The State Museum of Pennsylvania

09/13/2026

Are you a PAC-MAN fan?

Happy 🎮!

The State Museum of Pennsylvania preserve this Pac-Man video gave cartridge. Originally available only in arcades, was eventually produced for multiple platforms such as PC, home consoles such as 2600 & handheld devices such as Game Boy. Pac-Man remains one of the best-selling video games ever produced. How many hours did you log playing this classic?

09/13/2026

In 1906, Amedeo Obici (1877-1947) and Mario Peruzzi (1875-1955) founded the PLANTERS® brand Peanut Company in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

The Mr. Peanut character was created in 1916 by a school-aged child, Anthony H. Gentile, whose sketch won a brand icon design contest. When commercial artist Joseph R. Fischer added the top hat, monocle and cane - Mr. Peanut was born!

View these Mr. Peanut artifacts in the museum’s online collection – http://bit.ly/4giF7vS

09/12/2026

Enjoying this September morning outside of The State Museum of Pennsylvania.

09/11/2026

09/10/2026

Tomorrow marks 25 years since September 11, 2001, the day of the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania opened an exhibit in 2021 that featured the handwritten field notes of Col. Paul J. Evanko, now retired head of the Pennsylvania State Police, from the morning of 9/11. These unique documents detail the rapid unfolding of events and offer a minute-by-minute accounting of decisions made to secure the crash site and protect Pennsylvanians. Col. Evanko donated the documents to the Pennsylvania State Archives in 2016.

Watch an interview with Col. Paul J. Evanko, produced in conjunction with WITF, The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, The Pennsylvania State Archives and Commonwealth Media Services, as he details the events that he experienced on 9/11 - https://bit.ly/4gMMeyp

09/09/2026

Freshwater mussels are considered keystone species in aquatic communities around the world. They provide ecosystem services, including water filtration and streambed stabilization, which help maintain the health of our streams, rivers, and lakes. Unfortunately, we are at risk of losing this vital resource, as 74% of mussel species in North America are recognized as endangered, threatened, or of special concern.

Join Jordan Allison, Fisheries Biologist with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, during the September Learn at Lunchtime program to learn about freshwater mussel diversity, life history, and ecology, and the ongoing species recovery efforts in the West Branch Susquehanna River.

Sign up for the September Learn at Lunchtime program - https://statemuseumpa.org/events/virtual-mussels/

This free virtual program is presented via Zoom. Registration is required. Can't attend live? Register to receive a direct link to watch the recorded webinar.

09/08/2026

Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker (1843-1916) served as governor of Pennsylvania from January 20, 1903 - January 15, 1907. During his tenure as the twenty-third governor, Pennypacker helped to create both the Pennsylvania State Archives and the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

In 1903, Pennypacker signed legislation officially establishing the Division of Public Records within the State Library, which later became the Pennsylvania State Archives. In 1905, he signed Act 43 into law establishing a state museum to collect, preserve, and exhibit the Commonwealth's cultural and natural history. In 1907, the State Museum opened in the Executive Library and Building next to the newly opened Pennsylvania State Capitol building. The State Museum moved to its current location on Third Street in Harrisburg in 1964.

View this oil on canvas portrait of Governor Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker in the museum’s online collection - https://bit.ly/4xEyxru

09/07/2026

Happy from PHMC! Today, we honor the hardworking & dedicated people who built the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Their stories and legacies are at the heart of what we do every day. This Pennsylvania State - preserved image from 1922 shows a young hosiery mill worker. We encourage you to reflect on the hard work that shaped our past and continues to inspire our future.

09/07/2026

For many of us, Labor Day marks the official end of summer. But technically, this holiday was not intended to celebrate the end of the summer season.

Labor Day was declared a national holiday and signed into law by President Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1894. Since then, celebrations have been held each year on the first Monday in September to recognize the social and economic achievements and contributions of American workers. But for many people Labor Day celebrations also mean a time for barbecues, parades, fireworks and maybe one last “summer” vacation.

Find out more about the history of Labor Day - www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

09/06/2026

Vultures play an essential role in the food chain by consuming the remains of dead animals, including roadkill, removing the decaying carcasses from the landscape.

In Pennsylvania, the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is a common sight in the sky. These avian scavengers can be spotted soaring in circles with wings raised in a V while using their acute sense of smell to find fresh carcasses.

Turkey vultures typically build nests on the ground. Clutches consist of 1-3 cream colored and spotted eggs. Take a closer look at vulture eggs in the museum’s online collection - https://bit.ly/4i4Sqmp