Grey Towers Announces Winter Lunch & Learns Grey Towers Heritage Association will host four monthly lunch and learns this season on January 24 through April 18, all focusing on the Pichot legacy of conservation and America’s 250th birthday. The Pinchot Legacy in Pike County – Past, Present, and the Path to America 250 is the first in the series on January 24. Join the U.S. Forest Service and the Grey Towers Heritage Association for a special Lunch & Learn (free for members) celebrating the Pinchot family legacy and its profound influence on both Pike County and the nation. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this program highlights why the story of the Pinchot family and the conservation movement they helped build remains essential to understanding the American identity. “Our guests will experience a rich historical narrative through the lens of Grey Towers, the birthplace of American conservation,” explains Jared Simister of the U.S. Forest Service, which oversees Grey Towers National Historic Site. “We will also discuss the conservation legacy of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, whose partnerships with President Theodore Roosevelt, and other notable figures, transformed how America manages public lands.” “Building on Pinchot’s national legacy, we’ll explore how the Pinchot family also shaped Milford’s civic culture, championing community, stewardship, and public service as core American values since the earliest days of our country,” adds Jeff McQuaid, President of the Grey Towers Heritage Association. The event will also feature a forward-looking conversation about how this legacy continues to guide today’s conservation efforts, youth education, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships ensuring a vibrant future as the nation prepares to commemorate America 250. Other scheduled Lunch & Learns are The Gardens of Grey Towers – The Past and Projecting Forward on February 21; Olmsted and Pinchot – A Partnership that Shaped America’s Landscapes on March 14; and The Music and Stories of Pennsylvania’s Past on April 18. The Lunch & Learns take place at Forest Hall, 214 Broad Street in Milford, PA with the exception of the April 18 event, whose location will be announced this winter. Tickets for the January 24th event are free for members, $15 for non-members, and $5 for students. Subsequent events are $15 for members, $20 for the general public, and $10 for students. Guests are welcome at 11:00 a.m. and programs start promptly at 11:30, with a light lunch offered after the presentation. Click here for more information. Please note the lecture space at Forest Hall is only accessible via a one-flight staircase; there is no elevator or ramp access available at this time.
Grey Towers Honored With Do 6 Partnership Award Grey Towers Heritage Association was honored on September 10 with the “Do 6” Partnership Award, bestowed by the PA Route 6 Alliance. Linda Pinto of Grey Towers Heritage Association (second from left) accepts the “Do 6” Partnership Award from Dan Glotz, PA Route 6 Alliance Board President, James Hamill, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Senior Correspondent & Media Relations and PA Route 6 Board Member, and Candace Hillyard, PA Route 6 Alliance Executive Director. Over one hundred statewide leaders, business owners, and stakeholders gathered in Kane, Pennsylvania, on September 10–11 for the PA Route 6 Alliance 2025 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting, and “Do 6” Awards Program. The Annual Meeting featured the “Do 6” Awards, honoring outstanding individuals, organizations, and communities that exemplify the Alliance’s mission to protect, preserve, and promote the scenic, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of PA Route 6. Each year, six awards are presented. This year, the Heritage Partnership Award was bestowed upon Grey Towers Heritage Association in Pike County. Linda Pinto of Grey Towers Heritage Association accepted the award, saying, “This event truly showcased the power of collaboration and the shared commitment to preserving and promoting the unique character of our heritage area. The PA Route 6 Alliance aligns perfectly with our mission at Grey Towers.”
Grey Towers Hosting Laurel Hill Burial Ground Walk Get to know Milford’s historic past as Grey Towers Heritage Association welcomes the public to join its annual walking tour of the Laurel Hill Burial Ground at Grey Towers on Saturday, October 4 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to walk the historic burial ground and stop at 12 designated gravesites at which actors portraying the interred will provide first-person narrative life stories of residents buried from the 1830s to the 1920s. Visitors will also be greeted by Mourning Mary and her friends as they talk about Victorian funeral customs and superstitions. Guests will also enjoy light refreshments, including typical funeral biscuits wrapped in parchment paper. “It’s an intriguing and fun way to bring history to life,” explains Don Allen, Grey Towers Heritage Association Board member and director of the event. “Our guests learn about early settlers of Milford and the surrounding area in a very personal and dynamic way.” Actors from American Readers Theater, caped and dressed in black, assume the roles of the interred and tell Milford’s founding families’ stories of everyday life in the 1700s and 1800s: their joys, losses and tragedies. Also revealed are the funereal sources of famous expressions such as “Saved by the bell.” “It’s a great way to usher in Halloween and All Souls Day, enjoy the fall foliage and gardens on the 102 acres of the Grey Towers National Historical Site. Guests may also visit the famed Gifford Pinchot ancestral home for a nominal fee,” adds Will Voelkel of GTHA. Admission to the event is $20 for members, $25 for non-members, and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at the door. This event is not advised for children under 13. The walk is on uneven ground, so please wear comfortable shoes. For more information and tickets, visit greytowers.org/events
Grey Towers Scholarship Fund, Finger Bowl Dinner Guests at the July Fingerbowl Dinner enjoy the unique and delicious outdoor dining experience at Grey Towers that mirrors historic Pinchot family gatherings. For the second time this summer, Grey Towers Heritage Association will host a Candlelight Dinner as a fundraiser for the Pinchot Legacy Scholarship. The dinner will take place at the unique Finger Bowl water-filled outdoor dining area at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, PA, home of two-time governor and “Father of U.S. Conservation” Gifford Pinchot, on September 5 at 5 p.m. The Finger Bowl is considered Grey Towers’ most popular feature and served as the Pinchot family’s outdoor dining room. Added in 1934 to the French-style mansion and gardens constructed in the 1880s by James and Mary Pinchot, the water-filled table was the site of many lively discussions about social issues and conservation efforts. Meals were passed among guests by floating wooden bowls and balsa rafts on the water. The opening in the wisteria-covered pergola permitted moonlight to radiate across the water. “This recreation of those dinners provides a very romantic evening for everyone,” promises Don Allen, GTHA Board member and co-organizer of the event. Grey Towers Heritage Association invites members and the general public to enjoy this revived tradition as they savor delicious foods prepared similarly to the Pinchot family’s dinner celebrations. “The Heritage Association’s Legacy Scholarship awards financial; assistance to tri-state public high school students who plan to study natural resources, science, ecology and more,” explains Mary Somma, Board member and head of the Education & Scholarships committee, “so guests are not only enjoying a delicious dinner in a unique setting, they are also supporting conservation and education.” A reception starts at 5 p.m., with dinner seating at 6 p.m. around the water-filled Finger Bowl table as well at tables that line the perimeter of the pergola. Pergola seats are currently available, which provide an equally magical evening. Seating is limited, so reserve yours now at https://greytowers.org/events.
Grey Towers Holds Special Exhibit for Limited Time Grey Towers Heritage Association cordially invites the public to a limited-time special exhibit, “If Only Lace Could Speak: The Legacy of Mary Eno Pinchot (1838-1914)”. The exhibit highlights the rich history of handmade lace production and collection. The lace revival of the Victorian Era led to the formation of lace and textile collections in museums across the country and allowed the history of this art to still be accessible today. Come discover the dedicated efforts of Mary Pinchot and today’s artisans in the preservation and continuation this art. Mary Eno Pinchot, whose summer home was Grey Towers, was an avid supporter of the arts and regarded lace as one of society’s greatest accomplishments. Her appreciation of lace began during her childhood, when she studied the history of lacemaking. Her interest in this craft eventually led to her establishing a lace collection for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. in 1908. A special thanks to The Lost Art Lacers of North Jersey. They assisted in artifact identification, demonstrated their craft for the exhibit’s film, and have been demonstrating the art of lacemaking at Grey Towers since the 1980s. The Lost Art Lacers of North Jersey will be at Grey Towers NHS on August 10, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. showcasing their talents with live demonstrations of lacemaking. The exhibit is available to view during self-guided ticketed museum tours on Fridays through Mondays at 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. now through November 2, 2025. For more information, visit fs.usda.gov/greytowers or www.facebook.com/GreyTowersNHS Grey Towers, originally built in 1886 as the summer estate of James and Mary Pinchot, is a national historic site managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The estate serves as a hub for conservation education and public engagement, reflecting the Pinchot family’s enduring environmental and community legacy. Grey Towers Heritage Association (GTHA) supports the efforts of the U.S. Forest Service to preserve and maintain the estate’s historic integrity, continue the tradition of Pinchot hospitality and strengthen Grey Towers’ connection to our communities.
Grey Towers Holds ‘Reading Rangers’ Program This Summer June 16-August 18 10-11 a.m., Mondays Reading Rangers This program for kids ages 4 to 12 includes read-aloud stories focusing on environmentalism and conservation. The readings are followed by a craft activity, hike, or scavenger hunt. Parents or guardians are required to remain with children during this program. Lower Pavilion at Grey Towers. www.greytowers/events
Grey Towers ‘Pinchot Picnic’ Features Cake Walk, Kids Games, Live Music Friends and families throughout the tri-state region are invited to celebrate Spring in a delightful outdoor setting at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 15 (Father’s Day) from 12 to 3 p.m. Attendees can look forward to a first-ever Cake Walk, children’s theater and activities, live music, and the simple joy of gathering in nature. Families are encouraged to bring their own picnics, find a scenic spot on the grounds, and enjoy the historic beauty of Grey Towers—once home to Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. “We’re introducing a delicious new twist this year,” explains Karen Loeschorn, Grey Towers Heritage Association Board Member and event co-organizer. “The Cake Walk will feature homemade cakes and pies baked by picnic-goers. We encourage attendees to bring a homemade cake to share at tables set up on the grounds. Everyone may then sample the desserts, and prizes will be awarded.” “It’s a wonderful way for people to come together, enjoy the outdoors and great music, and celebrate the legacy of conservation that Gifford Pinchot left us all,” adds Barbara Wortmann, Board Member and co-organizer of the picnic. “We’re happy to announce that the Milford Hospitality Group is a premiere sponsor for this year’s picnic.” Whether indulging in the Cake Walk and games, listening to great music, or simply unwinding amidst the lush scenery, guests can expect a relaxed and enjoyable afternoon. Schedule: 12-3 p.m. Picnic on the grounds 12 p.m. “FernGully” live musical performance by the kids of Stagecraft Performance Art 1 to 3 p.m. Children’s activities including corn hole, potato sack races, bubbles, a Grey Towers mansion coloring contest, and pin the tail on the donkey. 1 to 2 p.m. Cake Walk (bring a cake or pie, sample others’ based goods) 1 to 3 p.m. Marc VonEm & Trio perform a mix of bluesy rock, folk, funk, and jazz To participate in the Cake Walk, just bring a homemade non-refrigerated cake or pie with a brief written description for the Cake Walk. Guests are also invited to dress in costume (Pinchot family Victorian-era, if possible) for extra fun and prizes. All outdoor activities are free, and the picnic will be held at Pool Pavilion in the event of rain. Ticketed self-guided museum tours on the estate will be available and include special exhibits.
