New Yard Signs for the Commonwealth Monument (A Final Reflection)

Posted on by pc1226

Throughout this semester, I have had the privilege to work on designing various yard signs for the “Gathering at the Crossroads” Monument in Harrisburg. In collaboration with Mr. Lenwood Sloan, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Monument Project, I worked on creating two yard signs, the first pertaining to the Old Eighth Ward/Look Up, Look … Continue reading New Yard Signs for the Commonwealth Monument (A Final Reflection)

The Digital Harrisburg Initiative in Fall 2025

Posted on by David Pettegrew

Fall semester 2025 at Messiah University began six weeks ago and our students have been busy working on a number of projects related to the history of Harrisburg. As the coordinator for digital humanities with Messiah University's Center for Public Humanities (CPH), I'm excited about what our students will accomplish this term in collaboration with … Continue reading The Digital Harrisburg Initiative in Fall 2025

Harrisburg Historical: A New Mobile App for Exploring the History of the Capital Region

Posted on by David Pettegrew

Yesterday marked a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to make the rich history of Pennsylvania’s capital region more accessible to the public. After two years of dedicated work by students, faculty, and community partners, Messiah University’s Center for Public Humanities officially launched Harrisburg Historical, a free website and mobile app that brings to life … Continue reading Harrisburg Historical: A New Mobile App for Exploring the History of the Capital Region

Researching Harrisburg’s Wildwood Zoological Park

Posted on by Kylie Smith

As a current student in a Digital History class at Messiah University, I was tasked with creating a Story Map about an aspect of the history of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. For my Digital History Story Map, I chose the topic of the Wildwood Zoological Park that used to exist in the capital city. While the Zoological … Continue reading Researching Harrisburg’s Wildwood Zoological Park

Progress Update: Harrisburg Historical Walking Tours by Messiah University  

Posted on by jk1641

Jake Kocher: December 9, 2024 As the fall 2024 semester approaches its conclusion, it is a fitting moment to provide an update on the history tours being developed by Messiah University's Harrisburg Historical team. Significant progress has been made since the last update, culminating in a streamlined and focused approach to this important project. Here … Continue reading Progress Update: Harrisburg Historical Walking Tours by Messiah University  

Processing Paper Into The Digital: The Life of Genevieve Blatt

Posted on by mg1438

Technology can be difficult to use, but it can also be a tool that can help us create something beautiful. The process of digitization is no different. The use of technology among historians has grown a lot during the past several decades and has allowed for a new advances and discoveries to be made. For … Continue reading Processing Paper Into The Digital: The Life of Genevieve Blatt

Stories of Resistance: Reflections on the Fall Semester

Posted on by J.T. Crocenzi

In my first semester as a Fellow at the Center of Public Humanities, I’m working on editing and finalizing previous students’ stories for Harrisburg Historical's website and mobile app and beginning to research my own story. Many of the stories for Harrisburg Historical were nearly ready to be published before I joined the CPH. My … Continue reading Stories of Resistance: Reflections on the Fall Semester

Bringing History to Life: Developing an Immersive Walking Tour for Downtown Harrisburg’s Civil Rights Legacy

Posted on by jk1641

Jake Kocher: October 17th, 2024 This semester I have the privilege of working with the Center for Public Humanities at Messiah University on a project to develop an immersive walking tour that brings to life significant historical places in Downtown Harrisburg.  The project I’m working on is Harrisburg Historical, a mobile and web app that … Continue reading Bringing History to Life: Developing an Immersive Walking Tour for Downtown Harrisburg’s Civil Rights Legacy

Reflecting on Stories Retold

Posted on by dg1334

This semester as part of the Center for Public Humanities, I returned to the ongoing work of writing stories in place for the new Harrisburg Historical tour site which is the latest part of the Digital Harrisburg Initiative. More specifically, my work was on the story of the Black laborers who built Fort Couch during … Continue reading Reflecting on Stories Retold

The Untold Tale of Fort Couch

Posted on by dg1334

Dominic Gomez This semester, I decided to return to the Center of Public Humanities to contribute another story once again. Roughly a year ago, I began my involvement with the Center as a Fellow working on a Curatescape story for the ongoing series of stories-in-place on the untold narratives of Black History in the Harrisburg … Continue reading The Untold Tale of Fort Couch