After the stockings are hung by the chimney with care... BEWARE! Please join us for holiday ghost stories with author and storyteller, Charles J. Adams III. This event will be held on Facebook LIVE at 10:13 AM. Join the event here. Like and follow BHC on Facebook @berkshistory!
Trustee Richard Polityka explores the establishment of Penn’s Common in 1749 by Richard and Thomas Penn as public commons, or a place for “public recreation.” However, County Commissioners, starting in 1800, permitted three major intrusions, the water-works, the prison grounds and the fairgrounds. This program illustrates the many changes to the park and its many […]
JOIN CHARLIE ADAMS AND THE BERKS HISTORY CENTER IN THIS EXCITING EXCURSION ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER! During this one-day bus trip, participants will tour the Washington Crossing State Park Visitors Center Museum, the Washington Crossing Lower Park, and finally, the New Jersey State Museum where science, history and art tells the story of New Jersey’s […]
The Berks History Center is excited to continue offering our new special program Brunch and Brushes, led by BHC Museum Curator, Amber Vroman. During February and March of 2022, participants will be painting a BRAND NEW design, inspired by the upcoming spring season. Create your own masterpiece while enjoying good conversation and delicious refreshments. This […]
Co-authors Jim Remsen and Brad Upp draw from military and medical records, pension files, dairies, memoirs, newspapers, and more to present a rich account of Camp Discharge and the men it housed and helped. Eighty-nine Pennsylvania regiments had men at Camp Discharge, and nine of those regiments recruited in Berks County: the 32nd, 36th, 88th, […]
The Berks History Center is excited to continue offering our new special program Brunch and Brushes, led by BHC Museum Curator, Amber Vroman. During February and March of 2022, participants will be painting a BRAND NEW design, inspired by the upcoming spring season. Create your own masterpiece while enjoying good conversation and delicious refreshments. This […]
The Women’s History Alliance continues its Suffrage 2020 Centennial Celebration with a documentary recognizing Berks County women who are first in their occupational fields. This program will be held in person, inside the BHC Museum Auditorium. The cost of this program is $5 for BHC members and $8 for non-members. The program fee includes admission […]
Join BHC Education Curator, Vicky Heffner, in weaving this one-of-a-kind basket using ¼” flat oval reeds and seagrass, along with a hand-woven handle. Tickets are $45 for BHC members and $55 for non-members and can be purchased by calling the Berks History Center at 610-375-4375 from Wednesday to Saturday, 9 AM- 3PM. Pre-payment is required. […]
Join us for this one-of-a-kind BHC member event honoring the life and works of Dr. William A. Haman! On Friday, April 1, 2022 at 6 PM and Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 5 PM, renowned Berks County historian George M. Meiser, IX will present on the fascinating history and photographic mastery of Reading's Dr. William […]
At the end of the Civil War, Pennsylvania had more orphaned children than most states. Carl Bloss, Archivist Emeritus of Bethany's Children's Home, who previously lectured at the BHC about the Soldier’s Orphans Schools Program (SOS), will speak about the early orphanages of Reading and Berks County from 1729 to 1850, when many orphanages were […]