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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PASSPORT TO HISTORY MONTH – JULY 2024
Free Admission & Activities at 35+ Historic Sites in 7 Counties
July 4 + Weekends in July
LEHIGH VALLEY (June 20, 2024) – Passport to History Month returns this July, featuring four weekends of old-fashioned summer fun.
More than 35 historic sites in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding counties invite the community to step back in time with free admission, tours, activities, and programs for visitors of all ages.
What will visitors discover?
- Local history right around the corner: Explore partner sites in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, and Northampton Counties.
- Museums, libraries, & special exhibitions
- Historic sites including homesteads, colonial taverns, farms, mills and tileworks, schools, gardens, 18th-century mansions, and cemeteries.
- Learn about the people, cultures, events, and innovations that shaped our community, from the original Native American inhabitants to modern day.
- Living history re-enactments and heritage craft & skill demonstrations
- Live music, archaeological digs, colonial field days, and classic car shows
- Farm stands, flea markets, and gift shops
- For children and families: old-fashioned games, crafts, stories, scavenger hunts, farm chores, interactive exhibitions, and activities.
Join us for this celebration of the places, stories, and community that bring local history to life!
“I am extremely proud that Passport to History Month has become a beloved annual event, providing free access to all,” says Megan van Ravenswaay, Executive Director of Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society and the Sigal Museum. “Our region is rich with diverse history, art, and culture. We hope that everyone gets a chance to visit their favorite historic site this July and perhaps find a few new ones to explore, too.”
Susan Ellis, Executive Director of Moravian Historical Society, notes, “It has been astonishing to see Passport to History grow so quickly in just a few short years. We have historic sites in seven counties participating this year, including Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, and Northampton Counties. This is an extraordinary opportunity for people to visit new sites and to explore the amazing history that this region has to offer.”
“In fact, we’d suggest planning a summer day trip to explore a group of sites in an area,” says Beth Twiss Houting, Executive Director of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. “We are always happy to be part of Passport to History Month. As an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the four counties of Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, and Montgomery, we’ve found this event to be a great way for people to get to know the history of their local community.”
WAYS TO ENJOY PASSPORT TO HISTORY MONTH
- Visit old favorites or new-to-you sites in your town or region.
- Venture out of town. Use the maps and list of activities on the Passport to History website to plot a course, and make a day of it.
- Follow your interests: What time periods or events in American history interest you? Do you enjoy touring historic buildings and gardens? What kinds of history do you enjoy (e.g., military history, industrial history, Native American history, fraktur or textiles)? Would you like to see living history or heritage skill demonstrations? Our partner sites appeal to a range of interests.
- Take in a special exhibition at one of our partner museums or historical societies.
- Check the list of family-friendly activities on the Passport to History website and plan a day out with the kids.
- Try something different. Every site has welcoming staff and volunteers eager to share our community history. Visitors will find fascinating stories and people wherever they go.
PRAISE FROM A 2023 EVENT ATTENDEE:
“This past Saturday, my friend and I decided to check out several places participating in the Lehigh Valley Passport to History Month event. The last thing I expected from this journey was to be overcome with emotion from my visit to the Atlas Portland Cement Company Memorial Museum. Meeting Edward Pany was truly the highlight of the day. I was overcome with Ed’s passion and zest for sharing all the information, much of which he single-handedly collected. It was so enlightening to learn all the history that he eagerly imparted. Being in his presence as a guide was a gift and something I will remember.” |
