We’re celebrating Pennsylvania’s leading role in the 250th anniversary of America with special programming and experiences for all to enjoy!
Check out the featured experiences and events below to learn more.
America250PA Special Experiences
American Alliance of Museums Experiential Workshop
May 20, 2026
Three complementary institutions in the Lehigh Valley are leading an Experiential Workshop as part of the American Alliance of Museums conference being held in Philadelphia May 20-23. It is a unique opportunity for fifty museum professionals from around the world to trace “The Arc of Innovation” in the Lehigh Valley from Colonial times to the present. Participants will visit Bethlehem’s Colonial Industrial Quarter, the National Museum of Industrial History, and Da Vinci Science Center on a daylong bus trip (transportation donated by Discover Lehigh Valley, lunch donated by Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands).
The goal of the workshop is to connect past industry to present economic growth in the Lehigh Valley. Together, these sites demonstrate how informal learning institutions can play a role in sustaining regional competitiveness by linking history and STEAM education to spark curiosity, help fill the talent pipeline, and support a resilient, world-class manufacturing economy.
Ben Franklin Legacy Garden
We are designating our front plaza landscaping as the Benjamin Franklin Legacy Garden in celebration of America250. Our garden is one of four Liberty Legacy Gardens in Lehigh County, with the others being at Leaser Lake, George Taylor House, and Lehigh Valley Zoo.
The garden features newly planted orange flowering Butterfly Milkweed and purple flowering Blazing Star. A bench, commemorative sign, and Franklin-style lamp post will also be installed.
Benjamin Franklin, much like our namesake Leonardo da Vinci, was an innovator, inventor, and scientific thinker. Prior to Franklin’s lamp post innovation in the 1750s, streetlamps were oil-burning, dangerous, and difficult to maintain – thus not widely used. This design, utilizing replaceable panels and a vent system, allowed streetlamps to be widely used all over the world.
Lehigh County Treasure Trail
Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion will be one of the stops on the Lehigh County Treasure Trail, an experience that invites residents and visitors to explore 20 of the region’s most treasured historical, cultural, and recreational landmarks.
A team of middle and high school girls designed and helped manufacture the treasure trail markers in our Fab Lab as part of our Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Initiative. This effort was supported by a Semiquincentennial grant from the statewide America250PA commission.
The girls created graphic designs, prototyped, and learned about Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM).
Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Forum
November 18, 2026
Da Vinci Science Center’s annual Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Forum brings together high school and college girls who are interested in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM) with accomplished women professionals in STEAM fields, ranging from academia and healthcare to design engineering and space exploration.
This event celebrates successes of women in science throughout history, and inspires girls to pursue STEAM careers by hearing from real professionals and making connections with their peers.
Presented by Broadcom Foundation and Sanofi.
