EVERY Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 am to 4pm.
Open for research and sales.
NEW Tours!
The society has been open for research during the pandemic. Our NEW tours are underway. We also have NEW Displays on exhibit in our Museum and NEW Items in our Gift Shop. A mask is required to enter. Thank you for your courtesy and understanding.
- New Museum Tours
- NEW Laurel District History Tour Display; NEW Shenango China Display (see below)
- NEW books available in our on site gift shop and available online
- Our online store offers a wide variety of books, gift items, CDs, DVDs, and memorabilia
Come Visit!
Roadside Canal Marker Campaign
One of Lawrence County Historical Markers is MISSING. We are raising funds to replace it. Any and all donations are welcome. To replace this historical marker, we need your help.
This is our only photo of the now missing historic roadside marker for the Harbor ramp of the PA Canal System.
What is missing?
The historic roadside marker for the Harbor Creek Pennsylvania Canal (at the ramp from Ben Franklin Highway to Harbor-Edinburg Road). It denotes the Northern terminus, Beaver Division of Pennsylvania Canal system, completed to this point, 1834.
Why is it important to replace it?
Without “someone” stepping up to replace it, an important recognition of our local history will fade away. The “missing” original marker was erected by the PA Historic and Museum Commission in 1948 through the work of the State Historian, Dr. Sylvester Stevens.
ORIGINAL MARKER TEXT
Northern terminus, Beaver Division of Pennsylvania Canal system, completed to this point, 1834. Important shipping point before completing “Cross-Cut Canal” to Ohio, 1838, and Erie Extension to Greenville, 1840.
NEW DISPLAY
HISTORY and STORY OF LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
This first floor display features the history and story of the Laurel School District. It includes the history of the schools that existed in the area as well as many artifacts such as a 1945 FFA (Future Farmers of America) jacket, photos, yearbooks, school records, and sports memorabilia.
The Laurel District has offered academics, agriculture education, activities, and athletics for over 50 years. From full-day kindergarten through college level courses for upper classmen, the district provides an articulated curriculum aligned to Pennsylvania Core Standards. In 2017, Laurel Middle/High School was recognized as a National Blue-Ribbon School.
“Laurel is a community dedicated to excellence and is committed to challenging and equipping students to become knowledgeable, responsible, and engaged contributors of an ever changing global society,” according to Michelle McClelland, the school’s counselor.
The society hopes to have future displays from all of the Lawrence County school districts.
11 am to 4 pm EVERY
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
A mask is required to enter. Thank you for your courtesy and understanding.
NEW DISPLAY
NEW SHENANGO CHINA DISPLAY
This second floor display has been meticulously put together by Jim Witon, volunteer and chair of the archives committee. It showcases a new assembly of Shenango China and includes plates featuring Jacqueline and President John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first birthday in the White House, famous local people, Christmas plate collections, and many others.
The Shenango China Display is located in the newly dedicated Maryann Galiano Room on our second floor. Maryann was a former board member and long-time volunteer who passed away in June of 2020.
11 am to 4 pm EVERY
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
A mask is required to enter. Thank you for your courtesy and understanding.
From the Beginning
Tales of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
NOW AVAILABLE online and in our Gift Shop
CLICK HERE FOR description & purchase information
Cascade Park:
Western Pennsylvania’s Rural Escape
NOW AVAILABLE online and in our Gift Shop
CLICK HERE FOR description & purchase information
A Civil War Husband
100th Pennsylvania Roundheads
NOW AVAILABLE online and in our Gift Shop
CLICK HERE to read a description
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
High Tea and Fashion Show
"Then and Now"
“Now” fashions hosted by Michele Goodman Jones. “Then” fashions featuring LCHS items. A big thank you to Cynde Hall of Cynde’s Femms store downtown for the use of her mannequins.
October 3, 2021 at the Lawrence County Historical Society.
Limited to 8 tables of 4. Tickets $25 per person (available only at the LCHS office).
NEW TOURS - ended Sept 4
CASCADE PARK TOURS are offered by Pleasant Hill Historians on Saturdays between July 31–September 4, 2021 at 9 AM–10/10:30 AM. The tour stops at stations along the way and discusses the park’s early history, including the establishment of Brinton Park (1891–1897) and the beginning of Cascade Park (1897). 30 people max per tour. Proceeds benefit the Lawrence County Historical Society. Reserve your spot today! To register, visit https://phhist.com/product/cascade-park-tours/
Maryann Galiano Room Dedication
On October 24, 2020 at 2:00 pm (eastern time), we dedicated a room on the second floor of the Joseph A. Clavelli Cultural Heritage Center in memory of our former board member and long-time volunteer, Maryann Galiano. The room which contains an extensive display of our Shenango China is now known as the Maryann Galiano Room. Among her many contributions, this is a room she dedicated an enormous amount of time to organizing the myriad of information found there. People in attendance were wearing masks and social distancing due to COVID-19 restrictions. Others attended via Zoom.
LCHS Advisement
“The Lawrence County Historical Society strongly advises against the establishment of a Dollar General on Highland Avenue in the North Hill Historic District.”
– Edward X. Petrus, LCHS Board President
To learn more about the historical society position on commercial businesses in the North Hill Historic District, read our BLOG ARTICLE.
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1905-1935
Your Support is Appreciated
Without your generous support, the Historical Society could not continue their important mission to preserve, protect and display the heritage of all the citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. We still need your support especially during these difficult times. Please consider a donation TODAY. Any amount is welcomed.
Visit our online eStore
We have added lots of new books.
Visit our online eStore to find out more.
You can also schedule a visit to our onsite Gift Shop.
We regret to announce that the Civil War Series has been cancelled due to the restrictions of COVID-19.
10 things you can do from home!
(1) VISIT
our website
(2) WATCH
our newest
Moments in History video
(3) BUY
a BOOK
(4) TAKE
an on line tour
(6) HELP
SUPPORT us.
(7) BROWSE
through
our online exhibits
(8) DELVE
into 150 years of
life in Lawrence County
(9) READ
our BLOGs about interesting figures
from our history in
18 different categories
(10) EXPLORE / LEARN
about our collections
Help Support the Lawrence County Historical Society
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All monies are used to help support our volunteer organization.
Thank you for your support.
We Appreciate Your Support
Become a member of the Lawrence County Historical Society. Help support our mission to respect the past and be a cornerstone for the future.
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Shenango China
The Lawrence County Historical Society has the largest collection of Shenango China in the world. The men who started the first potteries in New Castle did so, not because of any clay deposits in the area, but rather because of the soft coal available which was used to fire the beehive Rims of that time. More than 500 of our 3,000-plus pieces are on display in our museum.
Rent the Mansion for Your Special Event
Available for showers, parties, small weddings, picture-taking and more. Take an online photo tour of our historic mansion.
Experience the beauty, elegance, and period furnishing of this 1905 Colonial Revival building. Members discount!
FEATURED DVD: Portrait of An American City:
200 Years of New Castle History
INCLUDES early Native American settlements, plotting of the land, canal era, Civil War, heavy industrialization, labor strife, immigration, urban renewal and the reawakening and gradual rebirth of neighborhoods and downtown.
NOW Available – 4 DVD programs
- Portrait of an American City features 200 years of New Castle History
- Cascade Park describes its origins and historic features
- Haunted Lawrence provides a “chilling” tour of local folklore and intrigue. A great addition to your Halloween activities.
- The Big Snow of 1950 (our best seller) recounts a snowfall that caused almost everything in Lawrence County to shut down. It remains the largest snow storm on record in our area.
Photo Credits: “Donate” image courtesy of Naypong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net