Welcome to Megan’s Museum Minute, your guide to the best museums, exhibitions, and cultural happenings across the Lehigh Valley and the region in 2026! I’m Megan van Ravenswaay, and each week I’ll bring you behind-the-scenes stories, insider tips, family-friendly ideas, and easy date night plans. From historic sites to special exhibitions and festivals, consider this your go-to guide for the Lehigh Valley’s 250th anniversary year. Let’s start your cultural adventure now on Megan’s Museum Minute!
Museum Spotlight
Step into the rooms where American history was made at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House, located at 169 Northampton Street in historic downtown Easton.
Reopened to the public, the 1753 Bachmann Publick House invites visitors to experience a new immersive exhibition: “General Happiness of the People: Easton as a Revolutionary Capital.”
Built in 1753 by Jacob and Katrinna Bachmann, this historic stone tavern quickly became a gathering place for travelers, community leaders, and revolutionaries. Its second floor served as the first Court of Northampton County, where justice was administered during a time when the colonies were moving toward revolution.
The 1753 Bachmann Publick House welcomed remarkable figures connected to America’s founding, including John Adams, William Ellery, William Whipple, and George Taylor, all signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Through guided tours, projections, soundscapes, and replica artifacts, “General Happiness of the People” brings eighteenth-century Easton to life—revealing the conversations, challenges, and everyday experiences that shaped a community on the path to independence. Explore the stories of Northampton County residents, Thursday through Sunday of each week, including women, laborers, pacifists, loyalists, and enslaved individuals, offering a fuller picture of life during America’s founding era.
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, discover the people and places behind the Revolution at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House in Easton. Plan your visit and experience the history within these remarkable stone walls. For tours and details, visit SigalMuseum.org.
Date Night
Looking for a meaningful “date day” idea that gets you outdoors, gives back, and lets you explore the beauty of the Lehigh Valley? Join the Wildlands Conservancy Stream Team and make a difference together.
Grab your partner, your family, or a friend and spend a morning outside helping protect the streams and natural spaces that make our region special. Stream Team volunteers work to care for streamside habitats by maintaining young native trees and removing invasive plants—important work that improves water quality, reduces erosion, helps prevent flooding, and creates healthier habitats for fish and wildlife.
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, it’s a perfect time to remember the connection between our communities and the land we call home. For generations, the rivers and streams of the Lehigh Valley have supported farms, towns, and families. Today, you can help preserve these natural resources for the next 250 years.
Whether you’re longtime outdoor enthusiasts or just looking for a new way to spend time together, Stream Team offers a hands-on adventure with a purpose. Enjoy fresh air, beautiful scenery, and the satisfaction of knowing your work is helping protect the Lehigh Valley’s waterways.
Stream Team takes place at locations throughout the Lehigh Valley, with volunteer opportunities on select Fridays from May through September. Gloves, tools, water, and snacks are provided—just bring clothes that can get dirty and a willingness to help.
Make your next day out one that gives back. Visit WildlandsPA.org/StreamTeam to learn more and sign up today.
Family-Friendly Activity
Looking for an easy, family-friendly way to enjoy summer together? Make plans for the 2026 Emmaus Summer Entertainment Series—where great music, community, and fun come together!
For more than 40 years, Emmaus has been bringing free entertainment to the community, and this summer’s lineup continues the tradition with concerts, outdoor performances, and activities the whole family can enjoy. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, pack a picnic, and spend an evening relaxing under the summer sky at Emmaus Community Park. Enjoy live music from talented performers, connect with neighbors, and create memories with family and friends—all at no cost.
The series also includes Tunes in the Triangle performances at Triangle Park, giving families even more opportunities to enjoy live entertainment throughout the summer.
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, it’s the perfect time to enjoy one of our country’s favorite traditions—gathering together outdoors with music, community, and shared experiences. For generations, town concerts and community celebrations have brought people together, and Emmaus continues that tradition today.
Join your neighbors this summer for the Emmaus Summer Entertainment Series—free family fun, great music, and memories waiting to be made.
For the full schedule and event details, visit Discover Lehigh Valley or EmmausPA.gov.
Upcoming Highlights
Save the date for a once-in-a-generation Philadelphia experience.
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the Museum of the American Revolution presents “The Declaration’s Journey” — an extraordinary exhibition exploring the story, impact, and global legacy of the Declaration of Independence. Opening in Philadelphia, this immersive experience takes visitors beyond the famous words written in 1776 and reveals how the Declaration inspired generations of people around the world. Explore more than 120 historic objects, documents, and works of art, including rare artifacts that bring the story of freedom, democracy, and change to life.
Make plans now for a historic day trip from the Lehigh Valley — just about an hour away — and discover Philadelphia’s role in shaping the nation’s story. “The Declaration’s Journey” runs through January 3rd, 2027, at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Plan your visit and get details at visitphilly.com.
Mark your calendar, gather your family and friends, and experience the journey of a document that changed history — only in Philadelphia.
2026 is a milestone year for the nation. From commemorative exhibitions to festive events, there’s so much to see and celebrate. To find out more about all these events and more, visit lehighvalley250.org.
That’s a wrap for your Museum Minute! I’ll be back next week with another quick look at our local culture.
