Harrisburg, PA – The State Museum of Pennsylvania will host a preview of two new short documentaries on Pennsylvania conservation legends Gifford Pinchot and Mira Lloyd Dock at 12:15 PM on Tuesday, September 15. Admission is free
The videos will be followed by an informative panel discussion featuring Cindy Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and John Quigley, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The 27-minute features to be shown were produced by WITF Public Media as part of the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project and include:
Gifford Pinchot’s Conservation Legacy
As America’s first-trained forester and conservationist, Gifford Pinchot used his wealth, intellect and power to protect the nation’s natural resources for “the greatest good, for the greatest number, in the long run.” In 1898, Pinchot was appointed as Chief of the Division of Forestry in the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President William McKinley. And, in 1905, he became head of the newly established United States Forest Service. Working with President Theodore Roosevelt, he played a significant role in shaping American conservation policy and expanding the nation's forest reserves. As governor of Pennsylvania, Pinchot helped pull rural farmers out of the mud with the establishment of Pinchot roads. During the great Depression he put Pennsylvanians back to work regenerating clear cut forests and planting trees, paving the way for the national Civilian Conservation Corps program.
Mira Lloyd Dock: A Beautiful Crusade
In 1899 women were seen not heard. But not Mira Lloyd Dock, a little known Progressive Era activist. This botanist, forester and preservationist brought the City Beautiful movement to Pennsylvania’s Capitol city. She helped transform it from a grimy disease-ridden mess to a cleanly manicured and modern state Capitol. During Dock’s 12 years of service on the Pennsylvania Forest Commission, one million acres of forest became reserves. She was the first woman in the world to be appointed to a public forest commission. And, she was the first woman to hold a job in Pennsylvania government, either appointed or elected.
The documentary series will premiere on WITF on Thursday, November 12, beginning at 8:30 PM.
The mission of the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project is to tell the story of the commonwealth’s efforts to manage natural resources and protect the environment from the late 19th century to the present. The expectation of that mission is that a better understanding of past historical events serves as a guide to conservation leaders of today and to the better stewardship and protection of our environment and our natural resources. The project is shepherded by a committee of representatives of non-profit organizations and state agencies.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 25 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History®. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting Pennsylvania’s fascinating heritage. With exhibits examining the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the colonial and revolutionary era, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the commonwealth's vast industrial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America’s story.
Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission is $7 for adults (ages 12-64), $6 for senior citizens (ages 65 and up), and $5 for children (ages 1-11).
For more information about the museum, visit www.statemuseumpa.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639
# # #