Centre County History | Centre County Historical Society

Exhibit

Building on the Past

Archaeological excavations conducted in 2009 and 2010 by Heberling Associates, Inc., unearthed the foundations of the Valentine iron ore washing plant, which operated from 1887-1898. Also found were pieces of machinery and the tools used by the men who worked there.

Exhibit

Centre County and the Civil War

Pennsylvania’s important role in the Civil War cannot be denied. Over 360,000 soldiers, including 8,600 African Americans, fought for the preservation of the Union while valuable resources such as iron, steel, and agricultural products helped to sustain the effort.

Exhibit

Everyday Iron

Everyday Iron explores the progression from “furnace to market”, with a special emphasis on the role of the blacksmith.

Exhibit

Iron Making at Centre Furnace

Centre Furnace, the first major ironmaking operation in the region, helped shape early Centre County and ultimately gave the county its name.

Exhibit

The ABCs of Centre County

An Alphabetical Look at Places and Spaces around Centre County

Exhibit

Those Who Came Before

Those Who Came Before – The Archaeology of Centre County’s Native Americans, explored the rich history of the people who lived in Central Pennsylvania for thousands of years before Euro Americans arrived.

During the logging railroad boom in Centre County, trees were cut, stripped of their branches, and piled along a railroad line where they were picked up and transported elsewhere.

Exhibit

Tough Times and Lasting Legacies

Presented by the Centre County Historical Society in 2008.

Exhibit

Unraveling the Threads of History

Objects like samplers and fraktur often hold important historical context and family history.

Exhibit

Up, Up, and Away

In the beginning of the 20th century, aviation was not a technology on the minds of most everyday folk. A technology known for its dangerous crashes and malfunctions, aviation failed to resonate as a meaningful science. Centre County’s own pilot pioneer, Sherman “Sherm Lutz” embraced the adventure, but also had a grander vision of bringing commercial airline flights to the region.

Exhibit

Building on the Past

Exhibit

Centre County and the Civil War

Exhibit

Everyday Iron

Everyday Iron explores the progression from “furnace to market”, with a special emphasis on the role of the blacksmith.

Exhibit

Iron Making at Centre Furnace

Centre Furnace, the first major ironmaking operation in the region, helped shape early Centre County and ultimately gave the county its name.

Exhibit

The ABCs of Centre County

An Alphabetical Look at Places and Spaces around Centre County

Exhibit

Those Who Came Before

Exhibit

Tough Times and Lasting Legacies

Presented by the Centre County Historical Society in 2008.

Exhibit

Unraveling the Threads of History

Objects like samplers and fraktur often hold important historical context and family history.

Exhibit