The Daniel Boone Homestead Associates will kick off the 2025 season of special programming to celebrate the founding of Pennsylvania with an open house on Sunday, March 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Daniel Boone Homestead, 400 Daniel Boone Road, Birdsboro. The event is held annually to commemorate the day that William Penn was granted a charter by King Charles II of England in 1681, which established Pennsylvania.

This year, the event, formerly known as Charter Day, is now Pennsylvania's Birthday. "The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) changed the name from Charter Day to Pennsylvania's Birthday, so all the PHMC-owned sites changed the name," explained Amanda Machik, manager of site events and programs at the homestead.

According to PHMC, the charter granted Penn, who wanted to create a colony where people could worship freely, more than 45,000 square miles of land. The charter, known as "Pennsylvania's birth certificate," was written on parchment with iron gall ink. The charter is stored in a high-security vault in Harrisburg, where it is preserved under special conditions.

Penn originally wanted to name the land "Sylvania," which is Latin for "woods." King Charles changed the name to "Pennsylvania" in honor of Penn's father, William. Thus, the name "Pennsylvania" means "Penn's woods."

Pennsylvania's Birthday is a PHMC-wide event, and several historic sites across the state will participate.

At Daniel Boone Homestead, the birthplace of the frontiersman, there will be 18th-century demonstrations of trades, including leatherworking, sewing, wool dyeing, gunsmithing and blacksmithing.

Stone House History interpreters will also be on hand. "Back for their second year, we are so happy to have Stone House History joining us again, demonstrating tape loom weaving and traditional woodworking," noted Machik.

Visitors can tour the spring cellar and Boone House as they learn about the three families that lived there during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The Boone House, constructed in three stages, is a 10-room stone structure fully furnished to the period.

Other buildings in the historic area will also be open for viewing, including the smokehouse, blacksmith shop and homestead barn. Visitors can also tour the three-room Bertolet log house.

Children will be able to enjoy Colonial toys and games, and members of the Hopewell Quilters will demonstrate quilting.

Another highlight of the day will be when staff members operate the Bertolet sawmill. Visitors will be able to watch the rare piece of machinery in action during live demonstrations at 1 and 3 p.m.

"The sawmill is the oldest operating, water-powered, vertical-blade sawmill in Pennsylvania and one of three in the United States," Machik stated. "It was moved to the homestead in 1972 from its original location in the Oley Valley."

Admission to the Pennsylvania's Birthday event at Daniel Boone is free, but donations will be welcome. No pets, with the exception of service animals, are permitted, and there is no smoking on-site.

Several activities and demonstrations are weather dependent. For up-to-date information, visit http://www.thedanielboonehomestead.org or http://www.facebook.com/@danielboonehomestead.

The Daniel Boone Homestead, situated on 579 acres, is located halfway between Reading and Pottstown, 1 mile north of Route 422 near Baumstown. The homestead is owned by PHMC, and daily historic operations are run by the Daniel Boone Homestead Associates, a nonprofit organization.

Those with questions may call 610-582-4900 or email thedanielboonehomestead@gmail.com.