The Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society has recently been notified that it is the recipient of two grants which will aid in marketing and the production of programming.

The Lycoming County Visitors Bureau has awarded the museum $4,378 for the production of a brochure specific to the entry points and rest stops throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A total of 25,000 brochures will be printed and will be distributed at all fourteen of the Official State Welcome Centers as well as at eight Pennsylvania Interstate Rest Areas. The brochures, which will possess a discount coupon, will effectively track the origin of visitors to the museum and will provide data for future regional marketing. The monies derived from a set-aside apportionment of the Lycoming County Room Tax are utilized “for underwriting the expense of promotional and publicity initiatives” and “for the purpose of increasing tourism within Lycoming County”.

The Woodcock Foundation has awarded the museum $1,000 for support of the museum’s Civil War activities during the year 2012. The one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the Civil War is being celebrated throughout the country with a number of specialized activities and exhibits. During the Summer, the Taber Museum will be featuring a display of Civil War weaponry and will host lectures, reenactors, President Abraham Lincoln as portrayed by the nationally-known James Getty, and several hands-on experiences which will allow children to become a ‘soldier for the day’. The activities sponsored by the Woodcock Foundation will be free and open to the public. The Woodcock Foundation is a charitable granting agency which has adopted as its mission statement, “So long as there are little children to be introduced to the creative arts and harried adults who missed exposure to great art and literature and timeless music to be shared across all age groups, there will be a need for efforts to encourage the Appreciation of the Arts.”