Scenes of the Schuylkill at Valley Forge

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area.

A new art exhibit at Valley Forge National Historical Park explores the varied beauty and character of the Schuylkill River region.

Consisting of 16 pieces of art and photography by 15 different artists, the Scenes of the Schuylkill selections will be on display in the park’s visitors’ center through Feb. 26. 

"Listening Woods" by Helen Mirkil.

It is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

The exhibit represents a selection of art from the larger 12th Annual Scenes of the Schuylkill Juried Art Show, which was held last fall at the Montgomery County Community College West Campus Gallery in Pottstown. 

Most works in the show are available for sale, and a portion of all proceeds benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

The 16 pieces on display at Valley Forge comprise the show’s winning entries and other selected works. They include a variety of mediums and styles, with subjects ranging from river views, cityscapes, woodland scenes, barns and more. 

Presented together they create a striking exhibition that highlights the diversity of scenic beauty found throughout the region.

“We are grateful to our partners at Valley Forge National Historical Park for displaying a selection from Scenes of the Schuylkill at the park,” said Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Silas Chamberlin. “This enables us to expand the reach of our annual art show and draws attention to the many talented artists whose work is deeply rooted in the Schuylkill River valley.”

Memento Mori by Jonathan Bond.

Scenes of the Schuylkill is an annual art show that celebrates the Schuylkill River region through art. Now in its 12th year, it is organized each fall by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, a National and State Heritage Area headquartered in Pottstown. 

The 2015 show included 92 works and ran through November and December at Montgomery County Community College West Campus Gallery in Pottstown. All works were carefully selected from 163 submissions by juror Charles Stainback, Director of Art at the Berman Museum, Ursinus College.

The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, managed by the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenway Association, uses conservation, education, recreation, cultural and historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development. For more information visit www.schuylkillriver.org.

Pedaling Through the Parks

Last Year's bike tour focused on historic cemeteries along the Schuylkill River Trail. This year's ride will feature stops at three National Parks; Hopewell Furnace, Valley Forge and Independence parks.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by my friend Laura Catalano at the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area.

Did you know that there are three national park sites located near the Schuylkill River Trail?

On Sept. 20 and 21, participants in the Schuylkill River Heritage Area’s Pedaling through Our National Parks Ride will visit those sites by bike.

Although bike trailers are prohibited on the ride, 

tandem bikes are not.

The third ride in the Heritage Area’s Schuylkill River Bike Tour Series, it will feature about 30 miles of cycling per day, with visits to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park.

Registrants can choose to ride on either or both days. 

The first day will include guided programs at Hopewell Furnace and Valley Forge, with a stop for lunch at the Schuylkill River Heritage Area headquarters in Pottstown. 

The second day will take cyclists from Valley Forge to Independence and will include a tour of Independence and a lunch program on the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail. Lunch will be along the Schuylkill Banks in Philadelphia.

Each day, a bike/passenger shuttle will take riders back to their cars. 

Lunch, a light breakfast, tours and ride support are included. While most of the ride takes place along the Schuylkill River Trail, there are some on-road pieces. 

On the first day, about half is on road, primarily on back roads.

The Schuylkill River Trail Bike Tour Series is a series of annual rides that was introduced by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area in 2012. 

Last year's ride featured players of historic music.

Each fall, a different section of trail is featured. All the rides are intended to raise awareness of the connections that can be made from the Schuylkill River Trail to regional historic sites.

“Our goal in establishing the Schuylkill River Trail Bike Tour Series is to show people that they can travel along the trail to connect to visitor sites and regional history,” said Kurt Zwikl, executive director of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. 

“Cyclists who participate will not only experience an enjoyable ride, but they will discover how to access three national parks by bike,” he said.

Cost for the Pedaling through our National Parks ride is $50 per person per day and $95 for both days. 

After Sept. 5, cost is $55 and $100 for both days. 

Registration closes Sept. 18. There will be no day of registration. 

Riders will be shuttled back to their cars on both days.

Event is rain or shine. Ride limited to 200 riders per day.

Price includes bike/passenger shuttle, light breakfast, catered lunch, well-marked route, guided tours and programs and refreshments. 

Free t-shirts are included for all who register by Sept. 5. 

All proceeds benefit the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

Ride support and complimentary pre-ride bicycle safety checks will be provided by TriCounty Bicycles, of Pottstown. 

Due to the width of the trail, no bicycle trailers will be permitted. To learn more visit www.schuylkillriver.org.

The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, managed by the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenway Association, uses conservation, education, recreation, historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development.

Illustrating the Revolution

The Pottstown-based Schuylkill River Heritage Area opened a unique exhibit at Valley Forge National Historical Park Saturday, entitled "Bringing the War of Independence to Life: 19th Century Illustrations of the American Revolution."

The exhibit will feature 42 illustrations of the Revolutionary War by 16 different artists whose work originally appeared in 19th century publications.

All the works have been culled from the personal collection of Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl. They will be on display in the park Visitor Center through April 28.

In the 19th century, stories and articles about the Revolutionary War provided popular subject matter for books, magazine and newspapers. Because the war had been fought before the advent of photography, artists drew illustrations to accompany the text, thereby producing the only visual record of the war. 

Today, those works continue to teach us not only about the history of our country, but also about the methods by which people and events of the Revolutionary Era were visually portrayed.

Zwikl has long had an interest in 19th century illustrations of the Revolutionary War. From his collection, built over 40 years, he has selected 42 images of battles, leaders and events for the exhibit. 

While at Valley Forge, Washington stayed at this house, owned
by Isaac Potts, a son of Pottstown founder John Potts

He has also created a booklet to accompany the exhibition that offers insights into the significance of the illustrations, and provides details about the artists who created the works. The booklet will be available for sale at Valley Forge National Historical Park throughout the exhibit.

After its run at Valley Forge, Bringing the War of Independence to Life will be moved to Morristown National Historical Park, in New Jersey, where it will hang from June 23-August 26 at the park’s Washington Headquarters Museum.

The exhibit is the result of a partnership between the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and Valley Forge National Historical Park, as well as Morristown National Historical Park, and Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, in New Jersey.

“We are pleased to be able to tell the story of the war through these fascinating illustrations, and through a partnership that allows us to emphasize the Revolutionary War connections between two national parks in Valley Forge and Morristown, and between two National Heritage Areas: the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and Crossroads of the American Revolution,” said Zwikl.

The exhibit will be on display at Valley Forge National Historical Park’s Visitor Center during regular operating hours from 9-5 daily, through April 28. It is free and open to the public. 

A 24-page booklet about the exhibit will be on sale for $6.95 at the Visitor Center Encampment Store.

The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, managed by the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenway Association, uses conservation, education, recreation, historic and cultural preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development.

New Washington Insights at Hopewell

The Landsdowne portrait

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.

Just in time for Presidents’ Day, Valley Forge National Historical Park Archivist Dona McDermott will shed new insights into the life and times of President George Washington at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Sponsored by the Friends of Hopewell Furnace, the free program will begin at 2 p.m. in the park’s Conference Center.

Using the famous Landsdowne Portrait, McDermott will discuss how Gilbert Stuart included symbols that reflected Washington’s career and legacy.

Stuart painted the portrait in 1796 and it has served as a guide for Presidential portraits ever since.

Dona McDermott manages the extensive archives and collections at Valley Forge.

A 30-year career employee of the National Park Service, McDermott has also worked at Independence Hall and Hopewell Furnace.

Before joining the National Park Service, she worked at the Atwater Kent Museum in Philadelphia and the Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Eastern University and a Master of Arts in history and certification in Museum Studies from the University of Delaware.

In 1771, Mark Bird established Hopewell Furnace. Bird raised a militia in support of the American Revolution and sent badly needed supplies to George Washington at Valley Forge during the harsh winter of 1777-1778.

There are numerous records of Hopewell cannon and shot being used by Continental forces during the Revoluntionary War. One hundred and fifteen big guns for the Continental Navy were made at Hopewell, and ten inch morter shells from Hopewell were used in the final battle at Yorktown in 1781.

While at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site visitors are encouraged to go into the village, tour the buildings and learn about the Iron Making Industry and why Hopewell Furnace is important to our nation’s history.

With grounds accessible on Mondays and Tuesdays, the park is fully open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off of Route 345.

For more information stop by the park's visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/hofu, or contact the park by e-mail at hofu_superintendent@nps.gov.