Historians Cecelia “Cece” Otto and Jennifer Sopko reveal how amusement parks became vital to community life in the 19th & 20th centuries!

These days we think of amusement parks as just fun places to visit with friends and family, but during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in America, they were so much more than carousels and cotton candy. Hop a streetcar and travel back in time with historians Cecelia “Cece” Otto and Jennifer Sopko as they reveal how these parks became a vital part of local community life, hosting speakers and rallies plus offering attractions and entertainment that gave folks a recreational escape. We’ll also explore culturally what it was like to visit a turn-of-the-century amusement park in Western Pennsylvania, and Cece will sing some songs you would have heard performed there more than a century ago.

Admission to this special public program is $10.00 per person. Refreshments included.

Reservations are required and can be made by purchasing tickets online via Eventbrite, or skip the online fees and call the Venango Museum at 814-676-2007 today to reserve your spot!