Museum

LEGO models of Reading Railroad locomotives and cars operating in a LEGO city: railroad roundhouse, Franklin St. Station, Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Reading Street Railway trolleys, interactive panels, and more!

Visit the Pennsylvania Middle Division HO scale layout in the second floor gallery, which is crafted, operated and maintained by Museum volunteers! And check out all of the Museum’s model trains, including Pennsylvania Landscapes, in Stewart Junction railway education center! Tickets may be purchased in advance online on the Museum’s website or at the door. Model Railroading Days are included in the regular Museum admission.   SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 Keystone NTrack Lebanon Valley Rail Lower Susquehanna Valley Modular Railroaders Northeast Corridor Historical Society Strasburg Model Railroad Club

Visit the Pennsylvania Middle Division HO scale layout in the second floor gallery, which is crafted, operated and maintained by Museum volunteers! And check out all of the Museum’s model trains, including Pennsylvania Landscapes, in Stewart Junction railway education center! Tickets may be purchased in advance online on the Museum’s website or at the door. Model Railroading Days are included in the regular Museum admission. SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 Capitol Free-Mo Stillmeadow Crossing Modular Train Group World's Largest Lionel 0-72 Layout

Join us for our first-ever Inspiring Wellness Fair at The Reading Public Museum! This will be a family friendly celebration of our wonderful healthcare community in Berks County. Over 20 community healthcare organizations will be on hand to share resources and even provide some health screenings. Reservations are not needed to attend this event as a visitor. Come out and enjoy our beautiful museum and grounds while learning all about what the healthcare community in Berks County is all about!   Museum Admissions will be free this day, but donations are always appreciated to help support events like this.

Sign up for an exciting, hands-on program where curiosity and learning come to life as Little Explorers and their grown ups experiment and discover together. Where curiosity and learning come to life as Little Explorers and their grown ups experiment and discover together. Every month, a trained facilitator guides you through a new theme that sparks your child’s imagination while helping build critical skills through fun and interactive play. Each activity is designed to be easy for you to recreate at home with everyday materials, giving your child the chance to explore and engage with the world around them. Whether it’s learning about the wonders of sound, exploring the colors of the rainbow, or discovering the magic of play, your child will gain valuable knowledge they can use in everyday life. PRE-REGISTER—We kindly ask that all register in advance of attending this program so our facilitator can prepare materials. Registrations do not grant access to the museum. All non-members must purchase a general admission ticket ($13 each) online or at the door. BUY TICKETS–GENERAL ADMISSION Members enter FREE. COME FOR LITTLE EXPLORER AND ME, STAY FOR THE PLANETARIUM SHOW

Preschool Picassos Calling all parents and caregivers with preschool-aged children who love to create art! Happening the first Saturday of every month, Preschool Picassos provides young visitors with a unique art experience when we teach children various science-based techniques with their caregivers. As children experiment and explore, they will not only learn to be a part of the conversation around Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM), but they will create some unique works of art along the way! Facilitator Marilyn Zenko has a background in STEM as an archeologist and is currently a Senior Client Development Specialist at Terracon. Enter with General Admission. $13 each. Free for Members. Kindly PRE-REGISTER so we can prepare the right materials. COME FOR PRESCHOOL PICASSOS, STAY FOR THE PLANETARIUM SHOW. 11am—One World, One Sky, Big Bird’s Adventure.

Join the Daniel Boone Homestead Associates for their first annual Early American Candle Making & Educational Workshop with Heritage Art and Craft Studio. Journey back in time with Greg and Peggy Geesaman to learn the art of crafting candles with natural beeswax. Participants will take part in the careful and significant process of candle dipping, a traditional Early American method, as they create your own double wick 100% beeswax hand-dipped candle. In addition, participants will make a 5″ cinnamon scented display ornament, by a method similarly used by German Lebkuchen Bakers in the sixteenth century from a Stoneware Cookie mold (designs vary). A Historic Presentation from Colonial period interpreters during class will reveal some interesting facts about Early American Living and the history of candle making in the eighteenth century. Heritage Art and Craft Studio is co-owned by Greg Geesaman and Peggy Allen-Geesaman. For over fifty years, Greg has dedicated himself to the study of American History, as well as gardening, landscaping, agriculture, and environmental preservation. He shares his knowledge with others through educational seminars, classes, and workshops. Peggy, a native of Berks County, has dedicated over 30 years to teaching art and crafts. Before launching her own business in the 1990s, she worked in retail marketing. While she offers a wide range of classes, her true passion lies in Traditional American crafts. She stays informed of current historical trends as a member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration (HSEAD). This is a beginner-level workshop and is open to all ages if accompanied by an adult. Registration is required for the workshop, and a form can be obtained by emailing us at thedanielboonehomestead@gmail.com. Daniel Boone Homestead Associate Members $45 and Non-Members $50. All supplies are included. All proceeds go to support the Daniel Boone Homestead. Space is limited to 10 participants. This program is funded and provided by the Daniel Boone Homestead Associates

Sign up for an exciting, hands-on program where curiosity and learning come to life as Little Explorers and their grown ups experiment and discover together. Where curiosity and learning come to life as Little Explorers and their grown ups experiment and discover together. Every month, a trained facilitator guides you through a new theme that sparks your child’s imagination while helping build critical skills through fun and interactive play. Each activity is designed to be easy for you to recreate at home with everyday materials, giving your child the chance to explore and engage with the world around them. Whether it’s learning about the wonders of sound, exploring the colors of the rainbow, or discovering the magic of play, your child will gain valuable knowledge they can use in everyday life. PRE-REGISTER—We kindly ask that all register in advance of attending this program so our facilitator can prepare materials. Registrations do not grant access to the museum. All non-members must purchase a general admission ticket ($13 each) online or at the door. BUY TICKETS–GENERAL ADMISSION Members enter FREE. COME FOR LITTLE EXPLORER AND ME, STAY FOR THE PLANETARIUM SHOW

Enjoy an exclusive, self-guided tour of operating model trains in various outdoor and garden settings. Plan your afternoon and choose from among the six stops on this year’s 19th annual tour. It’s a fun family outing for all ages! Purchase your tickets, online only, on the Museum’s website beginning Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Only $10.00 per person, for ages 6 and over; under age 6, free of charge. A roster of Garden Railways Tour sites will be emailed to you following your ticket purchase. We recommend that you plan the sites you want to visit in advance.

Harvest Days is Landis Valley’s signature fall festival celebrating Pennsylvania German agricultural traditions and 19th-century rural life. This beloved annual event features traditional crafts, seasonal foods, music, and hands-on activities for all ages. What to Expect: Artisan demonstrations, including blacksmithing, weaving, spinning, and fiber arts Seasonal foods such as apple butter and cider Hayrides, pumpkin activities, and children’s programming Live music and entertainment Local artisans and vendors Harvest Days is one of the museum’s most popular events and a major fundraiser supporting Landis Valley’s mission.

Back by popular demand! On Diner Day, from 10 am to 1 pm, sit inside our beautifully preserved Fegely's Reading Diner and enjoy coffee and homemade pie. Coffee and pie are available for purchase at 1938 prices--that means a nickel for a cup of coffee and a quarter for a slice of pie! Can’t beat those prices! Regular Contribution rates apply.

For many families in eighteenth century America, Christmas was a time for celebration, feasting, and frivolity. Join us at the Daniel Boone Homestead and experience Christmas as it was almost 300 years ago with your family and friends. Visitors can learn about English and Pennsylvania German holiday celebrations, visit with Santa and the Belsnickel, and enjoy Christmas crafts and activities. Throughout the historic area, visitors will hear about the different Christmas traditions of the families who lived on the property throughout the eighteenth century as they tour the festively decorated buildings. More info coming soon!