Due to an interior water leak on 1/23/25 caused by extreme cold, the Johnstown Flood Museum ONLY is temporarily closed. Thankfully, nothing of historic significance was affected. The water remediation team concluded their work, which leaves repainting, floor refinishing, and replacement of carpet and soundproofing materials. We are currently waiting for insurance adjustors and approval of quotes, a process we cannot control. In the meantime, we apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to remediate and repair our beloved flagship museum.

In the meantime, we are pleased to present Relic Tales of the Johnstown Floods at the Heritage Discovery Center, which is unaffected and operating normal business hours. This new temporary exhibition includes more than 200 artifacts and photographs, many of which have never been on display before, from the Johnstown flood of 1889 (as well as 1936 and 1977).  Welcome!

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JAHA-commissioned footage to be used as part of Johnstown Symphony free concert at the Lower Works

JAHA-commissioned footage to be used as part of Johnstown Symphony free concert at the Lower Works

Posted: October 16, 2017 11:09 am

The Johnstown Symphony Orchestra is starting their season with a bang by presenting a free concert at the Lower Cambria Ironworks Machine Shop! The “All-American Program” is set for 7:30 pm on Friday, October 20.

JAHA-commissioned film footage will be shown during Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture from On the Waterfront.” The footage was shot in the Bethlehem mills in Johnstown just two weeks before two divisions closed forever in 1992 thanks to Richard Burkert, president of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association. Richard understood the need to document this crucial part of Johnstown’s history, and obtained a grant from the National Park Service’s Industrial Heritage Project. He then hired Charles Guggenheim, the filmmaker who had directed the Johnstown Flood Museum’s Academy Award-winning documentary, to shoot the 70mm film.

Today portions of the footage are used in the Heritage Discovery Center’s film “The Mystery of Steel,” which also tells the story of the technical innovations in steelmaking that were developed in Johnstown in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Magic Lantern, the Pittsburgh-based company that produced “The Mystery of Steel,” has edited the footage for the symphony performance.

We’re delighted that this JAHA resource is going to be shown during the concert, and wish the JSO all the best on their upcoming season.