America's 400th Anniversary

This national commemoration marks the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, on May 14, 1607.

Thirteen years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth rock, three ships reached the new world and landed at what is now known as the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The ships were the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the smallest of the three, the Discovery.

As soon as land was in site, sealed orders were opened which named Captain John Smith as one of the "counselors". The settlers quickly set about building the James Fort which covered an acre on Jamestown Island.

This small English outpost was located near 14,000 Algonquian-speaking Native American Indians, led by their chief, Powhatan. Pochontas was the chief's daughter.

Please watch this site and the local newspapers for the commemorations to be held at our local Historical Societies.

Armstrong History! Website Draws State Attention

This website of the Armstrong History Alliance has caught the attention of Janet MacGregor, Assistant Director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations. She was excited to find the interaction and collaboration of the small societies in the County and the website we developed.

Two members of the Alliance have been invited to share our success story at “Survive, Strive, and Thrive”, the 2007 Statewide Museum Conference on April 22 – 24 at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Debbie McCanna, president of the Alliance and Connie Mateer, secretary will present our story. McCanna is with the Brady’s Bend Historical Society and Mateer is with Armstrong Co. Historical Museum & Genealogical Society and also with Dayton Local History Society.

Read the Full Press Release →

Apollo Area Historical Society
The W.C.T.U. Building

The Women's Christian Temperance Union was organized in 1864 under the direction of Miss Frances Willard. The goal of the organization was "total abstinence for the individual and sobriety for the nation." The W.C.T.U. also held steadfastly to another purpose - a campaign of education.

In 1909, the W.C.T.U. building was erected as the W.C.T.U. headquarters and to provide a suitable space for a public library. The building was home to Armstrong County's first library, the Apollo Free Library, from 1911 until 1965 when the new Apollo Memorial Library was built on Pennsylvania Ave.

In 1997, Apollo Borough purchased the building from the State W.C.T.U. Organization, and the following year, turned the building over to the Apollo Area Historical Society to be used as a meeting place and local historical museum.