Happy Birthday, Pennsylvania!
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) will celebrate the commonwealth's 340th birthday 🎂 on Charter Day, Sunday, March 7, with a virtual display of William Penn's original 1681 charter, charter chats and other programming from the Pennsylvania State Archives, State Museum of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Trails of History.
Learn the History of Penn's Charter
Pennsylvania was created when England's King Charles II granted a charter to William Penn in 1681. The 340-year-old Charter is written on parchment using iron gall ink. Once each year, the Pennsylvania State Archives exhibits the original document. For the remainder of the year, the State Archives preserves the fragile document in a high-security vault, shielding it from strong light and environmental fluctuations.
Become a Virtual Visitor
Beginning Sunday, March 7 and continuing through Friday, March 12, virtual visitors (
You!) may view Penn's Charter, discovering how Document No. 1 ended up at PHMC. Sites and museums along Pennsylvania’s Trails of History will offer online programs throughout the week. Several sites will come together on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:00 PM for a special Zoom webinar as they present and discuss objects from their collections that relate to the aptly chosen theme of "birthdays and other celebrations." Advance
registration is required.
Participating sites include
Cornwall Iron Furnace,
Eckley Miners Village,
Ephrata Cloister,
Erie Maritime Museum, Hope Lodge,
Joseph Priestley House,
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum,
Pennsbury Manor,
Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, Pennsylvania Military Museum and
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
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