Step back in time and imagine yourself as an American spy in George Washington’s army! Join us for an immersive presentation on the Revolutionary War’s secret intelligence networks, secret ciphers, and clandestine operations that helped shape American history.

Presenter: Peggy Greene has had a lifelong passion for history, inspired early on by a teacher who used rich story narrative to bring past events to life. A dedicated educator who homeschooled her five sons for 30 years while leading monthly history workshops for homeschoolers, Peggy continues to share her love of historical storytelling with the community. Her fascination with Anselma's historic Clinton spy map inspired this deep dive into British intelligence routes, George Washington’s counter-espionage tactics, and secret ciphers.

Admission: Free of charge
Donations: Encouraged
RSVP Required:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040E4CA5A623A2F85-61772373-mill#/

This lecture is part of our America 250 celebration, honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and reflecting on the people and events that shaped our nation.

Join us for our annual fall Cider Fest, a beloved community tradition celebrating the harvest season, local history, and time spent together. Now in its fourth year, this event continues the success of the past three festivals that brought families, neighbors, and friends together at the Mill to welcome autumn.

Enjoy fresh apple cider from a local farm, historic milling and bread-baking demonstrations, artisan vendors, live music throughout the day, and a full schedule of children’s games and activities.

We are also honored to welcome local first responders, who will spend time with families and children, showcasing their vehicles and equipment and offering an engaging, up-close experience that kids always enjoy.

Live performances by the Blue Belles and the Lenape Brass Band add to the festive atmosphere, making this a full day of family fun set against the backdrop of one of Chester County’s historic treasures.

Admission: $10 for adults; $5 for children and seniors. Free for Mill members.

Celebrate the harvest. Celebrate community. Celebrate history.

Join us at The Mill at Anselma for a special evening as part of Chester County’s 2026 Town Tours & Village Walks series! In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s expanded program—13 Tours for 13 Colonies—explores the extraordinary places, people, and events across Chester County that shaped our nation’s history.

On September 24th, step back in time at our historic water-powered gristmill, built around 1747. During colonial times, Chester County served as the "breadbasket" of America, providing the essential grain and flour that fed local communities and sustained the Revolutionary-era food supply. During your 50-minute guided walk, you will explore the rich history of the Mill and the families who operated it, see rare early milling technology in action, and discover the critical role our mill played in powering the region’s growth.

Whether you are a local history enthusiast or looking for a memorable family evening stroll, we welcome you to experience the sights and sounds of 18th-century Chester County right here at Anselma.

Discover the role tea played in colonial America during this special themed Demo Day. Learn about tea’s political and cultural significance leading up to the American Revolution while enjoying a historic tea-tasting experience. Mill demonstrations and bread baking will take place throughout the day.

Admission: Regular site admission applies

Donations: Welcome and appreciated

Experience immersive living history programming exploring early Pennsylvania settlement and the interactions between William Penn and the Lenape people. The day includes bread baking, mill demonstrations, candle making, and interpretive presentations throughout the site.

A meaningful opportunity to connect with the region’s early history in an engaging, family-friendly setting.

Admission: Regular site admission applies

Donations: Welcome and appreciated

EVENT RESCHEDULED: Due to the Chester County heat advisory, our July 4th Family Demo Day is moved to Saturday, July 11th (10 AM – 4 PM) for everyone's safety and comfort. See you next weekend!

Celebrate Independence Day at a working 18th-century gristmill. The day features patriotic music by Lenape Brass, special “Dare to Declare” presentations, bread baking, mill demonstrations, face painting, and interactive spy map and code-breaking activities for children.

Experience the spirit of 1776 in an authentic historic setting and reflect on the founding ideals of our nation.

Admission: Regular site admission applies

Donations: Welcome and appreciated

Discover how mills like Anselma powered agricultural production and helped position America as a growing economic force. This lecture connects local milling history to broader themes of innovation, trade, and national development.

Presenter: Jennifer L. Green is a historian, author, and the Director of Education at the Chester County History Center. A specialist in the industrial and social history of Southeastern Pennsylvania, she has dedicated her career to preserving and sharing the heritage of the Greater Philadelphia region. Her professional background includes leadership roles at the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation and a tenure as the Visitor Experience Coordinator at The Mill at Anselma, where she managed public programming and historical interpretation. Jennifer is the author of the Dark History of Penn’s Woods book series and frequently contributes her expertise to projects like the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

Cost: Free of charge
Donations: Welcome and appreciated
RSVP (required): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040E4CA5A623A2F85-61772373-mill#/

This lecture is part of our America 250 celebration, honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and reflecting on the people and events that shaped our nation.

Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a special Demo Day highlighting traditional crafts and women’s contributions to early American life. Activities include fiber arts demonstrations, a presentation by a colonial surveyor, mill operations, children's crafts, bread baking, and tea tasting. Enjoy live music by the Blue Belles and explore the grounds of our historic site.

Admission: Regular site admission applies

Donations: Welcome and appreciated

This event is part of our America 250 celebration, honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and reflecting on the people and events that shaped our nation.

As part of the America 250 commemoration, award-winning author Bruce E. Mowday presents a powerful lecture honoring the ordinary soldiers of the Revolutionary War. While history often celebrates famous leaders, this presentation highlights the sacrifices and endurance of common soldiers whose courage secured American independence.

Presenter: Bruce E. Mowday is an award-winning historian and prolific author specializing in American history, particularly the Revolutionary War and early Pennsylvania. He has written more than 20 books, including works on Valley Forge, Lafayette, and the soldiers of the American Revolution. Mowday is a frequent lecturer, media contributor, and historical consultant whose research brings new insight to the lives of everyday patriots who shaped the nation’s founding. His engaging storytelling style makes complex history accessible to broad audiences while remaining grounded in primary-source research.
Cost: Free of charge
Donations: Welcome and appreciated
RSVP (required): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040E4CA5A623A2F85-61772373-mill#/

This lecture is part of our America 250 celebration, honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and reflecting on the people and events that shaped our nation.

Join us as we open the 2026 season at the Mill at Anselma with a full day of living history demonstrations. The celebration includes a special ribbon cutting for our new Chicken Coop Display, blacksmith demonstrations, full mill operations, and traditional bread baking. Enjoy live music by the Lenape Brass Ensemble (11 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.) as you explore our 18th-century grist mill and learn how grain was transformed into flour using historic water-powered technology.

This family-friendly event marks the beginning of our America 250 programming year.

Admission: Regular site admission applies

Donations: Welcome and appreciated

Join award-winning author and newspaper reporter Bruce E. Mowday as he delivers a thought-provoking lecture on the importance of the Battle of the Brandywine to the success of the American Revolution. On September 11, 1777, the British army came close to capturing George Washington's army and ending America's quest for freedom. The Continental Congress had to flee Philadelphia, settling in York for the winter after the defeat. Was Washington almost killed by British officer Ferguson? A valiant stand late in the afternoon instilled confidence in Washington's soldiers. Lafayette, who championed America's freedom and was largely responsible for France's assistance, became an American hero after being wounded that day.

About Bruce E. Mowday

Bruce E. Mowday has authored more than 25 books on history, sports, business and true crime. He is a Consulting Producer with Lionsgate/Blackfin productions in connection with a documentary on his new book, Killer at the Door. He has appeared on television and radio shows, including The Spark of PBS member station WITF, Counter Culture, a PBS Emmy-winning show, the Discovery ID channel, ReelZ network, C-SPAN, the Pennsylvania Cable Network, Hollywood and Beyond, the Opperman Report, Our American Heritage, Whatcha Got, Journey into the Civil War, Chronicles of the American Civil War, WGAL’s In Focus and local television and radio stations.

Mowday was a guest on the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Revolution 250. He was twice featured in the Authors of the American Revolution Congress hosted by Nathan’s Papers. Bruce is a frequent speaker at various civic and historical groups. The Congress of Civil War Round Tables has named Bruce a “5-Star” speaker.  Mowday has hosted his own radio shows, has been editor of magazines and was chairman of the Chester County Historical Society and president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates. He is a former board member of the Valley Forge Park Alliance and the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau. For more information on Mowday, his books and his schedule of events, see www.mowday.com.

 A member of the American Friends of Lafayette, Bruce is the Chester County Coordinator for the Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration in 2024 and 2025. He is also a member of the county’s 250th committee planning for a celebration of our nation’s founding.

Recent comment from a reader: “This man reigns from Chester County and always seemed to present a balanced view in his early career covering the Courts. I have watched him blossoming into a highly respected author and has not written a boring one yet. We now have another budding celebrity hailing from the region. If you are a book enthusiast, order his books. They are polished and interesting. I’m not usually a big history reader but I’ve enjoyed his work. They are interesting as well as informative His name is Bruce Mowday. I like Bruce because he is talented and a gentleman. I would not push his product if I did not believe it was good work.”

Join our miller, Dave Rollenhagen, as he explains the technical engineering behind the most complete known example of a custom grain mill in the United States. The Mill still operates on the original powertrain built in 1747, offering a powerful educational experience of a heritage engineered to last.

See our 275-year-old Mill in action! Tours on the hour between 10:00 am 4:00 pm. Watch the enormous water wheel drive the original wooden gears that move millstones to grind the flour. Hands-on activities for the kids, and an opportunity to buy the Mill’s own stone-ground flour and cornmeal.

Watch our 275-year-old Mill in action! Tours on the hour between 10:00 am 4:00 pm. Watch the enormous water wheel drive the original wooden gears that move millstones to grind the flour. Hands-on activities for the kids, and an opportunity to buy the Mill’s own stone-ground flour and cornmeal.

As we enter the harvest season, it's a fitting time to reflect on how vital infrastructure like railroads once were in shaping local agricultural success. Learn how the owner of the Mill at Anselma, John Oberholzer, was instrumental in persuading the Reading Railroad to build a spur line through the village near the Mill. The result was the Pickering Valley Railroad, which not only facilitated the movement of goods but also played a significant role in growing the community. Presentation by Docent Tom Tanner.

Watch our 275-year-old Mill in action! Tours on the hour between 10:00 am 4:00 pm. Watch the enormous water wheel drive the original wooden gears that move millstones to grind the flour. Hands-on activities for the kids, and an opportunity to buy the Mill’s own stone-ground flour and cornmeal.

Private event for Exton Regional Chamber of Commerce members, meeting to plan a Chamber event to “Salute and Celebrate Veterans on the Green.”.

Members of the Military Officers Association of America are invited to lunch and a private tour of the Mill.

Watch our 275-year-old Mill in action! Tours on the hour between 10:00 am 4:00 pm. Watch the enormous water wheel drive the original wooden gears that move millstones to grind the flour. Hands-on activities for the kids, and an opportunity to buy the Mill’s own stone-ground flour and cornmeal.

The Mill’s 200 years of history includes five owners and the growth of the surrounding community into a thriving village with a railroad spur. Learn how each owner added to the Mill’s story, including improvements and innovations they made while keeping the Mill’s original 18th century infrastructure intact. Presentation by Docent Kristy Deischer-Eddy.

Students from Pickering Valley Elementary School will enjoy a fun and educational morning at the Mill, with private tours, milling demonstration, and special hands-on activities.

Join us as we kick off our 2025 season! Enjoy live music, educational tours, and live milling demonstrations on our 275-year-old Mill! Tours every hour between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Hands-on activities for the kids, and an opportunity to buy the Mill’s own stone-ground cornmeal.