America’s 250th Semiquincentennial Celebration

Lehigh County Historical Society will host a reenactment of the Abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ historic visit to Allentown in 1870. Douglass delivered an oration at the historic Lehigh County Courthouse to a packed audience of 500+. We will commemorate that event with an hour-long oration of Douglass speeches by a leading Douglass scholar and reenactor.

The History Expo on Saturday, May 23, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum is shaping up to be one of the largest and most ambitious public programs the Museum has ever hosted and we are thrilled to invite the community to be part of this special day-long celebration of history.

This is a major event, FREE and open to the public as a celebration of the 250th Anniversary of America.

More than 15 historical societies, house museums, and history organizations from the Lehigh Valley will be showcased at Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum for the History Expo. They will be working display booths and exhibits that help tell the stories of their organizations and the missions they serve.

In commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, History Expo will feature a new exhibit from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History titled: Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy. Through a blend of historical images and text, a series of panels will sketch out numerous turning points in American history. From the American Revolution and Abigail & John Adams and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and their poignant language of liberty to women’s rights, to a new birth of Freedom articulated during the American Civil War and more, visitors will sense the transcendent universal message found in the Declaration of Independence; words and values that continue to inspire all people around the world.

Jon Provost, who starred as “Timmy” in the popular CBS Television Series Lassie, will be attending the Expo giving two presentations and signing autographs during the day. Provost is the last surviving regular cast member of the series. For seven seasons from 1957-1964 audiences grew to enjoy and love Timmy and his wholesome adventures with Lassie, Timmy’s iconic Collie companion. Provost will talk about the Lassie show and how it connected with people of all ages. He will touch on some of his most memorable experiences on the show including how his television mom June Lockhart became one of his life-long friends until her passing in 2025. He will also talk about his life-long interest in animal activism.

Laurie Jacobson, an American author of books and popular articles on entertainment, will also speak and sign her books at the Expo. According to Wikipedia: “Jacobson moved to Los Angeles and started working in comedy groups and as a stand-up on her own. She was intrigued by stories on previous performers and began collecting facts and doing interviews about them. In addition to writing, she has also produced documentaries and television specials, among them Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show, Warner Bros Studio Rededication Party (1990), The Suzanne Summers Show (1994) and The Museum of Television and Radio’s Salute to Funny Women on Television. Respected as an authority on Hollywood history, she has appeared on radio and television, including E!’s Mysteries and Scandals, CNN, 20th Century with Mike Wallace, Art Bell’s Dark Matter, Entertainment Tonight, A&E, History Channel, Discovery Channel and AMC. In 2008 she co-starred with Shirley Knight in the independent film Not Fade Away. Jacobson resides in Santa Rosa, California where she has taught at American Eagle Studios and Santa Rosa Junior College.” Jacobson, who is married to Jon Provost, will also give two talks during the Expo titled “Childhood Stars of Hollywood,” as well as on the Beatles and how they changed the American music scene with their famous August 1965 Shea Stadium concert. Laurie Jacobson is the author of seven books.

A Car Exhibit on the Museum grounds will feature award-winning cars from the collection of Mr. Ron Smith. Among the headliners is a 1914 Model T Ford Touring Car that won a First Place National Award at Hershey, Pennsylvania; a 1966 Ford Custom Police Car; and a 1922 Chevrolet Coupe Model 490 utility that won a National First Place award in 2023, a vehicle thought to be one of only three in existence.

PIP the Colonial Mouse has graciously accepted an invitation to make a rare public appearance in his life-size form signing autographs and handing out FREE coloring books to children who attend the Expo.

Trout Hall, the 1770 Colonial stone mansion built by James Allen, will be open for mini-tours until 3 pm. Trout Hall is one of the most complete colonial stone mansions in America. Fully furnished, the home offers a rare opportunity to step back in time to colonial culture and the American Revolutionary War.

An exhibit of art work created by students from the Allentown School District will be on public display.

The Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum Corps from Topton, Pennsylvania will make a public appearance at the Expo delighting visitors with military field music from the 18th and 19th centuries, with an emphasis on the American Revolution. With some 30 members, the skilled musicians will elevate the first part of the Expo with authentic tunes from the American Revolution.

At 11:00 am, Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel will officially open the Expo with the unveiling of a new painting depicting an actual event that occurred near Trout Hall and was recorded in James Allen’s Diary entry of January 25, 1777.

At 3:30 pm, The Allentown Band, America’s oldest continuous performing private band will perform an outdoor concert on the lawn of the Museum Campus.

The first 500 children attending the Expo will be given a commemorative coin set for FREE, consisting of an official U.S. quarter from 1976 along with an official U.S. twenty-five cent coin issued in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary.

Lehigh County Historical Society has created three new programs to celebrate the Semiquincentennial. These programs are available virtually, a free, to qualifying schools. The programs can also be adapted for adult programing. For more information please view this brochure or call 610-435-1074.