‘MADE in PA’ exhibition, new acquisitions and community events anchor the June 1 opening of the new 73,000-square-foot museum building

Travelers can explore museums and historical sites in Happy Valley that showcase Happy Valley's rich history. The Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Iroquois tribes made their life off the land by planting crops in the fertile valleys and hunting game among the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. Explorers and settlers arrived in the mid-18th century, and industry would soon follow a couple of decades later with the discovery of iron ore.

A recent Centre Daily Times article referenced movies produced in Pennsylvania in 2023. Our state is of course no stranger to the film industry, with many recognizable motion pictures made in the Commonwealth over the years. During my time with the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, Film and Economic Development marketing, more than 30 major motion pictures were filmed in Pennsylvania. Prior to that, blockbuster movies such as 1985’s “Witness” helped make already well-known Lancaster County the extremely popular tourist destination it is today.

From the beautiful Victorian homes to the sites enshrined in the National Register of Historic Places, nearly everywhere you turn in Bellefonte, you can see traces of the rich history of our community. Local Historia, a group with a “passion for local history, community, and preservation,” is a terrific source for finding out more about this history, and one of their most important recent projects is their tour, “The Underground Railroad in Bellefonte, PA.”

TEDxPSU On The Horizon will be on February 11 in Schwab Auditorium. Emceed by Penn State Teaching Professor Dr. Molly Countermine, the event consists of nine community speakers presenting their TEDx Talks on-stage, as well as performances from Penn State students!

VanDance, the State College based dance company, announces its winter season dance offerings in downtown State College. Artistic Director Ann Van Kuren will teach Zena Rommett Floor-Barre® Technique as well as a combination class for adults with Floor Barre® Technique and ballet barre.

The newly launched HappyValley.com is crafted by 3twenty9 Design on a state-of-the-art platform and filled by HVAB with visually appealing and informative content designed to enhance visitation to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania.

Attend the History of Radio in Centre County Encyclopedia Live Talk by David Dzikowski on Sunday, October 15 at 2:00 p.m. in the Centre Furnace Mansion!

Elevated on a hill overlooking busy College Avenue, the Centre Furnace Mansion has witnessed a lot. Now serving as the Centre County Historical Society’s (CCHS) headquarters, the mansion offers a glimpse of what life was like when Happy Valley was just beginning to develop.