621 Wayne Avenue | Indiana, PA 15701
Tuesday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Email: info@hgsic.org
P: 724-463-9600

This program explores how Pennsylvania’s early legal system evolved from William Penn’s remarkably humane “Great Law” to the harsher criminal codes of the 18th century—and how these shifting philosophies shaped justice along the western frontier. As settlers pushed into what would become Indiana County, political battles over judges, courts, and access to justice transformed the Commonwealth’s legal landscape. Learn the dramatic story of how law was created, contested, and adapted to meet the needs of a growing and often unruly region, ultimately laying the foundation for Indiana County’s place within Pennsylvania’s judicial system.

The sound of the 1858 Chickering Square Grand Piano once again echoed through the parlors of the Silas M. Clark House for this annual event in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The HGSIC welcomed Janet Zerfoss, David Reiter, and Shanda Tomer as our featured performers. **Please note that a technical issue prevented the second half of the performance from being recorded. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Bob Fulton, one of our own Indiana County authors, will be presenting a unique history on the Pittsburgh Steelers. This work is a collection of unusual occurrences that happened in the history of the Steeler’s franchise. Find out about the time when a spelling lesson inspired Terry Bradshaw to become a Super Bowl hero and the time Joe Greene drank 27 bottles of Coca-Cola.

It has been 100 years since the most devastating mine explosion in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. On August 26, 2026, the community came together in Clymer Borough to honor the 44 individuals killed in the explosion and recognize the impact it had in the area for years to come. **Please note that a revision of the current plaque featured at the end of this video is being made. We encourage anyone with spelling changes to contact the Society either by phone or email. Contact information can be found at www.hgsic.org

Speaker: Ben Ford, Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Founded just after the American Revolution, Newport Village was the first non-Native village in Indiana County and the site of the county’s first July 4 celebration. The original settlers placed the village to facilitate movement of people and goods from Pennsylvania’s early road system to its riverine highways. The town was largely abandoned by1840, but contained several taverns, residences, and blacksmith shops, as well as infrastructure for loading boats on, and crossing over, the adjacent Conemaugh River. At its height, approximately 30 families lived in the village and were served by a store and post office. As an early settlement in western Pennsylvania, linked directly to the development of transportation and trade in the region, this site contains important information about the frontier period of the Midwest. This talk draws from ongoing archaeological excavations at the site to understand life in early Indiana County. You can support this and other programs by visiting the historical society's website: https://www.hgsic.org

The Historical Society welcomed author James Gindlesperger to discuss his new book, Bullets and Bandages: The Aid Stations and Field Hospitals at Gettysburg. This is a free program of The Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County You can support this and other programs by visiting the historical society's website: https://www.hgsic.org/submitdonation

Join us for an America250 Event as we welcome Dr. Charles Cashdollar to speak on his book "The IUP Story."

On September 4, author James Sagan spoke about his new book chronicling the story of S.S. Robinson. Robinson served as an aviator during World War I in the early days of flight.

Authors Hilary Hauck and Kathleen Shoop joined the Society to discuss various wedding traditions.