Grey Towers, Finger Bowl Held at Pinchot Dining Room Come enjoy a unique and historical dining experience at the outdoor Finger Bowl at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, PA, home of two-time governor and conservationist Gifford Pinchot, on July 19 at 5 p.m. Considered Grey Towers’ most popular feature, The Finger Bowl 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 unique water-filled table was the site of many lively discussions about politics, social issues, and conservation efforts. “The food was passed to guests by floating filled 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, which we first did last year with a sold-out audience, is a very romantic and magical evening for everyone,” promises Linda Pinto, GTHA Board member and one of the event’s organizers. Grey Towers Heritage Association invites members and the general public to enjoy a tribute to this lovely tradition in mid-summer as they savor delicious foods prepared and served in the tradition of the Pinchot family’s dinner celebrations. A wine and hors d’oeuvres reception starts at 5 p.m., with dinner seating at 6 p.m. around the water-filled Finger Bowl table, and at tables that line the perimeter of the pergola. Only pergola seats are currently available, and those seats provide an equally magical evening. Seating is limited, so reserve yours now at https://greytowers.org/event/finger-bowl-candlelight-dinner/. A second Fingerbowl dinner will take place on September 5 as a fundraiser for the Heritage Association’s Legacy Scholarship, which awards scholarships to tri-state public high school students who plan to study natural resources, science, economics, ecology, education, and social sciences. Tickets for that dinner are also on sale now at https://greytowers.org/events.
Grey Towers Extends Visitor Service Season This year, the Grey Towers National Historic Site will be extending our tour season by offering tours starting in mid-November through December 2024. Our tour season usually includes a limited two-week holiday tour season, however due popular demand our amazing staff and volunteers will offer an extended holiday season. Guided holiday tours will begin for the winter season November 18,2024 through December 30, 2024. Tours will be held at 11:00am and 1:00pm daily. November 18 – 26, 2024 November 30 – December 5, 02024 December 9 – 23, 2024 December 27 – 30, 2024 Please note that visitor films will run from 10:30am to 3:00pm on these days in the Baitbox and vehicle gates will close at 4:30pm during weekdays and at 3:30pm on the weekends. Our water features will be winterized; however, staff will continue to interpret these areas weather permitting. Grey Towers NHS will not offer tours or facilities on holidays, but the site will remain open to pedestrian foot traffic from sunup to sundown. For additional information and weather closures please visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/greytowers or our Facebook at www.facebook.com/GreyTowersNHS.
Festival of Wood and National Public Lands Day at Grey Towers This one-day celebration is to be held on September 28, 2024, on National Public Lands Day at Grey Towers National Historic Site. The festival will run from 10am to 5pm. This family friendly festival is going back to the roots of conservation by highlighting goods from the woods. In lieu of a mansion fee on Saturday, visitors are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the local food pantry. Activities to enjoy on the grounds include: Free shuttle and parking Children’s activities in the Pool Terrace Smokey and Woodsy appearances at 11am & 2pm Free three floor museum and mansion open house 10am-4pm Wood vendors with demo’s (ongoing throughout the day) Educational exhibits Free visitor films Our educational exhibitors include the International Wood Collector Society, American Chestnut Society, Penn State Master Gardeners, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC),Delaware Highlands Conservancy, A Touch of Health (bees/honey), Forest Service entomologists from the Morgantown field office(invasive insects), The Gifford Pinchot chapter of the Audubon Society, The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreation River, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and the Friends of the Delaware Water Gap. New for our 2024 museum tour season, come and visit our temporary exhibits Gifford Bryce “A playful Past for Gifford Byrce Pinchot” and the Cornelia exhibit “Elegance, Power and Change” during our first-floor open house. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds and extend your stay. Coupons have been provided by restaurant owners to be used September 28, 2024, at local food establishments. Coupons can be found by visiting the Grey Towers Heritage Associations hospitality tent. Entry to the grounds is free and the festival is rain or shine. For more information, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/greytowers. A map and list of event times can be found at www.greytowers.org.
