Susquehanna National Heritage Area

10/17/2026

Community Service Meets Environmental Stewardship!

Today we were excited to welcome students and mentors from Lancaster’s Bench Mark Program to the Zimmerman Center for Heritage!

Every Saturday morning, Bench Mark students and mentors canvas local neighborhoods to collect trash and make a positive difference in their community. During their visit the group toured the Zimmerman Center and learned about the history of York and Lancaster counties. They met with the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper to discover how their cleanup efforts help protect local waterways and the Susquehanna River watershed.

It was a great opportunity to connect their hands-on community service with the bigger picture of watershed protection, environmental stewardship, and the history of the place they call home.

Thank you to the Bench Mark Program for your commitment to making a positive impact, and to the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper for sharing your knowledge and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.

10/17/2026

Show your support for the Chief Uncas!

While our team is hard at work addressing necessary repairs, you can help support the Chief Uncas and its future on the Susquehanna River!

If you’ve enjoyed a boat tour aboard the Chief Uncas and want to show your appreciation, consider making a donation to help support the boat’s ongoing care and maintenance. Your generosity helps us preserve our historic 114-year-old wooden yacht and continue sharing the rich history, culture, and natural beauty of the Susquehanna River with our community.

Every contribution makes a difference, and we’re grateful for everyone who has been part of the Chief Uncas journey. You can send the Chief Uncas a "get well soon" gift by making a donation at susqnha.org/get_involved/donate/

We look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon! Keep updated on the Chief Uncas by following SNHA on social media or checking our Boat Tour webpage at susqNHA.org for updates.

10/16/2026

⭐𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀⭐
We’re honored to have the following individuals join us for “𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮,” a FREE panel discussion event exploring the history of Pennsylvania’s Indigenous Nations and the river’s enduring role as a geographic and cultural current.

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀
🔹Served as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
🔹Singer and drummer at the White Oak Ceremonial Ground
🔹Served on the Eastern Shawnee Tribe NAGPRA Board

𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘀
🔹Serves as the Historic Preservation Officer for The Delaware Nation Lenni Lenape
🔹Manages Delaware Nation’s extension office in Lenape homelands, on Lehigh University’s campus
🔹Earned her PhD from Temple University, specializing in early American and Native American literatures with an emphasis on Lenape history and sovereignty

𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹
🔹Tribal citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians
🔹Serves as the Chairman for the Delaware Tribe of Indians Cultural Preservation Committee
🔹Teaches Delaware history and traditional culture, including demonstrations of Delaware/Lenape song and dance

Join us Weds., Oct. 21 at 6:30 PM at the Capitol Theatre at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts for this engaging conversation, part of America250PA’s Lecture250 series. All are welcome to attend, and complimentary refreshments will be provided. Reserve your seat today! https://susqnha.org/native-nations-and-the-making-of-america/

10/14/2026

"𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮" 𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆!
Presented as part of America250PA's Lecture250 series, this FREE panel discussion will bring together representatives of Native Nations with ancestral ties to our region to explore the history of Pennsylvania’s Indigenous Nations. Through their perspectives, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Native roots of America’s identity and the connections between the Susquehanna landscape and centuries of human history.

🗓️ Weds., Oct. 21 at 6:30 PM
📍 Capitol Theatre at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts
🎟️ Free and open to the public, including complimentary refreshments

Learn more about the event and register to attend: https://susqnha.org/native-nations-and-the-making-of-america/

10/13/2026

Free Encore Lecture on the Lawn!

“A Look into Post-Civil War Memory in York County, Pennsylvania” with Brayden Danbury. This lecture takes a deeper look at how memories of the Civil War in York County have evolved from the postwar era to the present day. Through an exploration of politics, economics, reconciliation, and race, the talk examines the forces that have shaped how York County has remembered its Civil War history. Ultimately, it asks: Whose stories have been remembered? Whose have been forgotten? And how have those narratives changed over time?

RSVP at www.SusqNHA.org/events

10/12/2026

What’s the story behind the name of our beloved tour boat, the Chief Uncas?

Uncas was a leader of the Mohegan tribe in Connecticut in the 1600s who forged alliances with the English colonists. Nearly 200 years later, author James Fenimore Cooper brought a fictionalized version of Uncas to life in his 1826 novel, The Last of the Mohicans. Cooper’s portrayal of Native Americans reflected the romantic ideals of the American frontier more than the lived experiences of Native Peoples, and helped shape a popular but often misleading image.

In 1912, b**r tycoon Adolphus Busch named his yacht Chief Uncas, drawing on the fame of Cooper’s book and its connection to Cooperstown, New York.

Today, the name Chief Uncas reminds us not only of the boat’s ties to literary heritage and place, but also of the ways Native histories have been reshaped and obscured in American culture. The name offers an opportunity to look beyond the literary legend and reflect on the real histories and cultures of Native peoples.

Learn more about the history of the Chief Uncas tour boat on the RiverRoots Blog: susqnha.org/riverroots-chief-uncas/

10/12/2026

Take a virtual tour of Native Lands County Park!

Step into the landscape that was once home to the Susquehannock people and learn the history woven into the rolling meadows overlooking the Susquehanna River.

From the site of the Susquehannock’s last traditional community, to the beautiful trails and scenic river views, Native Lands County Park offers a powerful connection to the Indigenous history of our region.

Explore the park from wherever you are with this virtual tour, and learn the stories this special place has to share.

Learn the story of the Susquehannock people on a tour of Native Lan...

10/10/2026

What a lovely day for a hike!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a hike to Native Lands County Park in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend! Together we visited this special place, learned about the history of the Susquehannock people who called it home, and walked the trails of a site that preserves an important part of our region’s Native American history.

We look forward to offering more guided hikes to the place the Susquehannock people had a community over 340 years ago this Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Location: Zimmerman Center for Heritage
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday
Hike Times: 12 PM & 2 PM
Tickets: $5 per person
Book your Guided Hike to Native Lands at susqnha.org/events/

10/09/2026

We’re excited to announce Mary Ann Levine as the moderator of our upcoming “𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮,” panel discussion event, presented as part of America250PA’s Lecture250 series.

Levine is the Lewis Audenreid Professor of History and Archaeology at Franklin & Marshall College. Her recent work focuses on colonial/indigenous entanglements in the 18th century. With her expertise and perspective, she’ll guide an engaging conversation about the Native peoples, landscapes, and stories that have shaped our region, the Commonwealth, and the nation.

Join us Weds., Oct. 21 at 6:30 PM in the historic Capitol Theatre in York, PA for this FREE event. ➡️ Learn more and pre-register to reserve your seat. https://susqnha.org/native-nations-and-the-making-of-america/

10/09/2026

Learn about the Susquehannock people on Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend!

This weekend join our knowledgeable tour guides for a 1-hour hike to Native Lands County Park where the Susquehannock people built a community more than 340 years ago. During the hike you will experience the landscape of this special place and learning about the Susquehannock people who once called it home.

It’s a meaningful opportunity to connect with the land, learn our region’s Native American history, and walk in the footsteps of those who came before us.

Location: Zimmerman Center for Heritage
Saturday - Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Hike Times: 12 PM & 2 PM
Tickets: $5 per person
Book your Guided Hike to Native Lands at susqnha.org/events/