Join Us for Engaging Talks with Historians, Authors, and Frontier Storytellers.
The Fort Bedford Museum hosts public lectures, book signings, and panel discussions exploring colonial history, frontier conflicts, regional African American history, and Revolutionary War genealogy.
Explore upcoming and signature presentations produced by the museum and regional historical partners.
Celebrating a Lifetime of Accomplishments: Ned Frear
We are excited to announce that the Fort Bedford Museum will be featuring the artwork of Ned Frear from October 3 through November 14, 2026!
Ned Frear has worn many hats throughout his life — publisher, historian, author, and artist. As the longtime publisher of the Bedford Gazette, Ned has played an important role in the history of our community.
Ned is also a dedicated local historian and the author of eleven historical books, including Whiskey Rebellion, The Lost Children of the Alleghenies, Fort Bedford, and Washington – Bedford and the Constitution.
His passion for art has been a lifelong pursuit as well. Ned's paintings have received recognition at local art shows, and in 2000 he was honored with a one-man art show at the Bedford County Arts Council.
Dates: October 3 – November 14, 2026
Location: Fort Bedford Museum (110 Fort Bedford Dr)
Feature: Original Paintings & Art Retrospective
Hours: Regular Museum Operating Hours
Admission: Included with General Museum Admission
Inquiries: (814) 623-8891
The Frear family has also had a long connection with the Fort Bedford Museum, donating several artifacts to the museum over the years, including a surrey carriage, vintage clothing, and antique printing artifacts.
We invite you to stop by the museum during the exhibit and take a look at Ned's artwork while learning more about the many contributions he has made to Bedford County's history and community.
Support Fort Bedford Museum: Stop in to view Ned Frear's artwork and explore our permanent exhibits celebrating Bedford County's rich past.
Featured Speaker: Patty Wilson, The “Ghost Lady of Pennsylvania”
Join Fort Bedford Museum for a spooky evening with author Patty Wilson, the “Ghost Lady of Pennsylvania,” as she dives into some of Pennsylvania's most fascinating haunted tales and paranormal events! Hear stories of ghosts, unexplained encounters, local legends, and other mysterious happenings from across the Keystone State. It's sure to be an entertaining evening filled with history, mystery, and plenty of chills!
Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Location: Fort Bedford Museum (110 Fort Bedford Dr)
Tickets: $5 per person
Capacity: Only 35 spots available!
Book Signing: Books available for purchase
Ticketing: Order Online via Zeffy
Patty will have her popular books available for purchase (including Haunted Pennsylvania, Monsters of Pennsylvania, and The Big Book of Pennsylvania Ghost Stories) and will be holding a book signing following the presentation. Come meet the author, get a signed copy of her work, and learn more about Pennsylvania's haunted history!
Support Fort Bedford Museum: 100% of the proceeds from this event will benefit Fort Bedford Museum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Bedford and the surrounding region.
Featured Speaker: Mike Giorgianni, Civil War Historian & Educator
Join us at the Fort Bedford Museum on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM for a special presentation with historian Mike Giorgianni as he explores the remarkable life and Civil War career of George Sears Greene.
Greene’s story is one of military achievement, personal perseverance, and an extraordinary return to military service. After spending 25 years working as a civilian engineer, Greene returned to the military at the age of 60 and went on to play important roles in some of the Civil War’s most significant battles.
Mike will explore Greene’s leadership at Antietam and Gettysburg, including his famous defense of the Federal right flank at Culp’s Hill, where Greene employed defensive tactics that were not yet widely accepted or utilized. Come spend an evening exploring the story of a remarkable Civil War officer whose service at Antietam and Gettysburg deserves to be remembered.
Date & Time: Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Location: Fort Bedford Museum (110 Fort Bedford Dr)
Admission: FREE (Registration Required)
Capacity: Only 35 spots available!
Availability: Reserve Early on Zeffy
Registration: Reserve Online via Zeffy
Mike Giorgianni is a lifelong western Pennsylvania resident and longtime middle school social studies teacher in the Hempfield Area School District. With more than 27 years of teaching experience, Mike has a deep passion for American history, particularly the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
His research focuses especially on the Gettysburg Campaign and the contributions of western Pennsylvanians during the Civil War. His historical research has been featured by Emerging Civil War and the Upper Ohio Valley Historical Review.
Support Fort Bedford Museum: Educational lectures and presentations are made possible through the support of the Bedford Heritage Trust and community donors.
Featured Speaker: Dr. Paul Douglas Newman, Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Join us for a special presentation by Dr. Paul Douglas Newman, Professor of Early American History at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, as he explores the history of the Native inhabitants of southwestern Pennsylvania from 1720 to 1770.
Learn more about the Native peoples who lived in our region, their experiences, and their important place in Pennsylvania’s early history. Dr. Newman has taught courses on Early American History and Native American History for over 30 years and is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles on the history of Pennsylvania.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the Native history of southwestern Pennsylvania from an accomplished historian and author. Bring a friend and join us for an evening of history, learning, and conversation!
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Admission: FREE & Open to the Public!
Venue: Kintons Knob
Host: Bedford County Historical Society
Dr. Newman earned his Ph.D. in Early National American History from the University of Kentucky. He is the author of Fries’s Rebellion: The Enduring Struggle for the American Revolution (Penn Press, 2004), co-author/editor of Pennsylvania History: Essays and Documents (Prentice Hall, 2010), and author of the forthcoming Declarations of Independence: An Indian History of “Pennsylvania,” 1682–1776.
Presented by the Bedford County Historical Society at Kintons Knob.
Community Partnership: Promoting regional history, education, and heritage across Bedford County.
Are you an author, historian, or educator interested in presenting at the Fort Bedford Museum? Or would you like to reserve seats for an upcoming talk? Reach out to our program coordinators today.
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