Founded in 1908, the Westmoreland Historical Society is an educational organization dedicated to acquiring and managing resources related to the history of Westmoreland County and using these resources to encourage a diverse audience to make connections to the past, develop an understanding of the present, and provide direction for the future.
The Westmoreland County Historical Society is a community staple for field trips and school tours, where local school districts from around the county and beyond visit each year to learn more about the history behind Westmoreland County and Historic Hanna’s Town. Staff is always excited to see young students who have visited on a field trip come back to bring their families to experience all that the Historical Society has to offer.
The Westmoreland County Historical Society is always working on creative, new exhibits for visitors to see. Currently, their active exhibit is titled Cut From the Same Cloth: A Turn of a Phrase Explored Through Historic Clothing Styles. The historical context behind their display is this: The English language is full of idioms. These creative figures of speech have symbolic contexts that are different from exact meaning of the words used. Saying that two or more people are alike in their looks, personalities, or share a common bond is to be cut from the same cloth. This exhibit features a variety of clothing from designer fashion to feed-sack dresses. The exhibit explores the many associations the idiom has with the centrality that clothing has with our lives – past and present. The garments were selected from the Westmoreland Historical Society collection for their aesthetic, historic, and interpretive value, as well as their association with the people who have called Westmoreland County home. The items range in date from the early 19th through mid-20th centuries, and the oldest article of clothing on display is from 1790!
Westmoreland County Historical Society has many other resources to offer. Their library is utilized for genealogy and family history. Their kitchen garden has been created and maintained by master gardeners who then donate food to local food banks. Historic Hanna’s Town features buildings like the “Tavern” and “The Fort”, which was originally built around 1775. The Fort was re-built from new construction to emulate the original building in 1973 and tours began soon after in 1974.
As a recent change, there are no fees needed for tours, however the Westmoreland County Historical Society asks tours and visits to be donation based instead, allowing everyone the opportunity to visit and learn more about our county’s history and culture.
Keep on the lookout for upcoming events associated with the Historical Society in 2026 such as an America 250 beer collaboration with a local brewery in May and Antiques & Collectibles sale dates throughout the Spring, Summer & Fall. Volunteers for tours and other duties are always needed for either long term or for specific events!
Congratulations to the Westmoreland County Historical Society on being February’s Non-Profit of the Month!
