As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Pennsylvania’s role in the American story extends far beyond the iconic landmarks of Independence Hall and Valley Forge.
From Reading, where George Washington’s mobile headquarters tent — known today as the “First Oval Office” — was crafted, to a little-known Montgomery County encampment where exhausted Continental soldiers regrouped before becoming the formidable Grand American Army, local history reveals the people and places that quietly altered the course of the Revolution. Berks County riflemen armed with the Pennsylvania long rifle earned Washington’s praise, while southeastern Pennsylvania iron furnaces overcame early failures to forge the cannons needed to defend the fledgling nation.
Here is how you can step back in time to explore the remarkable stories of ingenuity, sacrifice and perseverance that helped secure American independence and continue to shape the nation’s identity 250 years later.
The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. (MATT ROURKE / Associated Press)
The First Oval Office: Reading
In early 1778, as Gen. George Washington endured the brutal Valley Forge winter, a new field headquarters tent — his mobile command center for the remainder of the Revolutionary War — was crafted in Reading.
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Long overshadowed by the larger drama of the encampment, the tent’s origins in Reading reveal a local contribution to the nation’s founding that has only recently received the recognition it deserves, historians say.
“Washington’s tent was his command center during the Revolutionary War, and tells the story of his inspiring leadership, unyielding determination, and steadfast devotion to his troops,” Michael Quinn, then-president and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution, said during the 2017 opening of the museum in Philadelphia. “It is a powerful symbol of American freedom, and one that we are thrilled to be able to preserve for future generations.”
The 23-by-14-foot tent, made of linen canvas, served as Washington’s office, sleeping quarters, and strategic hub from 1778 to 1783. It traveled with him through the war’s most consequential moments. The structure was a sophisticated, multichambered canvas marquee divided into an office, Washington’s sleeping area, and a space for his enslaved valet, William Lee. Inside these linen walls, Washington drafted dispatches, met with aides such as Alexander Hamilton, and shaped the military decisions that would ultimately secure American independence.
Today, Washington’s tent is the signature artifact of the Museum of the American Revolution. Installed after a years-long conservation effort, the tent is displayed in a dedicated 100-seat theater as part of a 10-minute presentation. More than 1 million visitors have viewed it since its installation.
(COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION)
The battlefield tent Gen. George Washington featurd three rooms and was made in Reading and delivered to the Continental Army campment at Valley Forge in 1778, according to the Museum of hte American Revolution where the restored tent has served as the featured exhibit since it opened in 2017. (COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION)
Plan your visit: The First Oval Office
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Location: Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South Third Street, Philadelphia
The vibe: An intimate look at the mobile command center where George Washington strategized the war and secured American independence.
Must-see: The 23-by-14-foot tent, originally crafted in Reading, displayed in a dedicated 100-seat theater.
Tip: The tent presentation is a popular 10-minute immersive theater experience. Be sure to check the museum’s daily schedule upon arrival to secure your spot.
Local historians Victor Verbeke of Lower Salford, left, and Brian Hagey of Towamencin speak to the township supervisors while showing a map where George Washington and the Continental Army reportedly encamped in the township in Oct. 1777, during the township supervisors meeting on April 23, 2025. (Screenshot of meeting video)
The Grand American Army Encampment: Towamencin Twp.
Montgomery County’s place in the nation’s founding is well documented in Revolutionary War history, from the winter at Valley Forge to nearby battles at Whitemarsh, Paoli, and Brandywine.
What is lesser known is an encampment by Washington and his troops in the hills and woods of Towamencin Twp. that transformed his army into the Grand American Army of 11,000 soldiers.
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“They walked in as the Continental Army, and they walked out as the Grand American Army,” said historian Victor Verbeke, describing the Colonial soldiers’ encampment located between what are now the boroughs of Lansdale and Souderton.
Several Revolutionary War veterans are buried in Tennis-Lukens Cemetery in the township, and the township’s Morgan Log House dates back to the early 1700s. But there is not yet a marker that notes the site of the army’s encampment that “refreshed” their abilities, according to historians.
Last summer, two local historians made a request to the state’s Historic Preservation Office for a marker to indicate the location that proved so key to the young nation in the fall of 1777.
“General Washington and 11,000 Continental soldiers spent eight whole days here, from October 8 to October 16 of 1777,” Verbeke said. “There were no battles fought here, but there were some significant events that this township can be proud of. The residents, back in the day, on both sides of the Skippack Creek, welcomed these soldiers, most importantly fed these soldiers, and provided them with what General Washington specifically told John Hancock: ‘Rest and refresh my men.’”
General Washington’s personal account book also shows Frederick Wampole was paid an additional 1 pound 17
shillings and six pence for the inconvenience of his house used as military headquarters. (Image courtesy of Brian Hagey, original document via U.S. Library of Congress)
Plan your visit: The Grand American Army Encampment
Location: Detwiler Road near Delp Drive in Towamencin Township (Montgomery County)
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The vibe: A quiet, historically rich exploration of the grounds where 11,000 Continental soldiers rested and reformed after brutal campaigns.
Must-see: The historic Morgan Log House dating back to the early 1700s, and the Tennis-Lukens Cemetery, the final resting place of several Revolutionary War veterans.
Tip: Keep an eye out for future historical markers. Local historians are actively petitioning the state to officially recognize the exact locations of the encampment.
Pennsylvania riflemen played a critical role in battles during the American Revolution, including the Battle of Brooklyn, reenacted in Monmouth, NJ. (Courtesy of Gregory Kreitz)
The Pennsylvania Long Rifle: Berks and Lancaster Counties
What most distinguished Revolutionary War soldiers from Berks County and Pennsylvania was their weapon of choice: the Pennsylvania long rifle.
That weapon played a decisive role in the regions included in Congress’ call to form an army, said Gregory Kreitz, a former Reading Eagle reporter and local history buff. Thompson’s Rifle Battalion drew recruits from counties including Bedford, Cumberland, York, Northumberland, Northampton, Lancaster, and Berks.
After the battles at Lexington and Concord in 1775, Kreitz noted it’s likely America’s founders were wishing for some kind of silver bullet. That silver bullet was a lead ball shot from a Pennsylvania long rifle with deadly accuracy up to 300 yards.
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The rifle was first made in the early to mid-1700s by German immigrant gunsmiths in Lancaster and along the Wyomissing Creek in Berks County. Its greater range came from patched balls and spiral grooves inside a lengthy barrel, which spun the balls as they shot.
The congressional war resolution on June 14, 1775, was the first time an army was officially drafted — and it was solely riflemen. The resolution called for riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, all areas along the Great Wagon Road — running from Philadelphia to the Shenandoah Valley — where long rifle gunsmiths had settled and sold their wares.
After major victories at Trenton, Assunpink Creek, and Princeton, Washington moved all his riflemen into one corps, commanded by Col. Daniel Morgan.
A Pennsylvania historical marker highlighting the Thompson’s Rifle Battalion during the Revolutionary War is displayed outside the Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Plan your visit: The Pennsylvania Long Rifle
Location: Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, and Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave, Reading
The vibe: An authentic look into the meticulous craftsmanship of the 18th-century German immigrant gunsmiths who forged the frontier’s most decisive weapon.
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Must-see: The collections of beautifully preserved, original Pennsylvania long rifles. Look closely for the intricate woodwork and imagine the spiral grooves inside the lengthy barrels that gave the weapon its deadly 300-yard accuracy.
Tip: Landis Valley is a living history museum that frequently hosts historical demonstrations. Check their seasonal schedule before you go to see if you can catch a glimpse of early blacksmithing and gunsmithing techniques in action.
Hopewell Furnace was an ironmaking village that operated in southeastern Berks County and is now a national historic site. (FILE PHOTO BY STEVEN HENSHAW/READING EAGLE)
The Revolutionary Iron Furnaces: Berks, Lebanon, and Chester Counties
After the battles at Lexington and Concord kicked off the war, Pennsylvania leaders decided they needed to protect Philadelphia’s port. To defend the waterways leading into the city, they devised a plan to create a navy and line the shores with cannons.
A cannon committee organized by Benjamin Franklin was tasked with answering a crucial question: Were the people and facilities needed to make cannons available locally? The answer was yes, historian Dan Graham said. Southeastern Pennsylvania had several working iron furnaces, including Hopewell in Berks County, Cornwall in Lebanon County, and Warwick and Reading in Chester County.
The forge operators got to work in the spring of 1776, but there was a catch: They had never made cannons before. Their early efforts were a mess, Graham noted.
Eventually, an expert was brought in to help the locals figure out the pervasive kinks. For about 18 months, local furnaces successfully produced working weapons — 12-pound cannons at Hopewell and Cornwall, and 18-pound cannons at Warwick and Reading.
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Once France entered the war effort in late 1777 and began providing weapons, local cannon production fell by the wayside. However, remnants of this early weapon manufacturing era remain. Graham said half of a cannon is still on display at Hopewell, while a fully preserved cannon can be found at Cornwall.
Plan your visit: The Revolutionary Iron Furnaces
Location: Hopewell Furnace, 2 Mark Bird Lane in Elverson (Berks County), and Cornwall Iron Furnace, 94 Rexmont Rd, Cornwall (Lebanon County)
The vibe: Early American industrial ingenuity on display, highlighting the local forges that scrambled to build the cannons needed to defend Philadelphia’s port.
Must-see: A fully preserved cannon from the era at Cornwall, and the historic half-cannon remaining at Hopewell.
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Tip: Because the sites are spread across two counties, plan a scenic drive to see how the local landscape supported these vital early ironworks.
Almost 50 years ago, a Pennsylvania Lottery scandal rocked the commonwealth and captured the attention of the world. Now it’s going up for auction.
Television viewers on Thursday, April 24, 1980, thought they were watching another random lottery drawing when the numbers 666 were drawn. But weeks later, Nick Perry, a local Pittsburgh news reporter and host of the drawing, was charged and convicted of rigging the game. Investigators learned he made some balls heavier than others by adding extra paint to them, tipping the outcome.
That drawing, and the 666 lottery tickets, would go down in infamy. And now, a 46-year-old artifact at the center of the scandal is up for sale.
John Zenewicz likes to go to estate sales and has a side hustle selling finds on eBay. He said he was at an estate sale in Saxonburg when he saw a 666 ticket sitting on a dresser.
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“I remember the style of ticket because my dad would buy them when I was a boy,” said John Zenewicz. “And I was like, ‘why would someone encase an old lottery ticket?’ and the only thing that could pop to my mind was that story that I remember. I was 10 years old.”
Zenewicz suspects the homeowners had no idea what they were selling.
“What I presume, it’s one of the tickets that was probably confiscated as evidence in Nick Perry, what the locals call the Triple Six Fix,” he said.
After a little more research, Zenewicz said he realized one of the previous owners of the home worked in law enforcement at the time of the scandal. He suspects he may have been part of the team prosecuting Nick Perry. Perry served two years in jail, was fined $3,000 and was ordered to pay $35,000.
Perry died in 2003, but at least one of the tickets at the center of it all remains. And now, Zenewicz says he is selling his 666 ticket on eBay, giving someone else a chance to own a piece of history.
With a toxicity level that is higher than typical air pollution, the thick blanket of smoke from Ontario wildfires currently blanketing a good portion of the East Coast can pose a big risk for those whose jobs don’t allow them to remain inside.
According to the EPA, wildfire smoke contains a mix of gases and tiny particles that can irritate the lungs and airways. In sunlight, some of those gases can also react to form ozone, another harmful air pollutant.
As the Air Quality Index in Pittsburgh reached 240 at 1 p.m. Friday, a UCLA pulmonologist recently told NPR that AQI levels of 100-200 roughly equate to smoking a quarter to half a pack [of cigarettes] a day.
Construction workers, like those on the Commercial Street Bridge project, landscapers or others who work outside for a living and must still venture out, should limit their exposure, wear a mask and limit physical exertion.
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“The N95 mask is absolutely the best way to protect yourself and your lungs,” said Dr. Sally Wenzel, director of the University of Pittsburgh Asthma and Environmental Lung Health Institute at UPMC. “If you can’t do that, a surgical mask would probably be next, but not nearly as good.”
A good fit is important.
“You want to be able to — the way we did during covid — put it on your face, breathe in and get a little bit of a suction feeling,” she said. “The mask should collapse a little bit when you breathe in. You want to have as few empty, open spaces for the air to go through so it has to go through the mask to get to your nose and mouth.”
There is no hard and fast rule on break frequency.
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“The longer you’re ‘exercising,’ the heavier your breathing is going to be and the more you’re going to inhale the stuff that’s out there,” she said. “[Breaks] might allow you to regain a little bit of your energy, not to have to breathe quite as hard as you were at the end of that hour.”
For those who can stay inside, the focus shifts to keeping the smoky air out of the home.
Steve Boehmer, owner of Boehmer Heating and Cooling in Beechview, offers some insight.
“Have a good filter in place, a clean filter,” he said. “Another thing you can do is run your fan all the time. Most people’s thermostats have a fan switch: auto or on. Auto means that the fan runs when the air conditioner runs. If you turn it on, the fan runs all the time. That fan running all the time can make your filter work more of the time, keep the air clean and the particles down.”
Filter choice, he said, is important, too.
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“There are different levels of filters based on their MERV rating,” said Boehmer. “The higher the number, the tighter the weave is and the more particles it can capture. But the higher the rating, the more restrictive the airflow is and it can start to hurt your system. A piece of cardboard is a great filter; it’s not going to let anything through. But it’s not going to let any air through either. So you want to be careful you don’t go too high on that rating.”
The EPA recommends setting the air to recirculate when driving as well.
MILL HALL — This weekend, Central Pennsylvania Auto Auction, 41 Airstrip Dr., Mill Hall, will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its annual Classic Car Auction, welcoming thousands of collectors, buyers and enthusiasts from across the country for two days of bidding, entertainment and celebration. For President Doug Miller, however, the milestone represents far more than classic automobiles.
“It’s kind of like a milestone for us,” Miller said, as he reflected on the anniversary. “Because it’s my dad that started this. We lost him three years ago, and obviously we’re continuing on his legacy and things that he wanted to do. It’s not about the vehicles, it’s not about the auction. It’s just more of continuing on what he would want.”
The collector car event is an extension of the business founded by Miller’s father, Grant, and mother in 1987. While the company is preparing to celebrate 39 years of its weekly dealer-only auto auction in August, the annual collector auction has become a destination event in its own right.
“My father started the company 39 years ago in 1987,” he said. “Over the years, as our sales sort of grew, my father took an interest in antique and collector cars. He would go to other auctions and buy cars and thought, ‘Geez, we have our facility here. We should maybe try and do one of our own.’ So 25 years ago, we set up our collector car auction that we hold, and it’s always been the third weekend in July ever since.”
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This year’s event will feature more than 400 collector vehicles crossing the auction block over two days, along with vintage memorabilia, gas pumps, signs, mini bikes and other automotive collectibles.
While many of the consignments come from Pennsylvania and neighboring states, Miller said the auction’s reputation now stretches far beyond the region.
“We have customers that come from all across the United States,” he said. “The consignments come out of Pennsylvania and the bordering states — New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware. We have customers that have sent cars from as far as North Carolina.”
The auction has also become much more than a place to buy and sell classic vehicles.
Thursday evening opens with a complimentary cocktail reception featuring live entertainment at Grant’s Place. The auction begins Friday morning with memorabilia before moving to the collector cars. Friday evening includes a VIP gala with dinner, live music and fireworks.
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“It’s like a celebration, not just an auction,” Miller said. “We like to try to provide some entertainment because we’re obviously in a rural area and it gives the people something to do after the sale’s over.”
The event also brings a significant economic boost to the surrounding community. Hotels fill with visitors, restaurants welcome out-of-town guests and dozens of RV owners make a weekend of the festivities.
“We’ll have upwards to probably a couple thousand people come through our doors over the next three days,” Miller said. “We’ll probably have 30 or 40 RVs across the street that people will set up and spend the weekend camping in our parking lot.”
The celebration comes after months of planning by a team of employees who transform the auction grounds in just a matter of hours. Following Thursday’s regular dealer auction of roughly 750 vehicles, staff immediately begin clearing the lot and staging the hundreds of collector cars.
“We go home to shower and come back basically,” Shanan Miller said with a laugh. “We’re here around the clock.”
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Behind the scenes, nearly 100 employees — full-time and part-time — work together on auction days to keep the operation running smoothly.
“It wouldn’t be possible without our employees,” he said. “It’s a lot of work.”
He added that once the first gavel falls Friday morning, everything falls into place.
“Once Friday morning at 9 o’clock hits, it just sort of takes off,” he said. “It’s on autopilot for the weekend.”
For Doug, the family business has always been about more than selling vehicles.
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After graduating from high school in 1989, he briefly attended college before realizing his passion remained at the auction his father had built. His father insisted he learn every aspect of the business from the ground up.
“He said, ‘If you think for one minute that you’re going to leave school and come here and sit behind a desk and direct orders, that’s not happening,’” Doug recalled. “He said, ‘You’re going to learn every function in this business.’”
So he did.
He started detailing cars, transporting vehicles, picking up litter and plowing snow before eventually moving into management.
“And I still do,” he said with a smile. “If I need to go pick up a load of cars, I can do it.”
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Today, he is passing those same lessons on to his son, Jack Miller, who joined the business full time after the passing of his grandfather.
“I’m doing the same thing with my son, Jack,” Doug said. “He started where I did too.”
In following in their footsteps, Jack hopes to preserve what generations before him have built.
“I just want to continue what my dad has done and my grandfather before him,” Jack said. “Do as good of a job as they’ve done and provide the same level of service that they’ve shown me to provide.”
He believes the relationships built over decades are what keep customers returning.
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“I see how it makes our customers feel,” he said. “I believe that’s a huge part of what brings them back here, week after week if it’s for the regular sale, or every year for the classic auction. Just providing good service and working hard — it feels good to work hard and see a positive end result.”
Doug agreed that philosophy remains the cornerstone of the business his father founded nearly four decades ago.
“One thing my dad taught me is that you need to surround yourself with good people,” he said. “Whether it’s customers or employees, that’s what makes you successful.”
That commitment to service extends to everyone who visits the auction.
“We’re very customer-service driven,” Miller said. “You could sell popsicles, you could sell cars or whatever. It’s all about taking care of your customer. That’s what’s going to get them to come back.”
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As Central Pennsylvania Auction celebrates 25 years of its Classic Car Auction, the event stands as both a showcase of automotive history and a tribute to the family legacy that continues to drive it forward.
For the Miller family, every collector car that rolls across the auction block is another chapter in a story that began with one man’s dream in 1987– and one they hope will continue for generations to come.
