The Somerset Historical Center

06/12/2026

Please note: The gates at the Allegheny Hawk Watch will be open on Saturday, June 13 from 12:00pm-3:00pm

Passport booklets are still available at the Somerset Historical Center during open hours Wednesday through Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm

06/12/2026

We spent the day documenting all 41 coverlets in our collection, many of which were woven by Somerset artisans and passed down through local families.

We are immensely thankful to Emily Barth, curator of the McCarl Coverlet Gallery at St. Vincent College, and her student assistant, Jonah Weaver, for dedicating their time and equipment in this undertaking. Their expertise has allowed us to preserve these coverlets and make them easily accessible to future researchers.

If you would like to learn more about the stories behind these coverlets, we welcome you to view our display at the Common Threads Fiber Symposium on June 27th, from 9 AM to 4 PM. We hope you'll join us for this unique opportunity to experience so many examples of local craftsmanship.

06/09/2026

It's good to be back! We certainly missed seeing you all at First Fridays. The good company and great weather made for a wonderful evening on the lawn. We can hardly wait for the next one!

Don't forget to join us next First Friday on July 3rd for a performance by White Horse. Food will be provided by the Fat Squirrel, Stempora Catering & Concessions, New Hope Baptist Church, and HGSSC Concessions. We hope to see you there!

📅 Friday, July 3, 2026
🕘 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎟️ $5 parking
📍 Somerset Historical Center

06/03/2026

Attention all Fiber Friends!

Join us this Saturday, June 6th for a discussion led by Paula Eppley-Newman on fiber processing. We will discuss fiber sorting, skirting, and scouring as well as analyze alpacca, angora, llama, and sheep fleeces. The meeting will conclude with a discussion on Fiber Friends involvement in the upcoming Common Threads Symposium. We look forward to seeing you there!

*Please note the change of location for this event.*

📅 Saturday, June 6, 2026
🕘 9 AM – 12 PM
📍 189 Gilbert Hollow Rd, Hollsopple, PA 15935

06/02/2026

Just like that, our school tour season is over!

Last month, we saw over 750 students from first to fourth grade with the goal of teaching them about frontier settlement in the Glades. We couldn't have done it without the endless amount of support from our volunteers and staff. Thank you to all those who helped make this a memorable experience for the next generation of historians!

05/27/2026

Join us for a relaxing evening on the lawn at First Friday!

Scheduled for the first Friday of the summer months of June, July, and August, First Fridays are a relaxing evening filled with great music and even better company. Enjoy delicious food from local vendors as you take it all in.

Admission is free with a parking fee. Some seating is provided, but guests may feel free to bring additional seating or blankets.

Edit: New Hope Baptist Church will also be catering on Friday, July 3rd. See you there!

05/16/2026

Here are some snapshots from the second annual Herb and Garden Fair. Guests enjoyed the beautiful weather while our local vendors displayed a variety of plants, herbal goods, and handcrafted items.

Thank you to the vendors, volunteers, and visitors who helped make it such a wonderful day! We can't wait to see you again next year.

05/04/2026

Celebrate all things herb and garden at the second annual Herb & Garden Fair! Shop local and enjoy hand-crafted pottery, baked goods, herbal soaps, and other holistic goods.

📅 Saturday, May 16th
🕘 9 AM – 3 PM
📍 Somerset Historical Center

Southwestern Pennsylvania's rural heritage museum.

05/01/2026

Last month, we hosted our first historic dance class with dancing master Brett Walker. With a fair number of missteps and even more smiles, guests learned the basics of numerous historic social dances. Students will piece these foundational skills together to perform more complex dances such as quadrilles, square dance, line dance, and contra-dancing.

We encourage you to join us at the next class on Tuesday, May 5th. This is an activity for all ages with new members always welcome. The first lesson is free for all new students!

Interested in joining in on the fun? Register at the link below:
https://guildfellows.org/workshop/coming-soon-historic-dance-somerset-pa/

📅 Tuesday, May 5th
🕘 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Somerset Historical Center
🎟️ FREE first lesson for new students