Vandergrift Historical Society

MUSEUM CLOSED TODAY JUNE 18, DUE TO ILLNESS.
SORRY For ANY INCONVENIENCE

18th Century Re-enactors sought!
Calling all 18th century reenactors!

Historic Fort Cherry and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission will be dedicating a PHMC historic marker commemorating the 1786 Whiskey Riot in Washington County later this year.

To celebrate this, we have decided to hold a photoshoot reenactment of this historic event at the site of Woodville Experience and we are looking for volunteers to show up with their authentic impressions of 18th century citizens.

If you, anyone in your group, or any friends of your group may be interested in helping us with this event, please see the information in the Google form through the link below. We ask that a form is submitted for each individual participant. Authenticity guidelines are attached to the form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwNNvass65AVpR1qJDo8XuySwfhal45a9EiVGESa8pGAOKaQ/viewform

The photoshoot will be held on the grounds of Woodville Experience. It will not be an event open to the general public.

Sunday, June 7, 2026
8am - Noon
1375 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Historic Fort Cherry's Whiskey Riot Photoshoot Volunteer Form Washington County, PA. April 7, 1786 — A riot breaks out near Cross Creek in protest of Pennsylvania state liquor excise collector William Graham, who had recently been assigned to collecting excise tax in the western counties. In what Boyd Crumrine described as "the first actual violence committe...

An exciting event from one of our neighbors

🇺🇸Save the date! Civil War Living History returns to the Armstrong County Historical Society on May 15th and 16th!

‼️May 15th @ 6 PM: Blood, Courage, and the Maltese Cross - Personal Stories of the 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry presented by the 62nd PVI Living History Family in the ACHS Jim & Ann Oakes Carriage House.
🇺🇸The 62nd PVI served in the Union Army of the Potomac’s 5th Corps, with a red Maltese Cross as their Corp emblem fastened to their uniforms. Hear true stories of how these soldiers from Armstrong County experienced the war, the effect it had on their families at home, the soldiers who survived to return home, and the ones who sadly never came back.

‼️May 16th @ 10-4: Living History Encampment, camp life, cooking, nursing, soldier drill, and interaction with living historians. Plus live dulcimer music and historical games for children!

🇺🇸May 16th Speaker Series:
11:00 AM Private Gavin Zimmerman of the 62nd PA Living History Family presenting on Men From Armstrong County at Gettysburg

1:00 PM Bill Peck presenting on Soldiers Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania, including the Dayton, PA Civil War Orphans School in Armstrong County

2:00 PM Bill May presenting on The History of McConnell's Mills -The story of the Civil War Captain and the freed slave who together created the legacy that is now McConnell's Mills.