Program Type:
Presentation- Registration is required for this event.
- Registration will close on March 2, 2026 @ 5:45pm.
- Please enter your library card for our records (Not Required)
Program Description
Event Details
Prepare to embark on a journey of discovery through the rich history of Shenks Ferry. In this engaging program, Adam Zurn shares stories from his adventures exploring the area and brings to life the people, places, and events that shaped this unique community.
The presentation highlights a forgotten settler cemetery hidden deep in the woods, with tombstones dating back to the 1700s, and explores the early 1800s ferry crossing operated by Henry Shenks, whose business gave the location its name. Attendees will learn about coal dredging on the Susquehanna River and how this industrial process influenced the development of the region, as well as the tragic dynamite factory explosion that claimed 11 lives—still the worst industrial accident in Lancaster County history.
The program also features the Safe Harbor petroglyphs, ancient carvings created by Native Americans who once thrived in the Shenks Ferry area. Through captivating storytelling, firsthand accounts, and a few surprises, this presentation transports audiences to a time when Shenks Ferry was alive with activity, from its earliest inhabitants to its industrial era.
This program is free but requestion is required.