Take a nostalgic holiday walk down Penn Street with Berks History Center Trustee and Volunteer, Richard Polityka. Enjoy the images of “Old Reading” and remember Penn Street as it was during Christmas years ago with a photographic presentation of Reading’s downtown history. Richard Polityka is a Reading native and a longtime member and volunteer of […]
JOIN THE BERKS HISTORY CENTER FOR AN HISTORIC HOLIDAY IN THE SMOKIES NOTE: Date Change - This bus trip was originally scheduled to run December 2-7. However, the dates have changed to December 1-6. Enjoy six days in Tennessee’s mountain resort city, full of southern culture and country music. The name “Pigeon Forge” comes from an iron forge once located on Little Pigeon River, and the river’s name originates from the flocks of passenger pigeons that once frequented its banks. For centuries, the Cherokee used the valley where Pigeon Forge is located as a hunting ground. Indian Gap Trail brought the first Europeans to the area in the 1700’s with Colonel Samuel Wear becoming its first permanent settler in 1783. Another notable person in Pigeon Forge’s rich history is Dolly Parton, a country music singer and songwriter who has written thousands of songs. Tours the Titanic Museum and Christ in the Smokies Museum & Gardens will also be part of our visit to Tennessee. Another highlight, the Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine Distillery is where we’ll enjoy a tour and tasting along with the beautiful sights of Gatlinburg. This trip is being run with cooperation from White Star Tours. It includes five nights lodging, five breakfasts, three dinners, three Christmas shows and all admissions. Price of the trip does not include bus driver tip. Bus departs the Fecerra’s parking lot, 4701 Penn Avenue (Route 422) in Sinking Spring. $875 Double/$1025 Single Occupancy Click here for more information or to register contact Vicky Heffner, Education Curator, […]
Shop for hand-crafted holiday gifts and tour the museum during a special open house at the Berks History Center. This event is being held in conjunction with the 35th Annual Christmas House Tour in Centre Park. Visit centreparkhistoricdistrict.org for house tour information. Tickets are not required to visit the museum and holiday boutique. Admission is free to the general […]
Commemorate the BHC’s incorporation date with a good old fashioned birthday party for longtime friends and supporters of the BHC. Free Open House Event. Enjoy Refreshments, Proclamations & a Casual Happy Hour with Friends & Supporters of the Berks History Center. 940 Centre Ave. Reading, PA 19601 Please RSVP by December 4th Call 610-375-4375 or email […]
Learn about the history of the Berks History Center from its fledgling founding in 1869 as the Historical Society of Berks County to present day. Presented by BHC Trustee, Barry Kauffman. Free admission as a special thank you to all of our supporters over the years. Light Refreshments served at 9:30AM. Off street parking available […]
Explore the rustic scenery, culture and folkloric traditions of Albany Township and Berks through an artistic and musical journey presented by artist, Jon Bon and musician/producer, Dave Kline. Come and enjoy another of Dave Kline's highly-popular Storyteller Session evenings at Berks History Center on December 19, 7 to 8:30 pm. This show is entitled “The Place […]
Celebrate the Holidays with Historic Tours Full of Cheer with One Mansion, One Stable Museum & One Horse Race Track. Belair Mansion offers a look at Maryland’s earliest history. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in 1745 for Provincial Governor Samuel Ogle and his wife Anne. Ogle, along with his […]
Learn how the peaceful relations between William Penn and the Native People were threatened by an armed skirmish between settlers and the “strange Indians” near the Manatawny Creek, the killing of three peaceful Lenape in the Cacossing area, and Sassoonan’s protest against the Tulpehocken Settlement. Presented by Barry Miller. Snow Date: January 18 No Tickets […]
Get nostalgic at the Museum of the Moving Image at the former Paramount Studios and visit the site of the 1939-40 and 1964-65 World’s Fair, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Enjoy lunch on your own in historic Astoria. Price of the trip does not include bus driver tip. Elite Coach is our transportation provider. Bus departs […]
Join journalist and author, Jim Remsen as he chronicles the experiences of a group of fugitive slaves who escaped southern bondage, dared to openly build new lives in Pennsylvania, and later returned south to fight for the Union. Journalist and author Jim Remsen will present an illustrated history talk, “Freedom-Seekers Turned Freedom-Fighters,” which chronicles the […]