Museum

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1st Floor | 2nd Floor

1st Floor

Welcome to the 1st floor of the Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society Inc.

This floor features the Parlor, Gathering Room, Kitchen, and Civil War Exhibit Room

Parlor

The parlor is furnished today like a typical parlor of years past. An operating pump organ is located near the front entrance.

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A four-piece antique Victorian American mid-19^th century parlor set adorns the room. The set was originally owned by a former resident of Kittanning.

The parlor is the home of an original 1878 panoramic landscape painting of Kittanning.

The parlor is also furnished with several other antique chairs in addition to a Rishell gramophone, record cabinet, library table, and other miscellaneous items typical to the Victorian era.

Two 19^th century oil paintings done by a Kittanning resident are on display. Mid-19th century portraits of Thomas McConnell, whose family was the first to live in the McCain House, and other prominent citizens of Armstrong County hang on the parlor walls.

Gathering Room

The Gathering Room is furnished with numerous pieces of furniture, artwork, old photographs and displays.

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Numerous pieces of dishware made at the Wick China and Ford China potteries are on exhibit.

Items from and pictures of the McCain House from the past are on display too.

The Daugherty Visible typewriter exhibit is in this room. In 1889, James Denny Daugherty, a Kittanning resident, completed and patented a machine called the “Daugherty Visible”, which was a forerunner of the first visible typewriter.

Various bottles from local companies, past and present are on exhibit.

A mid-19^th century portrait of Reverend Joseph A. Painter, the second pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Kittanning hangs on one wall. Two 19^th century oil paintings done by a Kittanning resident hang on other walls.

Several old photographs of Kittanning are in this room also.

Kitchen

The kitchen is furnished with appliances and other domestic tools typical to the period.

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Large blocks of ice, placed in the top compartment of the two-door icebox, kept the food in the bottom compartment chilled. The cookstove was made by Wincroft Stove Works of Middletown, Pennsylvania. Several “sad irons” are placed on top of the warming ovens. A toaster, waffle iron, and water kettle are displayed on the cooking surface.

The baker’s cabinet features a work surface to roll out and knead dough, a few cabinets above, and “possum belly” drawers below to hold flour and/or meal.

An apple butter kettle stands in the corner, and various pottery is displayed on the corner shelves on either side of the window. A kraut cutter hangs on the wall on the right of the stove, and a coal scuttle, clothes agitator, and clothes dryer are to the left.

In one corner stand several wooden drying racks.

Civil War Exhibit Room

The “Armstrong County in the Civil War” exhibit focuses on the County’s involvement in the Civil War.

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An estimated 3,652 men from the County served in the war to preserve the Union, preserve states’ rights, and abolish slavery.

The exhibit endeavors to honor the long-ago soldiers who were the ancestors of many of today’s Armstrong County residents. Visitors can travel back in time to see Civil War artifacts such as antique battlefield maps; first edition regimental history books; muster rolls from several regiments; and documents, diaries, letters, muskets, and personal items from numerous soldiers who served in the various infantry, cavalry, and artillery units that fought in the war’s major battles.

The exhibit is the home of the original painting “The Wheatfield – Whirlpool of Death” done by a local artist. The artist captures on canvas the heroic actions of the 62^nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment against the Confederates on July 2, 1863.

Included in the exhibit are items once owned by Colonel William G. Sirwell, commander of the 78^th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The highlight of these items are two presentation swords that were given to the Colonel by the soldiers of the regiment.

2nd Floor

Welcome to the 2nd floor of the Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society Inc.

Early Armstrong County and Native American Room

Early Armstrong County Rooms

The Early Armstrong County exhibit focuses on the early history of the county.

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The exhibit highlights the most famous historical event that happened within the county’s boundaries. The story of the attack on Kittanning is retold – the September 8, 1756 destruction of the Delaware Indian village at Kittanning by Colonel John Armstrong and his militiamen from Cumberland County.

Biographical information on Colonel Armstrong and a written description and survey plan of his “Victory” lands that he was able to secure in the latter half of the 18^th century hang on the walls.

The room’s built-in display case contains an original 1803 Plan of Lots of the Town of Kittanning and the rare September 20, 1810 edition of the Western Eagle, which was the first newspaper published in Kittanning, which both were printed by James Alexander.

Also on display are historical facts on the birth of the county, important historical dates and facts, and maps of the county showing how the townships reorganized through the 19^th century.

Native American Rooms

The Native American exhibit focuses on the history and heritage of the Native Americans that resided in the county in the 1700s and earlier.

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Many of the items depicting Native American life and culture in the exhibit were either collected from past and current collectors or were hand-made to represent items used by the Lenni-Lenape or Delaware tribe that lived in the county during the 1700s. Several prints of a local artist’s paintings hang on the exhibit walls.

Included in the exhibit are images on the upper part of the walls in the room. These images depict actual petroglyphs (rock carvings) discovered north of Kittanning near Parker, Armstrong County.

The exhibit houses an extensive collection of Native American artifacts. This large collection of arrowheads and other items were found throughout Armstrong County.

Museum

Explore:

1st Floor | 2nd Floor

1st Floor

Welcome to the 1st floor of the Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society Inc.

Parlor

Gathering Room

Kitchen

Civil War Exhibit Room

2nd Floor

Welcome to the 2nd floor of the Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society Inc.

Early Armstrong County Rooms

Native American Rooms

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