Valley Culture:
Constructing Identity
Along the Great Wagon Road
Trappe, PA
May 30 to June 1, 2025
This inaugural Americana Symposium’s theme explores the evolution of Pennsylvania German folk art as settlers moved west, building on new research and discoveries generated by Historic Trappe’s current exhibition Valley Culture: Constructing Identity Along the Great Wagon Road. From the Perkiomen Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, locally distinctive forms of material culture emerged. This symposium will explore how German settlers transformed artifacts of daily life —including fraktur, painted furniture, boxes, and other artifacts—as they settled within several valleys along their journey on what became known as the Great Wagon Road.
Co-sponsored by
About
The Americana Symposium is a multi-day experience that explores the study of traditional Americana and folk art through scholarly lectures, object-based workshops, private tours, and social events. The symposium brings together leading scholars in the Americana field alongside collectors, students, antiques dealers, and anyone with an interest in traditional Americana and folk art.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Join us for a full day of informative talks by leading scholars, including a keynote address plus six additional lectures, two coffee breaks, boxed lunch, and evening cocktail reception with hearty hors d’oeuvres, plus museum admission. The symposium will be held at St. Luke's Church, 200 W. Main Street, Trappe, PA 19426.
$250/person or $225 for members of Historic Trappe.
Not a member? Join today!
Scholarships are available for current graduate students and young museum professionals, sponsored by the Decorative Arts Trust. Eligible applicants should be enrolled in an art history, history, material culture, or related program and/or be a young professional employed by an art or history museum. To apply, please email a one-page cover letter explaining why you want to attend the symposium, c.v., and recommendation letter to [email protected] by May 1, 2025.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
9 – 9:15 am
Welcome and introduction to Americana Insights and Historic Trappe
9:15 – 10:15 am
Jeffrey S. Evans, President, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
Same but Different: A Comparison of Germanic Pennsylvania and Shenandoah Valley of Virginia Decorative Arts
10:15 to 10:30 am
Coffee break
10:30 am – 12 pm
Elizabeth A. Davison, Independent Scholar
Shenandoah’s Page Valley Style: The Painted Furniture of John Spitler, 1790–1806
A. Nicholas Powers, Curator of Collections, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
Oh Shenandoah! An Introduction to Material Life and Landscape in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley
12 – 1:30 pm
Lunch break
Boxed lunch at St. Luke’s Church plus time to explore Historic Trappe’s museums on your own.
1:30 – 3 pm
Trevor Brandt, Managing Editor, Americana Insights
Fancy Fraktur: Brocade Paper in Pennsylvania German Folk Art
Christopher Malone, Curator, Historic Trappe
Charles C. Hofmann’s Paintings Along the Schuylkill River: Landscapes of Peace, Prosperity and Despair
3 – 3:15 pm
Coffee break
3:15 – 5 pm
Bradley Smith, Curator, Ephrata Cloister
The Material World of Ephrata Cloister and the Greater Cocalico Valley
Lisa Minardi, Executive Director, Historic Trappe
Valley Culture: Constructing Identity Along the Great Wagon Road
5 pm
Concluding remarks
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Reception at Dewees Tavern including time to explore the exhibition
ADD ON SCHEDULE
Friday, May 30, 2025 - Add on tours
Enhance your symposium experience with an optional day of field trips or guided tours.
Option 1 Bus Trip
($250/person including 2 meals and transportation)
Visit four outstanding private collections with an emphasis on Pennsylvania German folk art, concluding with a tour of the Daniel Hiester House and reception. Lunch, dinner, and round-trip bus transportation to/from Historic Trappe is included.
Limit 25 people. Bus departs St. Luke’s Church, 200 W. Main Street, at 9 am and returns at approx. 9 pm.
Note: you must register and pay for the Saturday symposium in order to sign up for this bus trip on May 30.
Option 2 Guided Tours of Historic Trappe’s museums and Augustus Lutheran Church
($25/person, available at 10 am, 12 pm, and 2 pm)
Explore three of Historic Trappe’s museums and Augustus Lutheran Church, a National Historic Landmark built in 1743 that retains an extraordinary interior including the original wineglass-style walnut pulpit and an organ loft that was added in 1750. Includes:
- Guided tours of the Muhlenberg House and Center for Pennsylvania German Studies, including the Valley Culture exhibition
- Behind the scenes guided tour of the Speaker’s House restoration
- Guided tour of Augustus Lutheran Church
Limit 20 people per time slot. Lunch on your own; suggestions include Grace’s Cafe, Trappe Tavern, Buttercup Bistro, Siam Deluxe, Italian Delite
Note: you must register and pay for the Saturday symposium in order to sign up for the guided tours on May 30.
Sunday, June 1, 2025 - Add on workshops
Extend your time in Historic Trappe with a variety of object-study workshops and special behind-the-scenes tours. Each workshop or tour is $50 and has a limited number of spots available due to the small spaces within the historic buildings and to ensure an optimal experience for all participants.
Note: you must register and pay for the Saturday symposium in order to sign up for workshops on June 1.
Sunday Morning Workshops - 10 am – 12 pm
Fraktur from A to Z with Lisa Minardi
Delve into the world of Pennsylvania German fraktur in this study session featuring more than three dozen examples from Historic Trappe’s collection. Limit 10 people
Valley Culture study tour with Jeffrey Evans, David Schorsch, and Christopher Malone
Explore in-depth a selection of superb painted boxes and furniture including a peek inside chests by Johannes Spitler, the Embroidery Artist, and more plus up-close study of boxes by the Compass Artist, Jonas Weber, and more. Limit 10 people
Museum in the Making tour with Eric Hundertmark
Go behind-the-scenes at the Speaker’s House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg, to witness a museum in the making. Led by Eric Hundertmark, head of Historic Trappe’s buildings committee, learn about the ongoing restoration process and new discoveries being made along the way. The Speaker’s House will not be open for public tours until 2026. Limit 10 people
Naked Bed Project tour with Carol Spacht
Learn about early American upholstery as you explore each layer of an 18th century bed—from the sacking bottom to the curtains and everything in between! Historic upholstery expert Carol Spacht will use the newly-recreated bed in the Muhlenberg House as our learning laboratory for this session. Limit 8 people
12 – 1:30 pm Lunch break
Lunch on your own; suggestions include Grace’s Cafe, Trappe Tavern, Buttercup Bistro, Siam Deluxe, Italian Delite
Sunday Afternoon Workshops - 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Pennsylvania Furniture Study with Lisa Minardi & Christopher Malone
Examine up close several dozen examples of Pennsylvania furniture including a table and hanging cupboard from the Ephrata Cloister, a Moravian chair, sulfur and wood inlay, painted chests and boxes, plus carved Chippendale furniture from Lancaster and Philadelphia. Limit 8 people
Museum in the Making tour with Eric Hundertmark
Go behind-the-scenes at the Speaker’s House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg, to witness a museum in the making. Led by Eric Hundertmark, head of Historic Trappe’s buildings committee, learn about the ongoing restoration process and new discoveries being made along the way. The Speaker’s House will not be open for public tours until 2026. Limit 10 people
Naked Bed Project tour with Carol Spacht
Learn about early American upholstery as you explore each layer of an 18th century bed—from the sacking bottom to the curtains and everything in between! Historic upholstery expert Carol Spacht will use the newly-recreated bed in the Muhlenberg House as our learning laboratory for this session. Limit 8 people
Thank you to our symposium sponsors:
