Susquehanna NHA chosen for Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award!
Susquehanna NHA chosen for Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award!
Each year, Preservation Pennsylvania announces the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards, which celebrate the people, places, and partnerships that preserve and protect the places that matter across our Commonwealth. This year Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) is honored to be chosen for the Henry A. Jordan Award. The award keeps with Henry’s belief that it is at the local level where real historic preservation occurs, the Henry A. Jordan Award recognizes outstanding historic preservation efforts at the local level.
A decade-long effort to save the Mifflin House – an Underground Railroad site in Hellam Township – culminated in a powerful vision for public education and community engagement. SNHA President Mark Platts remarked, “Preserving the Mifflin House has been a long and challenging journey, but one we always believed was worth taking. This site is a rare and powerful reminder of our region’s role in the fight for freedom. To receive the Henry A. Jordan Award is not only an incredible honor—it affirms the deep local commitment to telling these stories with honesty and heart.” Susquehanna National Heritage Area staff will be attending a special ceremony on Thursday, October 16, at Carrie Blast Furnaces in Pittsburgh to accept the award.
Now the future home of the Susquehanna Discovery Center & Heritage Park, the site will interpret stories of freedom seekers, Civil War battles, and regional river culture. The project has already secured over $8 million in funding and opened to the public, on a limited basis, in 2025. Senior Project Leader, Pete Miele, has been leading the interpretation and project development. He said, “The preservation of the Mifflin House has always been about more than saving a historic site—it’s about honoring the stories of courage, collaboration, and conscience that define this place. This recognition is a testament to the power of community partnership and vision. We’re deeply honored to receive the Henry A. Jordan Award from Preservation Pennsylvania.”
The Mifflin Farm is 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.