Hagen History Center

Join Us for Women Creating A Legacy! ✨🌻 August 4, from 5 to 8 pm
We’re back—and this year’s celebration (our 9th) is more beautiful than ever! 💛
Women Creating A Legacy returns, set among the breathtaking sunflowers at Charlotte Battles’ White House in Girard. 🌻
👗 Dress the part: Wear your favorite floral dress and a chic hat for a charming country garden party! 👒💐
🌟 Last year, over 300+ incredible women joined us—don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience!
💫 What to expect:
🍸 Handcrafted artisanal cocktails
🍴 Delicious hors d’oeuvres
🎶 Live music
🌼 Interactive flower‑arranging classes
💼 Committee Members: Lauren Bauer, Geri Cicchetti, Erin Fessler, Susan Kanonczyk, Abby Lechner, Barb Lechner, Dr. Kim Mascia, Leah Murphy, Lisa NeCastro, and Dana Zaphiris
🎟 Tickets: $100 per person
💖 Special pricing: Women 40 & under pay their age!
🎟️Tickets/sponsorships: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E354576&id=36
📞 For more info, contact: Geri Cicchetti
📱 814-454-1813 x34
📧 [email protected]
📬 Invitations will be sent in July—stay tuned!
🌻💛

This weekend, is on the way, and we have some unique gifts for Dad in our updated and fully-stocked gift shop! ✨
Here are a few highlights you won't want to miss:
🏛️ Frank Lloyd Wright design plates, bowls, T-shirts, polos, and sweatshirts PLUS lots of local T-shirts, sweatshirts and items to give or keep for yourself. Griswold, anyone? Lake Erie?
📚 Plenty of history books for the avid readers out there
✉️ Beautiful postcards and maps featuring Erie sites to remember
🎁Walking sticks and other unique gifts

From the archives: In honor of , we share a letter regarding the final freedom of enslaved Americans in Texas in 1865.

This letter from Frederick Douglass (1817/18-1895) writes of his intentions to visit North East and Erie to raise money for abolitionist efforts. Douglass spoke at Park Hall on April 24, 1858, brought to town by Henry Catlin, the author of “The True American” anti-slavery newspaper. Both were threatened by an angry crowd during the event.

Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in Maryland in 1838, dedicating his life to abolitionism. He would settle in Rochester, NY, becoming a preacher, a speaker, a writer, and amateur politician. He was the only Black attendee of the Seneca Falls Convention on women’s rights in 1848. Douglass took a pragmatic approach to his abolitionism. He thought Lincoln’s politics were too feeble, but found the likes of John Brown to be too radical and erratic. Ultimately he did praise the Emancipation Proclamation, however supported John C. Fremont over Lincoln in 1864.

A friendly reminder that the Coppers' Chronicle exhibit is located on the 3rd floor of the Watson-Curtze Mansion.

This exhibit showcases historic artifacts and equipment from the Erie Police Department 🏛️🚔. Through these displays, you can imagine the daily work of Erie Police Officers from generations past. While you might recognize some equipment that is still in use today—albeit with modern innovations—Coopers' Chronicle highlights the historical versions, defined by their simple, pre-modern designs. This exhibit will help you envision how police investigations were conducted using the technology of yesteryear.🔍🔎🕵

Thanks to Val Myers of GoErie.com for the story on our Frank Lloyd Wright Field Office Museum opening June 27th.
https://www.goerie.com/story/news/local/2026/06/18/frank-lloyd-wright-museum-erie/90555559007/

From the Archives: Take a step back to 1969! 📸
This vintage view of State Street captures a banner promoting Erie’s Summer Festival of the Arts, held June 23–29, 1969. In just its second year, the festival already showcased a vibrant mix of performances, workshops, and creative energy throughout the city.
What started as a new celebration of the arts quickly became a beloved annual tradition for decades! 🎭🎶🎨
Today, the Festival of the Arts is no longer a standalone event, but it established Erie as a city that values arts and culture and paved the way for public arts programming and decades of community events.

We hope you’re getting out and enjoying the many events and festivals happening in our community.

You could say things are really starting to come together. 😉

The Olds-Sweet-Norman House is settling into its new home on Gannon's campus on historic West Sixth Street, and now its front porch is making the move, too. Watching this piece of history come back together one section at a time has been nothing short of amazing.

Every beam, board and detail helps preserve a piece of Erie's history for future generations. Stop by and take a look for yourself! 👀

It's the Perry symposium you won't want to miss.
HURRY!⛵⚓
The Hagen History Center is proud to present Command & Courage: Oliver Hazard Perry, a two‑day symposium celebrating the Hero of Lake Erie with nationally recognized speakers and fresh perspectives on Perry.
📅 August 13–14
📍 Gannon University | Erie, PA
This immersive symposium explores Perry’s leadership, legacy, and lasting impact on American naval history—and why history happened here.
⚠️ Space is limited and registration fills quickly:
• Members: $10
• Nonmembers: $20
https://tickets.eriereader.com/events/command-courage-oliver-hazard-perry-august-13-14-8-13-2026
👉 Register early and be part of this once‑in‑a‑generation America250PA experience.