National Museum of Industrial History

SouthSide Community Day
2020-04-18 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us on April 18th for a free community day in appreciation of our South Side friends and neighbors. In addition to free admission all day, today’s young dreamers can get inspired to engineer tomorrow’s future during free screenings of Dream Big: Engineering Our World. A heartfelt story of human ingenuity narrated by Jeff Bridges, Dream Big: Engineering Our World is a first of its kind film that will transform how we think about engineering. From the Great Wall of China and the world’s tallest buildings, to underwater robots, solar cars and smart, sustainable cities, Dream Big celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels big and small, and reveals the heart that drives engineers to create better lives for people around the world. Screening times at 11am and 2pm.

Girl Scout Program: Rosie the Riveter Day
2020-03-21 11:00 - 13:00
Brownies (2nd and 3rd)
Rosie Day will be celebrated at The National Museum of Industrial History on March 21st as part of our month-long commitment to unearthing the stories of women inventors in our collection. Inspired by the women inventors of our past, Girl Scouts will put on their own inventor’s hats and discover how the inventing process works. Together we will consider real world problems, experiment with solutions, and get creative designing solutions. Completion of the Girl Scout activity that day will earn Juniors an inventor badge.
Troops or individual scouts can reserve a spot for this program by emailing Amber Emory, Director of Education and Community Partnerships, at aemory@nmih.org

Family TinkerTime for All Ages
2020-03-08 11:00 - 13:00, 2020-01-12 06:00 - 08:00
NMIH hosts the new Family TinkerTime the second Sunday of each month from 11AM-1PM. Tinker together with activities designed for full family fun. Big and small hands will learn and experiment with the concepts of industrial innovation while working through the creative process. Join us in our efforts to inspire the next generation of innovators!

International Women’s Weekend
2020-03-07 10:00 - 2020-03-08 17:00
International Women’s Weekend
March 7 – 8, 2020

The National Museum of Industrial History will kick-off a month-long commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in March with International Women’s Weekend on March 7th and 8th. Women’s Weekend will celebrate the voices and stories of women in industry through a full schedule of youth educational activities, guided tours and exhibit enhancements, live historical reenactments, Girl Scout badge programs, film screenings and lectures.
All events are included in regular museum admission

Saturday, March 7th
Sunday, March 8th

10:30 a.m.
Story Time
Story Time

11:00 a.m.
“No F.E.A.R. Just Progress.”
Presentation by Veronica Moore
Owner & Curator—Alma & Eve
“Thinking Courageously About Entrepreneurship”
Debrah Cummins Stellato
President—The Think Good Company

11:30 a.m.
Re-enactment of Emma Allison from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition
Re-enactment of Emma Allison from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition

12:30 p.m.
Re-enactment of Rebecca Lukens, the first woman industrialist
Re-enactment of Rebecca Lukens, the first woman industrialist

1:00 p.m.
“Victorian Fake News and Feminine Trash Talk: How I Studied Emma Allison, Centennial Steam Engineer”
Dr. Louise Krasniewicz
Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania
“Packaging with PEEPS®!”
Charlotte Edwards, CPP
Senior Packaging Engineer—Just Born

1:30 p.m.
Re-enactment of Emma Allison from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition
Re-enactment of Emma Allison from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition

2:00 p.m.
Guided Tours
Guided Tours

2:30 p.m.
Youth Activity
Youth Activity

3:00 p.m.
“Changing Lives”
Lisa Scheller
President & CEO Silberline Mfg Co
“Modern Day Sheroes: Women of Color Creating a Better Future through Manufacturing”
Constance Thompson
CCDP Senior Director Women’s Engagement
The Manufacturing Institute

3:30 p.m.
Re-enactment of Rebecca Lukens, the first woman industrialist
Re-enactment of Rebecca Lukens, the first woman industrialist

4:00 p.m.
Hello Girls Film Screening
Hello Girls Film Screening

About the Programs
Saturday, March 7th at 11:00am – “No F.E.A.R. Just Progress.” -Veronica Moore, Owner & Curator—Alma & Eve
Sometimes there are self limiting beliefs that hold us back from moving forward with a goal or dream that we have in our lives. What if you became a bold believer and dreamer of the intrinsic ability and motivation inside of you to follow your passion and purpose? Come to this interactive session to learn how to start moving past the false ideas you may have convinced ourselves of and into action.
Saturday, March 7th at 1:0opm – “Victorian Fake News and FeminineTrash Talk: How I Studied Emma Allison, Centennial Steam Engineer” – Dr. Louise Krasniewicz, Department of Anthropology— UPenn
At first glance, Miss Emma Allison seemed the perfect New Woman when she was working as a steam engineer at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Accounts of her unusual work combined with her pleasant appearance and demeanor seemed to signal new and exciting possibilities for working women in the late 19th century. She was briefly celebrated in newspapers across the country but beneath the surface was a complex tale of feminist infighting, fabrications of history, and complex tales of oppression and political machinations. Emma’s story, which I have researched for 10 years, reveals the thrills and pitfalls of studying historic women, especially with new archives available online. We just have to be ready for what we find.
Saturday, March 7th at 3:00pm – “Changing Lives” – Lisa Scheller, President & CEO—Silberline Mfg Co
Silberline is a third-generation family-owned and operated business since 1945. It is a world leader and global supplier of high-quality special effect and performance pigments with world headquarters located in Tamaqua. Lisa possesses a Master of Science Degree in Manufacturing System Engineering from Lehigh University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Math from the University of Colorado. On a personal level, Lisa participated in the Women’s Entrepreneur’s Group in the Lehigh Valley and currently participates in the World Presidents Organization.
Sunday, March 8th at 11:00am – “Thinking Courageously About Entrepreneurship” – Debrah Cummins Stellato, President—The Think Good Company
Deb brings robust experience to organizations as a success coach, facilitator and speaker. She specializes in igniting potential in people and organizations. A certified professional iPEC Coach, Deb has extensive experience around leadership coaching for both profit and non-profit leaders and has worked in diverse business sectors including non-profit, higher education and corporate consulting. Deb is passionate about developing leadership mindsets for emerging leaders.
Sunday, March 8th at 1:00pm – “Packaging with PEEPS®!” – Charlotte Edwards, CPP, Senior Packaging Engineer—Just Born
Learn how an obsession with simulation computer games as a kid and go karts tied to office chairs led to a career in engineering. You’ll hear how the science of packaging combines mechanical and industrial engineering, materials science, robotics, and physics to deliver a product into the hands of a consumer. The presentation will conclude with a packaged egg drop demonstration, sure to be a “smash hit.”
Sunday, March 8th at 3:00pm – “Modern Day Sheroes: Women of Color Creating a Better Future through Manufacturing”- Constance Thompson, CCDP Senior Director, Women’s Engagement —The Manufacturing Institute
Women of Color have played groundbreaking, life saving and often pivotal roles in improving the design and manufacturing of vehicles, aircraft and life-saving medical equipment that make the world a better place for us now and in the future. Join us as we introduce you to three modern day Sheroes who work each day to improve the cars that we drive, the way we design and manufacture aircraft and save lives through the design of life saving medical equipment. What were they like as kids? Who/What inspired them? What did they invent or help to manufacture to help make the world a better place for us now and in the future? How can girls today start to make a better future through manufacturing?
Saturday, March 7th and Sunday, March 8th at 4:00pm – Hello Girls film screening
In 1918, the U.S. Army Signal Corps sent 223 women to France as telephone operators to help win the Great War. They swore Army oaths, wore uniforms, held rank, and were subject to military justice. By war’s end, they had connected over 26 million calls and were recognized by General John J. Pershing for their service. This documentary features rare 100-year old film footage of America’s first female soldiers courtesy of the National Archives and never-before-seen photos from family archives.
About the Speakers
Debrah Cummins Stellato specializes in igniting potential in people and organizations. A certified professional iPEC Coach, Deb has extensive experience around leadership coaching for both profit and non-profit leaders. She has worked in diverse business sectors including non-profit, higher education and corporate consulting. In her tenure as CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, Deb provided the vision to launch the Habitat Lehigh Valley Re-Store and Neighborhood Revitalization program. As interim Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Lehigh County, Deb’s experience as a change management agent helped move the agency forward in forging strategic partnerships.
Charlotte Edwards is the Senior Packaging Engineer at Just Born Quality Confections, makers of PEEPS® Brand Marshmallow and MIKE AND IKE® Brand Candies. She earned her B.S. in Packaging Science from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2015, and most recently obtained the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation from the Institute of Packaging Professionals. In her role, she oversees the structural packaging development and graphic design team, responsible for ensuring each package type processes through production automation, protects the product in the distribution stream, and meets customer expectations on shelf. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, auto enthusiast events, and convincing her two lazy dogs to quit watching TV and go play outside.

Dr. Louise Krasniewicz is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and a Consulting Scholar in the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the Penn Museum. Her areas of research include American popular culture and visual media, women’s history, and issues of narrative and representation. She has published biographies of cultural figures including Walt Disney as well as an account of the feminist anti-nuclear protest know as the Women’s Peace Camp (available free at: https://cornellopen.org/9781501727979/nuclear-summer/)

Veronica Moore is the Owner & Curator of Alma & Eva. Her gift in life is helping others to address False Evidence Appearing Real (F.E.A.R.) and actively pursue and discover their passion and purpose in life.With over 13 years of experience coaching and mentoring others, I help women to take ACTION to strategically achieve their goals, build their confidence and gain more fulfillment in work, life and business.
Lisa Jane Scheller is currently the Chairman and President of Silberline Manufacturing Co., Inc. Silberline is a third-generation family-owned and operated business since 1945. It is a world leader and global supplier of high-quality special effect and performance pigments with world headquarters located in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. Silberline has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Scotland, and China, with sales and representative offices in Brazil, Mexico, and India, and employs over 600 employees worldwide. Lisa possesses a Master of Science Degree in Manufacturing System Engineering from Lehigh University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Math from the University of Colorado.
Constance Thompson, CCDP/AP serves as the Senior Director of Women’s Engagement for The National Manufacturing Institute (NMI) the non-profit workforce and education-focused affiliate of The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)- the nation’s largest industrial trade association. Thompson is responsible for partnering with The VP of Strategic Engagement and Manager of Women’s Engagement to lead the Institutes’ rapidly expanding work with The STEP Women’s Initiative and support the overall growth of diversity and inclusion solutions in the manufacturing sector. Thompson is noted for her considerable expertise in the development, integration, measurement, and sustainment of successful D&I workforce, strategic partnership and culture change focused initiatives.

Presented in partnership with

Funding for this event is generously provided by:

This event was funded in part with funding from the Hotel Tax Grant Program through the County of Northampton Department of Community & Economic Development.

Girl Scout Program: International Women's Day
2020-03-07 10:00 - 2020-03-08 17:00
The National Museum of Industrial History is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage throughout the month of March by unearthing the stories of women inventors in our collection. Opening weekend, March 7-8, will bring to life the changemakers of our past through live interpretation, and celebrate local women leaders of the Lehigh Valley with hands-on activities, performances, and story times throughout the day. Girl Scouts can follow a museum curated activity sheet and receive a Women’s History Month fun patch on their way out.
Troops or individual scouts can reserve a spot for this program by emailing Amber Emory, Director of Education and Community Partnerships, at aemory@nmih.org

How It Works: How Precise Can You Get?
2020-02-23 14:00 - 15:00
In this special tour and hands-on demonstration, visitors will go on a guided walk through the Centennial Gallery to learn the intricacies of the machine tools on display, then move on to try their hand at creating a precision surface the same way that machinery builders have for generations. Guests will use a power hacksaw to cut a piece of metal, then place it on a granite surface plate to assess how flat it it. Using blue dye, files, and scrapers, participants will take the rough metal and create a surface that, if all goes well, varies no more than 1/8 the thickness of a human hair. Anyone wishing to participate in the hands-on portion should wear clothes that can tolerate blue staining and metal shavings.
This talk, part of the museum’s ongoing “How It Works” series that takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month, is designed to help patrons further understand of specific facets of industrial history. Admission for the “How It Works” tour is $5 in addition to regular museum admission.

Free Family TinkerTime: Candy Casting
2020-02-09 11:00 - 13:00
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I like chocolate,
How about you?
Join NMIH for this fun family activity that will teach participants the basic concepts of industrial casting while making tasty treats to take home for their loved ones.
NMIH hosts the new Family TinkerTime the second Sunday of each month from 11AM-1PM. Tinker together with activities designed for full family fun. Big and small hands will learn and experiment with the concepts of industrial innovation while working through the creative process. Join us in our efforts to inspire the next generation of innovators!
NMIH’s Family TinkerTime is a free event that coincides with our Family Days, offering free admission for all children 17 and under accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Charter Arts Creativity Fair
2020-02-07 18:00 - 20:00
What is creativity? Join the Charter Arts Production Arts Department as they explore the concepts of the creative process and invite the public to participate in the experiment. The Creativity Fair will be open to the public at NMIH from 6pm to 8pm a with suggested donation and will be on display for throughout the weekend on regular museum hours (10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday).

Anthracite Workers Today: A Lifetime Calling
2020-01-26 14:00 - 15:30
For generations, photographers have been drawn to the unique social and visual landscape of northeast Pennsylvania. Australian native Dane Rhys will illustrate his recent journeys into the modern anthracite coal industry. Going into underground mines that almost appear unchanged from a century ago to open pit mines with machines larger than most buildings, Dane has set out to tell the story of older workers in coal mines and many other industries. His captivating presentation will literally put faces to the modern anthracite industry to help define its past, present, and future. Joining Dane will be members of the Independent Miners Association to give patrons a view into the modern coal mining industry from those who still toil underground.
This event coincides with Anthracite Mining Heritage Month, an annual observance that begin in 1999 with the 40th anniversary of one of the northeast region’s largest infamous mining disasters at the Knox Mine in Pennsylvania. Starting with a program at the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton, the annual event now encompasses the entire month with programming and exhibits that span the region. Find the entire slate of Anthracite Mining Heritage Month programs at https://ahfdn.org/mining-history-month-schedule-of-events-january-2020/.
About the artist
Dane Rhys is a New York-based photographer and producer originally from Fremantle, Western Australia. He documents the people and workspaces of heavy industry in America with a focus on the aging workforce, de-industrialization of America and the rapidly changing energy sector.
While completing his studies in Human Resources, Business Management he started his mining career, working as a process technician at a metallurgical processing plant in Western Australia, building, operating and maintaining pilot plants for various mines. He subsequently worked on the commissioning, operation, and closure of large-scale mining projects in Canada, Australia, and the United States.
In 2013, he became the HR Manager for the largest new gold mine in Canada and for the next 4 ½ years he lived and worked at two remote mines in British Columbia with regular travel to NYC to develop his photographic practice. Since 2017, he has worked at the International Center of Photography (ICP) as the Teen Academy Summertime Program Coordinator, Alumni Engagement Intern, Image Archive Assistant and Lead Curator for the 2018 Alumni Exhibit. In 2018 he graduated, from the Creative Practice program at ICP and in 2019 he graduated from the Visual Journalism and Documentary program.
Admission to this presentation is free with regular museum admission.
For more information on his broader project, please visit: https://www.danerhys.com/industrialage

Chris Bathgate Artist Talk and Exhibit Opening
2020-01-11 09:00 - 10:00
Coinciding with an exhibit featuring his gorgeous works of precisely machined sculptures, Baltimore-based self-trained machinist and sculptor Chris Bathgate will present on his work and process at the exhibit opening on Saturday, January 11th at 2pm. His talk is included in museum admission and free for members.

He utilizes handmade tools and automated CNC (computer numerical control) milling and drilling machines to create precisely-crafted elements that assemble into complex sculptures. Machining is his method of artistic expression. He has spent more than fifteen years adapting metalworking machinery from salvaged and repurposed equipment. Bathgate’s aesthetic considerations stem from the very machines that he uses to create his sculptures. Each piece that he makes is informed by the one it is preceded by, and he modifies his machinery accordingly—not for improved practical function but for the aesthetic developments that can be produced.
Bathgate is unique in his formalist approach to precision machining as an art form. His entire body of work is an ongoing investigation into this concept. Process lies at the heart of his practice and it serves as the primary catalyst for his ideas. He evaluates his sculptures for form and visual composition in a continuous cycle of ideation, problem solving, fabrication, analysis, and revision, similar to systems engineering. Bathgate’s carefully composed technical diagrams are evidence of his gestaltist outlook in which the whole may be deconstructed into its elements.
Playing with the tension between aesthetic vs. utility, form vs. function, and industrial vs. handmade, Bathgate’s interdisciplinary work lies at the intersection of art, craft, and design. It serves as an example of how computer-mediated fabrication may bridge the divide between art, craft, and industrial production in the Digital Age.
Bathgate’s NMIH exhibit runs now through May 31st, 2020.

How It Works: Casting Iron Toys
2019-12-22 09:00 - 10:00
Coinciding with NMIH’s holiday cast iron toy exhibit is a special “How It Works” presentation with NMIH Historian Mike Piersa on the process of casting toys and other products. Created by skilled workers using a foundry method called sand casting, the toys became popular in the latter half of the 19th century as they used ingredients that were inexpensive at the time, similar to today’s plastic toys. This illustrated presentation will trace the process from furnace to finished product and will feature a small live demonstration, melting tin, to show how the foundry process uses patterns and sand molds to create goods.
A special guest, Bill Winecker, a volunteer with the Black River Railroad Historical Trust, will also join us to describe how the average person can have their own castings made in modern times. He made a pattern and coordinated the casting of reproduction builder’s plates for Black River & Western Railroad steam locomotive #60. By combining one of the 150 foundries operating in Pennsylvania, some basic knowledge, skills, and a modest investment, anyone can bring their idea to life.
This demonstration, part of the museum’s ongoing “How It Works” series that takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month, is designed to help patrons further understand of specific facets of industrial history. Admission for the “How It Works” tour is $5 in addition to regular museum admission.

The Corliss Comes Alive
2019-12-15 08:00 - 08:30
Following its extremely successful debut earlier this year, NMIH is hosting an encore demonstration of its massive 115-ton Corliss water pumping engine.
For more than a decade the museum’s staff, volunteers, and community partners worked to restore the engine to working order, 105 years after being built by the Snow Steam Pump Works in Buffalo, N.Y. The engine was used by the York Water Company and pumped eight million gallons of water per day. Today the engine, the most powerful operating water works steam engine in North America, is a focal point of the museum’s 13,000 square foot exhibit space, where it has painstakingly been mechanically restored to its former glory and repainted its original color.

Family TinkerTime for All Ages: GingerBuilding
2019-12-15 06:00 - 08:00
Get into the holiday spirit and exercise your creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills as you design your tasty constructions! GingerBuilding supplies will be provided for each family unit to build and work together in creating their ginger structure. All participants will receive the Architect Award pin for completing their GingerBuilding.
NMIH hosts the new Family TinkerTime the second Sunday of each month from 11AM-1PM. Tinker together with activities designed for full family fun. Big and small hands will learn and experiment with the concepts of industrial innovation while working through the creative process. Join us in our efforts to inspire the next generation of innovators!
NMIH’s Family TinkerTime is a free event that coincides with our Family Days, offering free admission for all children 17 and under accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Tracing the History of Dent Hardware Co
2019-12-14 09:00 - 10:00
The Dent Hardware Company from Fullerton, PA was the nation’s leading manufacturer of refrigerator hardware and one of the largest producers of cast iron toys in the state!
To coincide with NMIH’s holiday cast iron toy display, brothers Peter Dent and Charlie Dent will share the story of their family’s innovative spirit and legacy. From the determination of Henry Dent and the genius of Charlie C. Dent, come learn more about one remarkable family’s inspiration that began in an Iron foundry!
Free with museum admission.

50% Off Admission - Holiday Toy/Food Drive
2019-12-11 05:00 - 2019-12-30 12:00
NMIH has several events throughout the holiday season, from our holiday toy display to family activities and industrial demonstrations. Not only can you get half off of your museum admission, you can benefit our community as well. NMIH is privileged to serve a community that is so generously invested in preserving its history and working together to improve the lives of its residents. In the spirit of non-profit collaboration and giving back , NMIH will offer 50% off individual admission to any museum visitor who presents a non-perishable food item or new, unwrapped toy between now and December 31st. Donations will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and The Children’s Home of Easton.

How It Works - Building with Steel: Where Was it Made?
2019-11-24 09:00 - 10:00
Did Bethlehem Steel build the Empire State Building? How about other famous landmarks created in the 20th century? The answer may not be as simple as you think. At 2 PM on Sunday, November 24th, we’ll dive into archival material and history books to learn where steel came from and who fabricated it. We will trace the family trees of Bethlehem Steel, subsidiary companies, and sometimes the competition to show how the company grew, changed, and sourced steel products from plants throughout the nation.
This lecture is presented by NMIH’s Historian, Mike Piersa. Mike graduated with a bachelor’s in history from Moravian College and a master’s in history from Lehigh University. He has been with NMIH for over 17 years and has been instrumental in the research and interpretation behind the museum’s collections as well as the restoration of historical industrial equipment both at the museum and at outside facilities.
This talk, part of the museum’s ongoing “How It Works” series that takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month, is designed to help patrons further understand of specific facets of industrial history. Admission to November’s “How It Works” lecture is free with regular museum admission.

Veterans Day: Radio’s Major Role in Winning WWII
2019-11-10 09:00 - 10:00
World War 2, the most significant event of the 20th century, was the first world-wide conflict where the use of technology played an overwhelming factor in victory. Guest lecturer Mike Lobus will present some of the technology and events that show how radio played a major role in the Allies winning the war effort.
Mike Lobus, a self-proclaimed “old timer in electronics”, will be sharing the fascinating story of radio technology during WW2. Tracing its foundations back to the turn of the century, radio in the war effort was a culmination of many factors. Come learn more about how radio won the war and see a display of WW2 period authentic military radio equipment!
This event is free with museum admission. Museum admission is free for veterans on November 9th and 10th.
Brought to you by the generosity of Joanne & Hank Barnette.

Free Admission for Veterans
2019-11-08 - 2019-11-10
Thank you to the generosity of Joanne & Hank Barnette, museum admission will be free for all veterans on Saturday, November 9th and Sunday, November 10th.
On Sunday attendees can enjoy our special presentation at 2pm titled, “Radio’s Major Role in Winning WWII,” which coincides with our Don’t Touch That Dial: 100 Years of Radio exhibit on view now through December 1st. Guest lecturer Mike Lobus will present some of the technology and events that show how radio played a major role in the Allies winning the war effort.
NMIH will also be running its massive 115-ton Corliss steam engine at 1pm on Sunday. This engine, restored by museum staff for over a decade, is the most powerful operating water works steam engine in North America.

In Pod We Trust: How digital audio is reinvigorating and democratizing journalism
2019-11-07 13:00 - 15:00
Prize-winning journalist Chris Satullo will present “In Pod We Trust: How digital audio is reinvigorating and democratizing journalism,” on Thursday, November 7, at 7 p.m. at the National Museum of Industrial History, 602 E. 2nd Street, Bethlehem, PA. A 6 p.m. reception precedes the lecture. This event, open to the public and free of charge, is presented and sponsored by Northampton Community College.

How It Works: Slate Splitting
2019-10-27 10:00 - 11:00
NMIH Historian Mike Piersa presents a hands-on demonstration of the slater’s craft. Visitors will learn how slate is split and “dressed” (shaped), both by hand with modern tools and with machinery approximately one hundred years old. At the end of the program, visitors will be able to create their own small slate product to take home, such as a miniature blackboard or ornament.
This talk, part of the museum’s ongoing “How It Works” series that takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month, is designed to help patrons further understand of specific facets of industrial history. Admission for the “How It Works” tour is $5 in addition to regular museum admission.

Ham Radio Live
2019-10-20 06:00 - 13:00
See an amateur radio station in action with members of the Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club! Learn what a QSL card is, how NMIH’s radio station can talk to people across the country, and even try your own hand at the radio.
With a rich history of over 70 years in existence and over 150 members, the Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club is one of the prominent communicator clubs in the area. From teaching radio operators how to build their own antennas to participating in emergency preparedness exercises and communicating with other amateur radio operators all over the world, the club has is an active hub that serves a variety of community events every year. More information on the club can be found at www.dlarc.org.
This event is part of NMIH’s “Don’t Touch That Dial: 100 Years of Radio” exhibit. Radio employs the magic of sound by harnessing the electromagnetic radiation around us. The impact of radio is immeasurable. It has the power to elect political figures into office, it influences consumers to purchase certain products, it shapes new ideas and spreads news to mainstream America and it brings pleasure to audiences all over the world. “Don’t Touch That Dial: 100 Years of Radio” features over one hundred historic radios, components and ephemera. Visitors to this interactive exhibit can listen to early broadcasts, see an amateur radio operator’s station, test their knowledge of Morse Code, and experience modern day innovations in the industry.

Manufacturing Day 2019
2019-10-05 06:00 - 13:00
Have you ever wondered what it was like to make things for a living? Come join us on Manufacturing Day to learn about career opportunities in the manufacturing industry, meet some of Bethlehem’s finest manufacturers, and participate in craft challenges to see which job might be right for you.
Members of the Manufacturers Resource Center Dream Team will be on-hand to talk about their budding careers and opportunities to enter into the manufacturing and industrial workforces. PA Dream Team is a group of young employees with successful STEM careers at advanced manufacturing Pennsylvania companies. These innovative young adults are the faces and stories that represent their industry and job profession among students. Dream Team members are selected from sponsor companies to represent the best and brightest young professionals in their company. Companies with Dream Team members include Air Products & Chemicals, ATAS International, B Braun Medical, Bosch Rexroth Corporation, Lehigh Valley Plastics, Lutron Electronics, Ocean Spray, PPL Electric and Victaulic.
During your brain break, enjoy a heartfelt story of human ingenuity in the film Dream Big: Engineering Our World, showing throughout the day in the Education Center to inspire our future innovators to think big! This exciting and eventful day is free with regular museum admission!
Manufacturing Day 2019 is generously sponsored by Stephanie & Ned Rauch-Mannino

Duffy's Cut: The Latest Developments
2019-09-29 11:00 - 12:00
In June of 1832 57 Irish immigrant laborers arrived at the port of Philadelphia and were hired to build mile 59 of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, Pennsylvania’s pioneering railroad. Within 8 weeks of their arrival all 57 laborers were dead.

The railroad said that they died of a cholera pandemic that was raging throughout the Delaware Valley. Archaeological and forensic examination of their remains has shown that the laborers were murdered, likely out of fear of the spread of disease as well as anti-immigrant sentiment on the part of the locals. This presentation will explore the background of the deaths of these laborers, as well as the latest developments in this investigation.

J. Francis (Frank) Watson received his PhD from Drew University in Historical Theology and is a Lutheran clergyman, historian, and ecclesiastical archivist in New Jersey. Starting in 2002, along with his twin brother William, he has investigated the story of the Irish mass grave of Irish railroad workers at Duffy’s Cut, near Malvern, Pennsylvania. Their research has been featured in several major television documentaries, “Death on the Railroad” (PBS and Tile Films, Dublin, for PBS’ Secrets of the Dead, 2013) and “The Ghosts of Duffy’s Cut” (Smithsonian Channel, RTE, Tile Films, 2006), and in the podcast “The Dancing Ghosts of Duffy’s Cut” (Ground Truth Report, Season 6, October 2018) on WGBH. They have also authored several books on the story, Massacre at Duffy’s Cut: Tragedy and Conspiracy on the Pennsylvania Railroad (History Press, 2018), and The Ghosts of Duffy’s Cut (Praeger, 2006).

This event is part of NMIH’s Steel Weekend, a celebration dedicated to the structural steel industry happening September 28-29. Admission to this lecture is included in regular museum admission.

Hot Riveting Workshop - Sunday
2019-09-29 06:00 - 09:00
This hands-on workshop will teach students the basics of hot riveting, from heating steel rivets in a forge, to driving them with a pneumatic rivet hammer, and then inspecting them. Riveted bridge restoration specialist Vern Mesler will lead the workshop and show participants that riveting is not a lost art, but one that should be learned by new generations who will be maintaining the iron and steel structures and products of earlier times.
The workshop is geared both to those who want to experience what thousands of workers once did to build skyscrapers, ships, bridges, and many other things, and also to those who are contemplating riveting for restoration or artistic projects. The workshop is physically demanding and experience in handling tools is helpful, but students are not expected to have any prior experience in riveting or metalworking. Appropriate clothing is required (long-sleeved shirt, long pants, closed-toe shoes.)
This event is part of NMIH’s Steel Weekend, a celebration dedicated to the structural steel industry happening September 28-29. All proceeds from the workshop will go towards NMIH’s non-profit mission of educating and inspiring new generations of inventors and entreprenuers by funding exhibits, educational programs, and restoration/preservation of artifacts.
Participants will be required to lift heavy equipment as part of the workshop.
Click here to purchase tickets now

Scenes from the Steel Photo Shoot
2019-09-28 14:30 - 17:00
Ever dreamed of photographing the iconic Bethlehem Steel plant when it was operating? This after-hours photo shoot at the National Museum of Industrial History is the closest you can get. Volunteer Brian Alesin leads actors in modeling historical scenes from Bethlehem Steel utilizing actual steelmaking equipment, smoke machines, and lighting equipment to produce memorable images that look right out of the factory.
This event is part of NMIH’s Steel Weekend, a celebration dedicated to the structural steel industry happening September 28-29. All proceeds from the photo shoot will go towards NMIH’s non-profit mission of educating and inspiring new generations of inventors and entreprenuers by funding exhibits, educational programs, and restoration/preservation of artifacts.
Participants must wear closed toe shoes. A tripod and basic night photography skills are highly recommended. An experienced photographer will be on-site to answer any questions.
Click here to purchase your tickets now.

Bethlehem Steel’s Last 20 Years Building Bridges and Buildings
2019-09-28 10:00 - 11:00
Join retired Bethlehem Steel Civil Engineer Gordon Baker as he talks about the history of Bethlehem Steel’s bridgemaking operations, which saw some of the world’s most famous structures come from its mills. From the Golden Gate to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridges, Bethlehem Steel helped build it all.
Four people from the audience will become part of a live suspension bridge and we will learn how a suspension bridge works. Lot’s of laughs! Alligators became part of a humorous story in Wilmington NC. Expect to interact with the presenter and enjoy a fast moving summary of Bethlehem Steel’s brightest days.
Gordon Baker worked for twenty years at Bethlehem Steel’s Fabricated Steel Construction Division working on bridges and buildings. During this period, he was a Field Engineer in New York, worked in the Engineering department in Bethlehem, was Assistant Works Engineer in the Leetsdale Pittsburgh plant, and was Superintendent of the large Pittsburgh shop facility. His career included working on two suspension bridges in New York, the Commodore Barry Bridge, Martin Tower, the world’s largest radio telescope in Puerto Rico and numerous other structures. Gordon is a retired Licensed Professional Engineer and a graduate of Lehigh University’s civil engineering program.
This event is part of NMIH’s Steel Weekend, a celebration dedicated to the structural steel industry happening September 28-29. This lecture is free with museum admission.

Steelmaking 101
2019-09-28 07:00 - 08:00
What is steel? Why is it so important to our economy? How is it made? Chemical Engineer Chuck Higdon’s Steelmaking 101 presentation will allow the layperson to understand the most important aspects of the steelmaking process: cokemaking, blast furnace production of pig iron/hot metal, and the various ways to convert blast furnace iron to steel. Complete with multimedia explanations of the steelmaking process and a question and answer session, this presentation will help explain the complex processes that occurred here in Bethlehem and still happen across the world.
Mr. Higdon is a graduate of UC San Diego with a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and a graduate of UC Berkeley with a Masters in Chemical Engineering, as well as a B.S. in English Literature from Dartmouth College. With over 26 years of chemical engineering experience at Air Products and Chemicals Inc., he develop and designed novel gas processing and energy technologies, as well as worked closely with steel companies to improve energy efficiency and blast furnace performance. His work as taken him through numerous steel plants spanning three continents. Helping the public understand industrial technology as one of NMIH’s docents is one of his great joys in semi-retirement. He continues to consult part-time for industrial clients.
This event is part of NMIH’s Steel Weekend, a celebration dedicated to the structural steel industry happening September 28-29. This lecture is free with museum admission.

Hot Riveting Workshop - Saturday
2019-09-28 06:00 - 09:00

Museum Day: The History of Communication
2019-09-21 06:00 - 13:00
Join us for Museum Day Live! In conjunction with NMIH’s Don’t Touch That Dial: 100 Years of Radio exhibit, take part in interactive learning stations that examine how communication has changed over time. Visitors will have a chance to try their hand at operating a ham radio, test their speed using Morse code, and participate in a ‘Texting vs. Telegraph’ competition.
The National Museum of Industrial History will open its doors free of charge to all Museum Day ticket holders on Saturday September 21, 2019 as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 15th annual Museum Day, a national celebration of boundless curiosity in which participating museums emulate the free admission policy at the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington DC-based museums.
Museum Day represents a nationwide commitment to access, equity and inclusion. Over 250,000 people downloaded tickets for last year’s event, and Museum Day 2019 is expected to attract more museum-goers than ever before.
Museum Day tickets will be available for download at Smithsonian.com/MuseumDay beginning August. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on September 21, 2019. One ticket is permitted per email address.
