The Erie County Public Library is hosting its first ever histERIE Week! This week-long event is dedicated to helping promote historic preservation from a community level, as well as make history education opportunities available to all Erie County residents. Throughout the week, patrons can attend over 30 programs at Erie County Public Library branches and other locations throughout the Erie area.
Sunday, May 22
Hagen History Center: Community Day
Hagen History Center: 356 W 6th St, Erie, PA 16507
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Enjoy free admission in to the Hagen History Center! Come visit the three exhibit buildings to learn more about Erie County's history. Some exhibits include Frank Lloyd Wright's San Francisco office, a children's exhibit, and the newly restored Wood-Morrison House. While you're there, stop by the Erie County Public Library's Bookmobile to learn about the great history researching tools available and pick up a histERIE Week take-home packet!
Presque Isle Lighthouse: Family Day at the Land Lighthouse
Land Lighthouse: 1200 Lighthouse St, Erie, PA 16507
11:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Land Lighthouse is a great place to explore! Come learn about the history of the lighthouses in Erie, climb the tower, and participate in family-friendly activities at this free event.
Hurry Hill Maple Farm and Museum Family Day
Hurry Hill Farm: 11424 Fry Rd, Edinboro, PA 16412
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hurry Hill Maple Farm and Museum at 11424 Fry Road Edinboro PA is proud to kick off Blasco Library’s week-long celebration of histERIE Week! At this free event, you can see Historic Agricultural Preservation and Education first hand in Erie County’s only Maple Museum!
Monday, May 23rd
Boulevard Park Walking Tour
Meet in front of Strong Vincent School 1330 W 8th St, Erie, PA 16512
5:00 p.m.
Join the Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association as they lead patrons on a guided tour of the neighborhood! This event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, this tour will be canceled. This walk is approximately 3 miles in length. In case of inclement weather, this tour will be canceled. To pre-register for this event, click HERE.
Fort LeBoeuf Comes To Blasco
Admiral Room - 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Fort LeBoeuf is making its way to the Blasco Library! The Fort LeBoeuf Historical Society will bring a variety of artifacts and stories to tell about Erie County during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Com learn about Native Peoples, French soldiers, George Washington, early settlers, and stagecoach travelers. This event is fun for the entire family, and will help people gain a new appreciation for how our current area began long ago!
Registration is recommended, but not required. Register Here
Jefferson Educational Society: Is High-Speed Rail a Pipe Dream in the U.S.?
Lincoln Community Center
6:00 p.m.
By 1930, America built 430,000 miles of steel rails connecting the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. At one time, the US railroad was the largest industry in the world and helped position America as a world superpower. While Europe and Asia have built high speed trains that regularly travel well over 215mph, the Aleca, America's fastest train averages 65mph from Boston to Washington. Will the US ever invest in a national passenger rail plan that includes trains that can travel over 200mps or will it remain a car dominated culture? Join Michael Fuhrman as he discusses this topic as part of the JES Satellite Program.
Curators: What We Do with Becky Weiser
Edinboro Branch
6:00 p.m.
Curators play an essential part in preserving historical artifacts. Join Becky Weiser, curator at the Erie County Historical Society, as she discusses her role at the historical society, as well as learn about different items they have found in their collection.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register Here
Our Town Film Screening
Iroquois Branch
6:00 pm
The Erie County Public Library, in partnership with WQLN, is excited to host a film screening of some of the best stories from the Our Town series. Featuring 13 different stories, this film reel highlights Erie County's amazing history. This film is approximately 1 hour in length.
Quilting through the Ages with Marcia Scott
Fairview Area Historical Society: 4302 Avonia Rd, Fairview, PA 16415
7:00 p.m.
Scott has been a quilter for several decades and shares her expertise at the Millcreek Sewing and Fabric shop. Scott teaches or has taught various styles of quilting including hand quilting, Sashiko or Japanese quilting, Applique, hand applique, etc. “Quilt patterns and styles change like fashions,” Scott said, adding “quilts reveal stories about the eras of quilting through the history of the United States.” Scott will be showing examples of quilts and would welcome members of the audience to bring a quilt and tell its story.
Tuesday, May 24th
Personal Archiving: Basics of Digitization
Lincoln Branch
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Preserving your historic photos and documents is a breeze with advancements in technology! Join librarian, Courtney, as she teaches you how to create and organize digital copies of your historic, 2D items. Topics such as storage methods, file naming and organizational tips will be discussed.
Registration is required. Register Here
JES Corry Higher-Ed Council Lecture with George Deutsch
Corry Higher Education Council: 221 North Center Street, Corry, PA 16407
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
That's right! Washington created the first espionage and reconnaissance unit of the Continental Army and a highly effective spy ring in British occupied New York City that provided critical intelligence to him over a period of four years. US Army Intelligence traces its origins to 1776 when Washington set up Knowlton's Rangers, which became a key supplier of intelligence and also participated in several battles. Patriot martyr Nathan Hale was an officer in the Knowlton Rangers. The unit is considered the predecessor of the Army Rangers, Delta Force and other special forces. His New York City spy ring, named Culper, deeply infiltrated the British military command, including compromising Major Andre and exposing Benedict Arnold. Culper used sophisticated spycraft such as secret codes, moles, women agents and expertly planted false information. Washington's military intelligence bested their British counterparts during the Revolution; a triumph of amateurs over the experienced professionals of a world power.
Film Screening: Historicorps Saving Places and Discussion with Preservation Planner
Hirt Auditorium - 6:00 p.m.
In 2020, Historicorps, a nonprofit focusing in preserving historic places through the use of volunteers, released their documentary film called Saving Places. The Erie County Public Library is thrilled to host a screening of their film. Before the film, meet the City of Erie's new historic preservation planner, Chris Kinder.
This event is free and open to the public.
Wednesday, May 25th
HAY Day Activities*:
Erie Children's Museum
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
“HAY!” Did you know the children’s museum’s building was originally the Boston Store Livery & Garage? It was built in 1906 for John P. Dugan on the site of the Lafayette House, an early hotel. From 1916 to 1961, the building was a livery and later garage for the Boston Store, the first local department store to make home deliveries. Join us May 25-27 in the Open Studio to learn about the ‘neigh’ bors who lived on French Street over 100 years ago – horses!
*This event is free, but admission to the museum is still required. You can get a Children's Museum Family Pass from the Erie County Public Library, which provides free admission for 2 adults (18+) and up to 4 kids. The ExpERIEnce Children's Museum is also part of Museums for All, which allows EBT card holders (for up to 4 people) have an admission price of $2 per person.
West BayWalks: African American History
Meet at the Pontiac Field, 200 Cherry Street
11:00 a.m.
Our West Bayfront will lead a guided walking tour of the West Bayfront area that features several sites important to Erie's African American history located within the area of the West Bayfront called New Jerusalem. This tour is approximately 3.2 miles in length. In case of inclement weather, this tour will be canceled. To pre-register for the event, click HERE.
Presque Isle Lighthouse: Conservation Lecture
Presque Isle Lighthouse: Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Dr., Erie, PA 16505
6:00 p.m.
The Presque Isle Lighthouse has undergone many renovations in the past years. Join Executive Director, Emily Butler, as we discuss the challenges and rewards of preserving Erie's historic lighthouses.
Guest Speaker: Western Pennsylvania Amusement Park History
Community Classroom - 6:30 p.m.
Waldameer is an Erie treasure, and has been part of Erie's history since 1896. Join Pennsylvania historian, Jennifer Sopko, as she discusses several different amusement park histories in Western Pennsylvania. This event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, May 26th
HAY Day Activities*:
Erie Children's Museum
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
“HAY!” Did you know the children’s museum’s building was originally the Boston Store Livery & Garage? It was built in 1906 for John P. Dugan on the site of the Lafayette House, an early hotel. From 1916 to 1961, the building was a livery and later garage for the Boston Store, the first local department store to make home deliveries. Join us May 25-27 in the Open Studio to learn about the ‘neigh’ bors who lived on French Street over 100 years ago – horses!
*This event is free, but admission to the museum is still required. You can get a Children's Museum Family Pass from the Erie County Public Library, which provides free admission for 2 adults (18+) and up to 4 kids. The ExpERIEnce Children's Museum is also part of Museums for All, which allows EBT card holders (for up to 4 people) have an admission price of $2 per person.
Erie Art Museum: Pay-What-You-Wish Day
Erie Art Museum
2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The Erie Art Museum is excited to share a unique opportunity to view a new exhibition, opening mid-May 2022, featuring photographs from the Museum’s collection. This exhibition will include an abundance of beautiful, strange, and compelling images, some from the great photographers, others from photographers unknown. Photographs of Erie, and photographs of elsewhere. Each photo will tell its own story, reflecting the interests and values of the times in which they were captured. These photos will help us to see what has changed, and what remains constant, between the past and present. Join the museum on Thursday, May 26th for their pay-what-you-wish day to take in their newest exhibit!
Cyrus Tiffany Fife Reception:
Erie Maritime Museum
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Erie Maritime Museum is thrilled to announce their new fife is finally on exhibit! Come visit the museum between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to see the new display, and check out the rest of the museum exhibits as well. Entry to this event is FREE!
Walking Tour: Lincoln Avenue
Lincoln Avenue Park & Ride / Thomas C. Hoffman Bayfront Hub
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Join councilwomen, journalist, and preservationist Liz Allen for a walking tour of the Lincoln Avenue neighborhood, featuring the work of Erie architect, C. Paxton Cody, Sears kit houses, a World War I era "Garden Suburb," and Ferncliff. For more information, visit www.preservationerie.org or email info@preservationerie.org. Registration is encouraged, but not required.
Goodell Gardens: The Goodell Sisters
Goodell Gardens: 221 Waterford St. Route 6N, Edinboro, PA 16412
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Celebrate histERIE Week at Goodell Gardens & Homestead! Join Executive Director, Amber Wellington, for a talk about the sisters - Carrie and Margaret Goodell - who left their estate to become a place of respite. This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Register HERE.
Preserving West 6th Street: Jeff Kidder
Admiral Room - 7:00 p.m.
Erie's historic buildings are being restored and preserved on a regular basis. Join Jeff Kidder, from Kidder Architects, as he discusses the preservation and restorations of home on West 6th Street. Jeff's business has completed dozens of historic architecture preservation projects across the county. This hour-long lecture will feature images and building history.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended, but not required. Register Here
Friday, May 27th
HAY Day Activities*:
Erie Children's Museum
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
“HAY!” Did you know the children’s museum’s building was originally the Boston Store Livery & Garage? It was built in 1906 for John P. Dugan on the site of the Lafayette House, an early hotel. From 1916 to 1961, the building was a livery and later garage for the Boston Store, the first local department store to make home deliveries. Join us May 25-27 in the Open Studio to learn about the ‘neigh’ bors who lived on French Street over 100 years ago – horses!
*This event is free, but admission to the museum is still required. You can get a Children's Museum Family Pass from the Erie County Public Library, which provides free admission for 2 adults (18+) and up to 4 kids. The ExpERIEnce Children's Museum is also part of Museums for All, which allows EBT card holders (for up to 4 people) have an admission price of $2 per person.
What's In The Vault? Heritage Room and Vault Tour
Heritage Room - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what was hidden behind the Heritage Room vault doors? Now's your chance to find out! Join library staff on a tour of the Heritage Room, followed by a tour of the vault to check out some of the library's most valuable collection items. Tours will be offered every 15 minutes starting a 1:00 p.m. The last tour will begin at 3:30 p.m.
101 Years of Presque Isle
Tom Ridge Environmental Center - Big Green Screen Theater
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Presque Isle turns 101 years old as a State Park on May 27, 2022. From the act that made Presque Isle a state park, to the people who have been managing the shifting sand spits everchanging environment, for the park visitor. Join Environmental Education Specialist Brian Gula to discover the history of Presque Isle on the Big Green Screen. Register HERE.
Warner Theatre Community Open House
Warner Theater: 811 State Street, Erie, PA 16501
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
After a long renovation, the Warner Theater will host a free Community Open House on May 27th. Guests will be able to walk through the historic Warner Theatre's Grand Lobby, Auditorium and Foyers. In addition, the newly expanded backstage spaces will be available to explore. This includes the Stage, Dressing Rooms, Green Room, and new Rehearsal Hall. Guests visiting during the evening hour sessions will even get the chance to see the new marquee in action!
Bike Tour: Home Again in Our West Bayfront
Bayview Park on West 2nd Street, Erie, PA 16507
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
This biking tour highlights some of the diverse types of residential architecture found throughout the West Bayfront neighborhoods. This tour will be lead by Erin Phillips, the creator of Old Erie on Foot. This tour is BYOB (bring your own bike). In the case of inclement weather, this tour will be canceled. This tour is approximately 3.4 miles in length. To pre-register for the event, click HERE.
Saturday, May 28th
Walking Tour: Memorial Day Weekend Walking Tour
Meet at foot of Parade Street overlooking the Bay
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join local historian Michael Fuhrman for a walking tour to rediscover the sites of the French, British and American 18th century frontier forts and their national, regional and local significance. Walk over tubed Mill Creek and visit Pennsylvania’s Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery and the Wayne Blockhouse. Reconnect with Erie’s first neighborhood and finally learn the real reason why Parade Street has its name. For more information, visit www.preservationerie.org or email info@preservationerie.org. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Film Series - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Hirt Auditorium - 10:00 am (Closed Captions) and 1:30 p.m.
In 2021, Fellowship of the Ring, part of the Lord of the Rings series, was inducted into the National Film Registry. In honor of histERIE Week, the library is excited to have this film as part of their Film Series programming. There are two showings of this film, 10am and 1:30pm. The 10:00 am showing will have closed captions provided, while the 1:30 p.m. will not. This event is free and open to the public.
Murder & Mayhem in Erie, Pennsylvania
Virtual via Zoom AND streamed in Community Classroom
2:00 p.m.
Crime, murder and well... mayhem are intertwined in Erie's history. Join Justin Dombrowski as he discusses the history of his new book, Murder & Mayhem in Erie Pennsylvania, which is set to release on June 13, 2022. This program will be available to attend on Zoom and in-person. Registration IS required for virtual attendance. Register Here.
How to Research Your Home's History Workshop
Collaboratory 103 - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Have you ever wondered about your old home's history? Now's your chance to get some practice learning how to research! Join Erin Philips of Old Erie on Foot, as she provides one on one help with learning how to research your home's history!* Erin will offer 25 minute segments throughout the afternoon She does recommend to watch her lecture on "how to research your home's history", which can be found on the virtual program tab. This event is free, but registration times are limited to SIX timeslots. To register, please contact the reference desk. (814)451-6927
*Address must be provided at time of registration.
Erie Legends at Yahn Planetarium
Yahn Planetarium at Penn State Behrend: 49 Zurn, 4205 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563
4:00 p.m. AND 5:00 p.m.
Visitors to the planetarium will be immersed in pictures from the locations of these weird happenings and hear the short stories that have been told locally for decades. These local legends include events like the U.F.O ar Presque Isle, Axe Murder Hollow, and a haunted fraternity house. This program lasts approximately 30 minutes. Due to the nature of the content, this program is recommended for ages 12 to adult. This event is free, but registration is required due to limited seating. To register, please contact the library reference desk. (814)451-6927
This event is not free, but is being offered at a reduced rate of $2.50/person
Virtual and anytime events:
Lawrence Park Walking Tour
Lawrence Park Area
The Iroquois Branch, Lawrence Park Historical Society and Lawrence Park Gardening Club have teamed up to create a historic walking tour of Lawrence Park, that highlights the town's rich history! You can download the map below, or pick up a copy at any Erie County Public Library location.
Map coming soon!
Wesleyville Walking Tour
Wesleyville Area
The Iroquois Branch, along with other library staff members, have teamed up to create a historic walking tour of Wesleyville that highlights the town's rich history! You can download the map below, or pick up a copy at any Erie County Public Library location.
Map coming soon!
Take Home Packets
Throughout the entire histERIE Week, all library locations will have packets available filled with activities you can do from home! Some items include buttons, tours, a craft, recipes and more! These packets are first-come, first-served, and have limited quantities available.
Passport to the Past
As you can see, histERIE Week is going to be filled with a lot of fun and different activities throughout the county! Patrons who attend histERIE Week programming have the chance to complete a Passport to the Past, and if completed, can be entered in to win a GREAT prize! Participants must attend at least one library program, and then 3 others of their choice throughout the week. You can download and print a passport here, or pick up one at any histERIE Week event. Passports must be turned in to a library location by June 10, 2022 and the winner will be selected on June 14, 2022.
- Passport to the Past
Attend 4 events throughout histERIE Week for a chance to win a prize!
Virtual Programs:
Lunch and Learn Series
Facebook Live/Zoom - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
Need a fun way to spend your lunch breaks? Join the library during out lunch and learn series. Every day at 12:00 p.m. you can join speakers who will discuss a variety of history topics. Some will be solely on Zoom, while others will be on Facebook Live. Registration is required for Zoom links to participate in discussions.
Monday: Adam Macrino - Engaging Younger Generations in Historic Preservation
Tuesday: Ben Scharff - Preserving Native American History
Wednesday: DCNR - Resource Management of Presque Isle (Zoom Only: registration required. Register HERE.
Thursday: Dr. Andrew Roth - A Conversation About the American Story 1968/2022. This lunch and learn session is hosted by the Jefferson Educational Society and can be viewed on their Facebook page HERE.
Friday: History Happy Half-Hour
Murder & Mayhem in Erie, Pennsylvania
Virtual via Zoom AND streamed in Community Classroom
2:00 p.m.
Crime, murder and well... mayhem are intertwined in Erie's history. Join Justin Dombrowski as he discusses the history of his new book, Murder & Mayhem in Erie Pennsylvania, which is set to release on June 13, 2022. This program will be available to attend on Zoom and in-person. Registration IS required for virtual attendance. Register HERE.
