The State Museum of Pennsylvania

The State Museum of Pennsylvania We are The State Museum of Pennsylvania history, science and art. Originally located next to the Capitol, the museum moved to its current location in 1964.
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Since its creation in 1905, The State Museum of Pennsylvania has collected, preserved, researched, and interpreted the cultural and natural history of the state. It became a bureau of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1945.

The bald eagle owes its elevation to a national symbol to two Pennsylvanians. In May 1782, Pennsylvania native William B...
06/20/2026

The bald eagle owes its elevation to a national symbol to two Pennsylvanians.

In May 1782, Pennsylvania native William Barton (1754-1817) was appointed to the third of three committees that had been authorized by the Continental Congress to devise a design for the official national seal. Two previous committees had failed to come up with an acceptable design. Enter Barton, who in addition to being a lawyer was also an expert in heraldry. That, combined with artistic talent, inspired him to produce a design that finally received approval. At the center of Barton's rendering was an eagle with wings "displayed.' It took another Pennsylvanian, Charles Thomson (1729-1824), secretary of the Continental Congress, to suggest that Barton's golden eagle, common to the heraldry of many European countries, be replaced with the American bald eagle.

After Congress adopted this design on June 20, 1782, the bald eagle quickly began to appear on official documents, currency, flags, public buildings and other government-related items. But it found its way on folk and commercial objects as well.

This large, polychrome, wood-carved bald eagle is depicted perched on a rock with what some believe to be a green lobster between its talons. Its textured wings span an impressive 7 feet. This eagle was documented to have stood at the entrance to the Eagle Hotel in Waterford, Erie County, in the early 1800s.

View this artifact on Floor 1 in "Revolutionary Things: Objects from the Collection."

Plan your visit - https://statemuseumpa.org

Are you ready for summer? The solstice occurs on Sunday, June 21 at 4:24 A.M. bringing the longest day of the year with ...
06/19/2026

Are you ready for summer? The solstice occurs on Sunday, June 21 at 4:24 A.M. bringing the longest day of the year with over 15 hours of daylight! But did you or your curious kid ever wonder how and why the seasons change? Watch and find out - https://bit.ly/3uiJIGV

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is closed today, Friday, June 19, 2026.Plan your next visit - https://statemuseumpa.org
06/19/2026

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is closed today, Friday, June 19, 2026.
Plan your next visit - https://statemuseumpa.org

Educator, author, and historian, Thomas McGuire will join us for July’s Learn at Lunchtime program to highlight Pennsylv...
06/18/2026

Educator, author, and historian, Thomas McGuire will join us for July’s Learn at Lunchtime program to highlight Pennsylvania’s role in America’s history as the United States of America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Learn about the British Invasion of Pennsylvania in late August 1777 until the arrival of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge December 19, 1777. The program will include details about the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Paoli, the Battle of Germantown, the Siege of Fort Mifflin and the army’s arrival at Valley Forge.

Presentations are followed by a question-and-answer session. Registration is required to attend the free, virtual program.

https://statemuseumpa.org/events/virtual-july/

Bring the kids to explore the mysterious force that is gravity on Sunday, June 21. Learn about the scientists that studi...
06/18/2026

Bring the kids to explore the mysterious force that is gravity on Sunday, June 21. Learn about the scientists that studied gravity and what they discovered. Use the gravity well table to view how gravity works.

Presentations will be at 1:00 P.M. and 2:30 P.M. Space is limited, a free ticket is required. Pick a ticket up when at the Information Desk.

Family programs are included with general admission and designed for all ages.

https://statemuseumpa.org/events/gravity2/

Making plans for the weekend? The State Museum of Pennsylvania will closed on Friday, June 19, 2026. We hope to see you ...
06/17/2026

Making plans for the weekend? The State Museum of Pennsylvania will closed on Friday, June 19, 2026. We hope to see you on Saturday!

https://statemuseumpa.org/

Long considered the birthplace of the nation, Pennsylvania is home to many of the key people, events, and symbols of Ame...
06/17/2026

Long considered the birthplace of the nation, Pennsylvania is home to many of the key people, events, and symbols of America’s founding.

“Revolutionary Things: Objects from the Collection” celebrates our nation's 250th anniversary. View more than 140 artifacts from the museum’s permanent collections, celebrating Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in the American War for Independence and the centuries of commemoration that followed.

The “Revolutionary Things: Objects from the Collection” exhibit is on Floor 1. Plan your visit - https://statemuseumpa.org/

Plan to join us for the Learn at Lunchtime program in July!Learn about Pennsylvania’s role in America’s history as the U...
06/16/2026

Plan to join us for the Learn at Lunchtime program in July!

Learn about Pennsylvania’s role in America’s history as the United States of America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Hear about the British Invasion of Pennsylvania in late August 1777 until the arrival of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge December 19, 1777, with educator, author and historian, Thomas McGuire.

July’s virtual Learn at Lunchtime program will include details about the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Paoli, the Battle of Germantown, the Siege of Fort Mifflin and the army’s arrival at Valley Forge.

Presentations are followed by a question-and-answer session. Registration is required to attend the free, virtual program.

https://statemuseumpa.org/events/virtual-july/

Drop in and learn about magnets and magnetism through a series of self-guided experiments on Thursday, June 18 between 1...
06/16/2026

Drop in and learn about magnets and magnetism through a series of self-guided experiments on Thursday, June 18 between 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. Each activity challenges participants to work with magnets in various ways, explore polarity, attraction and repulsion, and use their critical thinking skills.

This drop-in activity is included with general admission.

https://statemuseumpa.org/events/magnets6/

Clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops are members of the class Bivalvia. Bivalves have two shells, connected by a flexib...
06/15/2026

Clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops are members of the class Bivalvia. Bivalves have two shells, connected by a flexible ligament, which encase and shield the soft body parts. Most obtain food by filtering freshwater or seawater using specialized comb-like gills that function both as respiratory and feeding organs. Bivalves have a long fossil record, from the early Cambrian Period to the present.

View images of these bivalves as part of the online collection at The State Museum of Pennsylvania - https://bit.ly/4fmzMFl

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300 North Street
Harrisburg, PA
17120

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