Published August 11. 2022 11:27AM
Lehigh Valley Passport to History’s flagship event Passport to History Month returned featuring five weekends of fun in July. Thirty-two historic sites signed on to open their doors for free tours, activities and programs for visitors of all ages.
Passport to History Month is a celebration of local history, stories and the community that brings Lehigh Valley history to life.
“The greater Lehigh Valley area has an incredibly rich and diverse history,” Susan Ellis, marketing chair for Lehigh Valley Passport to History and executive director of the Moravian Historical Society said.
“Lehigh Valley Passport to History is proud that our partners are making historic sites and museums accessible to everyone by providing free admission during their featured weekend. This is a terrific opportunity to learn about the cultural resources in this area.”
Passport to History Month was sponsored by Working Dog Press, Embassy Bank, Kutztown Folk Festival, Webfoot Digital and EBC Printing.
Passport to History is supported in part with funding provided from the Northampton County Hotel Tax Grant, the Lehigh County Hotel Tax Program and from the Institute of Museum & Library Services.
PRESS PHOTOS BY C. RICHARD CHARTRAND Seated at the table are Biles's brother Dave and former board member Ellen McPeake. Biles created the table, a bed frame, a dry bar and a book shelf.
In May 2021, Ken Biles proposed a project to have more authentic colonial era furniture on display in the Shelter House main room. What had been on display for over 40 years had been furniture from the late 1890s and early 1900s. The furniture was not typical of the early 1700s. Biles presented models of the correct period future he could make using the remaining lumber from the large white oak tree previously on the west side of the property. More than 10 years ago, the tree came down during a storm. ABOVE: The furniture is what would have been found in early colonial log cabins. The early colonists would have had to make everything needed from the timber on the property.
