Since opening to the public on May 24th, we have welcomed more than 500 visitors to the historic Mifflin Farm. These visitors have discovered the courage of freedom seekers who made the decision to escape the brutality of slavery; the Quaker conscience that drove people to open their homes to these refugees; and the collaboration between Black and white people in the Susquehanna Valley that fostered the nascent Underground Railroad network. Inside the Mifflin House, we have a board on which people are invited to leave impressions of their visit. One individual wrote, “I appreciate the efforts of those in the present who are actively preserving the past. Your passion for telling and preserving the story are honorable.” And this is only the beginning!
On July 17th, we hosted our first “Lecture on the Lawn.” While we were in the throes of a heat warning and moved inside the cool walls of the Mifflin House, we still were treated to a meaningful learning experience. Codie Eash, Director of Education & Interpretation at Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center, shared connections between the burning of the Columbia & Wrightsville Bridge and the Battle of Gettysburg. He drew upon first-hand accounts, newspaper images, and even veterans’ speeches to show how the burning of the bridge was viewed in the context of the Gettysburg campaign. On August 21st, Barbara Brundage, Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s Interpretive Specialist, will present “Researching the Mifflin Farm.” Barb has been our primary researcher on the history of the Mifflin Farm and Underground Railroad and will pull the curtain back on her methodology and findings. It promises to be an insightful evening.
During the week of July 14th-19th, students from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps blazed the first walking trail on the Mifflin Farm. The “Pond Loop” is a .4-mile grass walking path from the Mifflin House to the man-made pond in the center of the property. From this vantage, visitors can catch glimpses of fish, birds, and deer. While the Heritage Park will eventually boast more than 4 miles of walking trails, it is gratifying that we can allow visitor access to the interior of the property so soon after opening. A special thank you to the six high school students and their leaders who worked through the heat and humidity to make this trail possible.
We also have new interpretive panels! On July 8th, Civil War Trails successfully moved two markers from the end of Cherry Street, in Wrightsville, to the entrance of the Mifflin Farm. These panels tell the story of the Underground Railroad at the Mifflin House, and the Battle of Wrightsville, which occurred partially on the property on June 28, 1863. These panels are outside our gates and accessible to visitors 24/7. Thank you to Civil War Trails, Explore York, and the National Park Foundation for supporting this effort.
Last, but certainly not least, we are thrilled to be working with our summer Artist-in-Residence, Spencer Verney of Chester County, PA. Supported by the Pennsylvania Outdoor Council, Spencer is a landscape artist working on a painting showing the historic Mifflin farm landscape and Susquehanna River beyond. Keep an eye on our website next month, as Spencer will be providing a program on his approach. You might also catch him painting on-site!
The Mifflin Farm remains open to visitors on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with historical programs at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. You can also follow our self-guided tour of the historic farmstead and walk our new Pond Loop trail. Visit www.susqnha.org for more information.
Wrightsville, PA
