Celebrate Pennsylvania’s 334th Birthday with Free Admission to PA Trails of History Sites and Museums

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) invites Pennsylvania residents and visitors to celebrate the Commonwealth’s 334th birthday on Charter Day, Sunday, March 8, with free admission to many historic sites and museums along the Pennsylvania Trails of History^®. 

Charter Day celebrates the founding of Pennsylvania.  The special day gives visitors to The State Museum of Pennsylvania a rare opportunity to see the original Charter of Pennsylvania written in 1681. England’s King Charles II used the charter to grant the land that is now Pennsylvania to founder William Penn. It is sometimes referred to as Pennsylvania’s “birth certificate” and was Penn’s personal copy.

“The charter is a tangible link to Pennsylvania’s founding,” said James M. Vaughan, PHMC’s executive director. “The fragile historical document is exhibited only once a year and for a very short time.”

In honor of Pennsylvania's founding, many historic sites and museums along PHMC’s Trails of History will offer free admission on March 8, 2015. Graeme Park will be open for free tours from 12 noon - 3 pm. There will also be a free kids' coloring activity sponsored by the McDonald's of Horsham and Hatboro and all kids will receive a coupon for a free Happy Meal.

Participating museums and historic sites include:

• Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton
• Brandywine Battlefield Park, Chadds Ford
• Conrad Weiser Homestead, Womelsdorf
• Cornwall Iron Furnace, Cornwall
• Daniel Boone Homestead, Birdsboro
• Drake Well Museum, Titusville
• Eckley Miners’ Village, Weatherly
• Ephrata Cloister, Ephrata
• Erie Maritime Museum & Flagship Niagara, Erie
• Fort Pitt Museum, Pittsburgh 
• Graeme Park, Horsham
• Hope Lodge, Ft. Washington
• Joseph Priestley House, Northumberland
• Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Lancaster
• Old Economy Village, Ambridge
• Pennsbury Manor, Morrisville
• Pennsylvania Military Museum, Boalsburg
• Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg
• Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing