Melissa Jacobs

Pennsylvania Resources

ED 224

1.) The State Museum of Pennsylvania

300 North St, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717) 787-4980
This museum focuses on the history, artifacts, the founder of Pennsylvania, and other
information in regards to Pennsylvania. There are changing exhibits along with
permanent exhibits. The permanent exhibits include: Memorial Hall, Pennsylvania
Icons, Village Square, Anthropology, Industry, and much more. This would be an
excellent location to take students, not only because it is the capital which provides PA
history, but also because the entire museum is dedicated to the state that we reside
within. Students would be able to explore information about their current state while
being active and out within the community. This would be a great destination for
students of all ages.

2.) The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

300 Gap Rd, Strasburg, PA 17579
(717) 687-8628
This museum was established in 1975. The museum is located in Strasburg,
Pennsylvania. There are well over 100 locomotives and cares from the 19th and 20th
centuries. I believe that this museum could be used in multiple different lessons for
children. The first lesson could just be to teach the history of Railroads and how this
came to be. The second could be a lesson on work. The railroad was huge back in
those centuries and provided multiple people with work. Students would be able to
discuss work in history and compare it to work in todays time.
3.) The Brandywine River Museum
1 Hoffmans Mill Rd, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
(610) 388-2700
This is an art museum full of works from the past and present. There are multiple
different exhibitions to walk through with some that change on a rotating basis. This
would be a great place to take children to learn about the history of art. There is also the
ability to talk about before and after. This was art before and this is what it has become.
Many artworks from early centuries tell stories similar to the ones of current centuries.
Children can learn about history through pieces that depict different eras. It is a great
place for a field trip if the ability to travel to this area is there.

4.) The National Civil War Museum

1 Lincoln Cir, Harrisburg, PA 17103
(717) 260-1861
This museum portrays the entire story of the Civil War through artifacts, artwork, and
much more. They provide information on racial inequality as well. The Civil War is a
crucial part of our American history and has always been taught in schools, so this would
be a great way to provide hands on learning about the civil war. Students could go to
this museum and discuss the history while seeing it in action. I think this would be a
great way to introduce the Civil War into the classroom. Allowing the students to see
everything in the museum and then taking time to reflect on what they saw. It also
provides the opportunity for a visual when discussing in the classroom.
5.) Philadelphia History Museum
15 S 7th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 685-4830
This museum was established in 1938 and the architecture alone provides insight into
our American history. This museum provides standard based lessons to schools at a
discounted rate depending upon the number of children. There is one lesson that I was
particularly interested in being the Quest to Freedom. I believe that this could be used to
discuss where freedom was initiated and how this shaped our world today. This would be
a great way to get the students out and moving with first hand artifacts all while
becoming engaged in freedom.

6.) Drake Well Museum

202 Museum Ln, Titusville, PA 16354
(814) 827-2797
This museum was founded in 1934. I have never heard of this museum and found it
really interesting and a great resource. This industry focuses on how petroleum came to
be such an economic influence in Pennsylvania. I believe that this could be used in
multiple ways. One this could discuss the history of petroleum. Students could be
engaged in a lesson about economics and whether petroleum was a good or a service.
Students could also come to understand the importance that petroleum had on the world
then and how it continues to influence our world.

7.) The Strasburg Railroad

301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
(866) 725-9666
 The Strasburg railroad is the oldest continuously operating railroad in the western
hemisphere. Abraham Lincoln stopped at the Strasburg Railroad location on his
inaugural train ride. This train continues to run today. I think that this would be a great
lesson for students. First of all this could be utilized when discussing work. How
railroads have changed and how many places do not utilize the railroad as they did
before. Why? It can also be used to discuss goods and services. What are railroads
used for and why? Students can go on a train ride and experience history as well. This
is how Abraham Lincoln traveled. Learning about transportation would be a way to
introduce this to students.

8.) The Liberty Bell Museum

622 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 435-4232
The Liberty Bell Museum was founded in 1962. It is open to tourists on a daily basis, but
also a great place for children and students. The Liberty Bell had many purposes
including a place where the Declaration of Independence was read. This could be used
for two specific lessons. One would be for the history of the Liberty Bell. The second
would be for the history of the Declaration of Independence. Students could discuss
how the Liberty Bell came to be and the significance of it to our history. They could also
dress up and read the Declaration of Independence here and put on a historical show.

9.) Old Economy Village

270 16th St, Ambridge, PA 15003
(724) 266-4500
Old Economy was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 under the name
Old Economy. It was one of the last three settlement areas through the Harmony
Society. This would be a useful resource to show children a National Historic Landmark,
but also to follow up with conversation about why it is a landmark and how different
places become landmarks. Finally the word settlement could be discussed as it refers to
our history.

10.)
 Washington Crossing Historic Park
1112 River Rd, Washington Crossing, PA 18977
(215) 493-4076
This is a beautiful historic park located in Washington Crossing. The location of the park
marks the place where George Washington crossed the Delaware River during the
American Revolutionary war which is how it became a historic park. This alone provides
a lesson. Introducing children to presidents is fun and exciting to them, but often they
are not recalling the names of the presidents or the chronological order. This would be a
great way to introduce George Washington by taking the students to a place that George
Washington had been. Having a hands on lesson like this would provide students with a
better recall of the information.