at these celestial images, their creators, and how modern
astronomers catalog them. The show explores each season and where familiar constellations
can be found in the Pennsylvania night sky throughout the year. A schedule of
show times will be available on the day of the event.
The program fee for HomeSchool Day is $10 per person (adults and
children over age 1) and includes all special programs and admission to the Planetarium.
Members of the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation (including State Museum
Affiliate members) will be admitted free. To register for HomeSchool Day, call
717-772-6997, Monday through Friday, between 9 AM and 4 PM. Preregister prior to March 7 and
receive a $1.00 discount on each admission.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the
State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 23 historic sites and museums
administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of
the Pennsylvania Trails of History. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting
Pennsylvania’s fascinating heritage. With exhibits examining the dawn of
geologic time, the Native American experience, the colonial and revolutionary eras,
a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the commonwealth's vast industrial age,
The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America’s story.
For more
information about the museum, visit www.statemuseumpa.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639