Local News

Juniata Valley heritage, history on display during Museum Day

LEWISTOWN ­-- Ed Arnold and Dee Miller certainly have a love of history. The Lewistown couple have traveled the country to visit museums about people, places or things that have piqued their interest.

"Google is how we found the Amelia Earhart Museum in Kansas and the Zane Grey/National Highway Route 40 Museum in Zanesville, Ohio," Miller said.

Of course, there's still the traditional method, too.

"Our favorite way is to use an old-fashioned paper road map," she added. "These maps point out many points of interest by state in your travel path."

Their favorites involve local history, Revolutionary War, Civil War and national park museums. "We enjoy many types of museums," Arnold said.

As members of the Mifflin County Historical Society, Arnold and Miller are certainly aware of the history-filled museums in the Juniata Valley. After all, they were both born, raised and still live in the Lewistown area.

"Our Central Pennsylvania area has many interesting museums to explore," Miller explained. "We find many local history events in The Sentinel or on Facebook. There are museums out there with fun and interesting displays for explorers of any age."

Many of those museums will open their doors with free admission on Museum Day in the Juniata River Valley, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.

"Local museums preserve the heritage and culture of their communities for future generations through the work and volunteers and historians," said Forest Fisher, museum committee co-chair who will assist steer the committee on both exhibits and volunteer coordination at the McCoy House and Hoopes School.

Museum Day is important because it's an opportunity to bring visitors to share in that heritage," Fisher added. "I've read that museums are both for people with that heritage, and people who come from diverse backgrounds interested in learning about that heritage. On this day, our local museums, large and small, open their doors to tell the story of the area's culture and heritage. Take the opportunity to visit one or more, view the exhibits and displays. Engage with the volunteers, each is willing and able to share the stories of our past."

Arnold and Miller also hope folks from history enthusiasts to families - or both - will take day, pick a few places in Mifflin, Juniata or Huntingdon counties and explore the amazing history and heritage right here in Central Pennsylvania.

Hosted by the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau and the Huntingdon County History and Heritage Roundtable, tours will be given at locations that are either open throughout the year or some just for this day only.

"There are many untold and really interesting local history stories in every community," said Jenny Barron Landis, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. "Museum Day gives everyone the opportunity to learn about them and can provide a level of understanding and respect for previous generations. There are 19 museums on the list this year. We don't expect people to get to them all but since it's also an annual event, we hope that each year the visitors find something new to see."

Arnold and Miller would love to join you, but they will be volunteering at the McCoy House in Lewistown. "As docents, we will be available to assist volunteers by answering questions about the unique history of our area," Arnold said.

Museums participating in this year's event include (museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless otherwise indicated):

Mifflin County

• Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, corner of Walnut & Main Streets, Belleville. Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Hoopes School, 687 Long Lane, Lewistown

• Kishacoquillas Valley Historical Society, 138 E. Main St., Allensville

• Lewistown Train Station, 150 Helen St., Lewistown

• McCoy House Museum, 17 N. Main St., Lewistown 

• McVeytown Museum, 10 N. Queen St., McVeytown

• Mifflin County Historical Society Library, 1 W. Market St., Lewistown

 

Juniata County

• Juniata County Historical Society Archives, 498 Jefferson St., Suite B, Mifflintown

• Juniata Mennonite Historical Center, 37322 Route 35, Richfield

• Tuscarora Academy, 472 Academy Road, Mifflin

 

Huntingdon County

• Bricktown Museum, 300 W. Small St., Mount Union

• Colerain Forge Mansion, 4072 Spruce Creek Rd., Spruce Creek

• Friends of the East Broad Top Museum, 550 S. Main St., Robertsdale

• Huntingdon County Historical Society, 106 Fourth St., Huntingdon

• Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau, 6993 Seven Points Rd., Hesston

• Isett Heritage Museum, 11941 Stone Creek Ridge Road

• Juniata College Museum of Art, 1700 Moore St., Huntingdon. Hours: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Rockhill Trolley Museum, 430 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace

• Swigart Museum, 12031 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon