The Historical Society presents a variety of events and programs throughout the year. We invite you to join us - you'll always learn something new!
Upcoming Events
Saturday September 22, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PMPOSTPONED to Oct. 27: The Culture of DeathThis event has been postponed to October 27, 2018! The Historical Society of Montgomery County will present a walking tour and presentation that examines the changing cultural beliefs in America surrounding death and dying. |
Tuesday September 25, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PMIntermediate Genealogy ClassesThe Historical Society of Montgomery County’s fall genealogy course will help you delve deeper into the past! Genealogist Rose Brown will present this four week workshop, Intermediate Genealogy, for those who want to go further into their genealogical research and learn more about the process of tracking down history. Cost for the series is $40 for non-members, $10 for members. Call (610)272-0297 to register. |
Saturday October 6 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed on Saturday, October 6, 2018 and Monday, October 8, 2018 in order to celebrate the Columbus Day weekend. |
Monday October 8 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed on Saturday, October 6, 2017 and Monday, October 8, 2017 in order to celebrate the Columbus Day weekend. |
Saturday October 13, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PMBrewing in Montgomery County - Past, Present & FutureJoin us on October 13, 2018 for a special presentation by historian Rich Wagner that examines beer brewing in Montgomery County – past, present & future.
This is presentation is in conjunction with the Historical Society’s current exhibit, Made in Montgomery County. Rich Wagner’s interest in brewing began in 1980 with a summer vacation camping and visiting Pennsylvania breweries for tours and hospitality. Over the next seven years he visited approximately four hundred brewery sites throughout the state. He has researched the history of brewing and has self-published guidebooks and conducted tours throughout many parts of Pennsylvania. In 1994 he received a diploma in brewing technology from Siebel Institute of Technology, the nation’s oldest brewing school in Chicago, and spent seven years working in Philadelphia breweries. He and his wife have conducted brewing demonstrations over an open fire with a copper kettle throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In addition to his guidebooks, Rich is the author of Philadelphia Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Cradle of Liberty and is a frequent contributor to publications aimed at the craft brewing industry and breweriana collectors. Brewing in Montgomery County – Past, Present & Future will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The event will begin at 2:00 with a social gathering, light refreshments, and a chance for visitors to view the exhibit. The presentation will begin at 3:00 pm and last for about an hour with time for questions at the end. This program is free and open to the public. |
Thursday October 25, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PMBlack October: The 1918 Influenza Epidemic in Montgomery County and the Surrounding AreaJoin us for our next presentation in our Making History Greater Series when Charles Kelly presents Black October: The 1918 Influenza Epidemic in Montgomery County and the Surrounding Area.
The Making History Greater series features scholars, authors, and historians who are currently working on telling new stories about the complexity of our region’s history. Black October: The 1918 Influenza Epidemic in Montgomery County will take place on Thursday, October 25, 2018. The evening will begin at 6:30 with a social gathering and light refreshments. The presentation will begin at 7:00 pm and last for about an hour with time for questions at the end. This program is free and open to the public. |
Saturday October 27, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PMCemetery Tour: The Culture of DeathThe Historical Society of Montgomery County will present a walking tour and presentation that examines the changing cultural beliefs in America surrounding death and dying. Nothing is certain except death and taxes. Culturally, however, the American way of death is anything but certain. Over time, popular funeral and burial rituals of have changed dramatically as we have shifted our attitudes towards death. This special tour of Historic Montgomery Cemetery on October 27, 2018, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, includes a walking tour of the cemetery followed by refreshments and a presentation in the Gatehouse that will examine how America’s attitudes towards death have changed since early European settlement. The Historical Society’s Executive Director, Barry Rauhauser, will illustrate how global patterns in culture affect the way we view aging and death and look at how some of America’s historical events helped to create a unique American view on death and dying With almost 6,000 known burials, Historic Montgomery Cemetery holds the remains of some of the most prominent citizens, veterans, and reformers in the county and nation. From five Civil War generals to many captains of industry, it tells the story of the nation through the lives it represents. The entrance to Montgomery Cemetery is at the end of Hartranft Avenue, off of West Main Street, Norristown. Parking during the event will be made available inside the Cemetery gates. Tickets for the event are $15 and include the walking tour, refreshments and presentation. Tickets are limited so call 610-272-0297 to purchase tickets for this event. |
Saturday November 10 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed on Saturday, November 10, 2018 and Monday, November 12, 2018 in honor of Veterans' Day. |
Monday November 12 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed on Saturday, November 10, 2018 and Monday, November 12, 2018 in honor of Veterans' Day. |
Thursday November 22 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed on Thursday, November 22, 2018 and Saturday, November 24, 2018 in order to celebrate the Thanksgiving Day weekend. |
Saturday November 24 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed on Thursday, November 22, 2018 and Saturday, November 24, 2018 in order to celebrate the Thanksgiving Day weekend. |
Monday December 24 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed from Monday, December 24, 2018 through Thursday, January 3, 2018 so that we may celebrate the holidays and prepare for the coming year! We will reopen on Saturday, January 5, 2019. |
Tuesday December 25 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed from Monday, December 24, 2018 through Thursday, January 3, 2018 so that we may celebrate the holidays and prepare for the coming year! We will reopen on Saturday, January 5, 2019. |
Wednesday December 26 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed from Monday, December 24, 2018 through Thursday, January 3, 2018 so that we may celebrate the holidays and prepare for the coming year! We will reopen on Saturday, January 5, 2019. |
Thursday December 27 - All DayCLOSEDWe will be closed from Monday, December 24, 2018 through Thursday, January 3, 2018 so that we may celebrate the holidays and prepare for the coming year! We will reopen on Saturday, January 5, 2019. |
The presentation gives historical perspective to current trends by tracing the county’s earliest breweries back to the 1700s, charting the rise of lager beer in the mid-nineteenth century to the near death of the industry when the Scheidt brewery closed in 1987.
The 1918 flu pandemic affected over 500 million people around the world. Wonder why little was spoken about this worldwide plague? Join us for a discussion that will examine the effects of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic on the people of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The 1918 Flu Pandemic killed an estimated 74,000 Pennsylvanians, nearly 13,000 in Philadelphia alone. To prepare his lecture Kelly reviewed local newspaper accounts, numerous web sources, books, as well as publications and Pennsylvania Death Certificates for Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks, Berks, Delaware, Chester and Lehigh Counties.