Public Invited to Explore Six Museums, Enjoy New Exhibits, and
Participate in Activities – for Free!
LIGONIER – Tucked in the foothills of the Laurel Highlands is the picturesque Ligonier Valley, home to some of Pennsylvania’s most notable historic and cultural sites. Six museums all located within a short driving distance of each other have once again partnered for Ligonier Valley Free Museum Day. Antiochian Heritage Museum, Compass Inn Museum, Fort Ligonier, Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum, Lincoln Highway Experience, and Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art will offer free admission to the public on Sunday, May 1 from 10 am to 4 pm.
“Ligonier Valley Free Museum Day is a wonderful way for the museums in the valley to say thank you to all of our supporters, invite previous visitors back, and encourage new folks to explore our sites,” said Theresa Gay Rohall, executive director of the Ligonier Valley Historical Society. “The valley’s rich history is extremely relevant to Pittsburgh, the commonwealth, and beyond. All of the museums have planned fun activities for the entire family. I think the day will be an enriching and enjoyable experience for all who attend.”
Museums:
Antiochian Heritage Museum | Route 711, six miles north of Ligonier
Meet Jasmine the Miniature Sicilian Donkey, sample Arabesque delicacies, and discover a fragrant herb from the Holy Land. Visitors will be given their own seedling.
Compass Inn Museum | Route 30 East Laughlintown
Experience the heyday of stagecoach travel with living history demonstrations, live music and tours of the inn, circa 1799.
Fort Ligonier |Intersection of Routes 30 & 711, Ligonier
Play 18th century games, experience the life of a soldier, meet real hounds and learn about a dog’s life from the Historical Hounds, Living History Organization.
Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum | 3032 Idlewild Hill Lane, Ligonier
Tour the restored Darlington Train Station, 1905 Bobber Caboose and see how the rail road’s link to Pittsburgh developed tourism for the Ligonier Valley.
Lincoln Highway Experience | 3435 Route 30 East, Latrobe
Discover what goats and license plates have to do with the road that changed America. Experience riding a bicycle across the country on the Lincoln Highway.
Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art | 711 South, Ligonier
Soak up the sun from a bench tucked among the museum’s beautiful gardens while kids create drawings and tissue flowers of the buds they see.
Annie Urban, executive director for Fort Ligonier said, “I think of Free Museum Day as the kick-off to the upcoming summer season. We offer so many great seasonal programs and special events here at the Fort from our Memorial Day Living History Weekend to Kids Camps, that I think this day is a great way for the Fort and the other museums to spread the word about their summer activities. We are especially grateful to the Jack Buncher Foundation for sponsoring the Ligonier Valley Free Museum Day.”
If You Go:
May 1, 2016
10 am – 4 pm
Free Admission
Visitors may begin at the museum of their choice. Maps with directions and a ‘Passport’ will be distributed. If the passport is stamped by at least three of the six museums, visitors will be entered to win a $250 Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate valid for dozens of restaurants, specialty shops, and businesses.
