What's inside the Watson-Curtze Mansion:
This elegant home, built in 1891, is a stunning example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, inside and out. All of the rooms on the mansion's three floors reveal the ornate style of the era. Rooms on the second and third floor also feature rotating exhibits that are on display for 3 to 6 months. Some are more permanent.
New exhibits 2024/2025 include:
- "Triggering History: Legacy of Erie firearms" Our firearms exhibit displays pre-Civil War era firearms that are either directly or indirectly related to Erie. This exhibit has rifles made by Erie gunsmiths, guns owned by Erie families, War of 1812 era muskets, and archaeological finds from the site of Fort Presque Isle. The firearms in these pictures were made by Erie firearm manufacturers Daniel Weeks and Henry S. Drake. Daniel Weeks was known as one of the best rifle shots in Northwest Pennsylvania. Moving to Erie in 1849, he was a “practical gunsmith” operating out of 139 State Street and later 1203 State Street. Henry S. Drake appears on an 1851 map as a gunsmith and brass foundry on State Street between 7th and 8th. While not much is known about him, based on our collection, he made percussion rifles, some with octagon barrels. Additional firearms are linked to Henry Jarecki's brass foundry and Hugh Lord's family and company, the Lord Corporation.
- Thanks to Elk Creek Township Historical Society, we have a new exhibit with some terrific history. “The Little Church on the Hill” was founded in Wellsburg in 1855, originally named “Church of Our Father, Universalist”. The church had its final closing in 1957, and the Universalist Convention would sign over the building to the Elk Creek Township with the request for it to be used as a community center. The building stood mostly unused until in 1989 a group of interested residents of the township prevented the demolition of the building. The group began holding events to fund the preservation projects, that continue to this day. This church has now become a community treasure to the people of Elk Creek.
- Signs, signs, everywhere a sign: Step back in time to see the magic behind the pitches of brand names that you might or might not remember in our "Made You Look" advertising exhibit open on the second floor of the Watson-Curtze Mansion. Dave Pugh built an exhibit to replicate Rudy Voss' Keystone Market! Thanks to Dave, Steven Mooradian, Rick Schwab, Adam Macrino and Pauline Stanton for bringing this exhibit to life.
- 100 Years of the Erie Zoo: Roar into a century of memories with us If you visited the animals, rode the train, skated around the ice rink, and maybe even worked there, join us for some memories.
- City Lights: The Stained Glass of Erie City Hall and the Erie Steam Bakery will illuminate our second floor in an exhibit of windows and panels that adorned these commercial buildings. Backlighting will reveal the vibrant colors of the original glass designs.
- Our Eugene Iverd collection (1893 to 1936) gained recognition for his cover illustrations in popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, McCall’s, Ladies Home Journal, and The American Magazine and for Campbell’s Soup and many others.
- Lester R. Roesner (1905-1973) The original watercolor paintings, by local artist Lester R. Roesner, feature landscapes or cityscapes. depicting scenes in the Erie area from the mid-20th century. Roesner was born February 27, 1905, in Waukegan, Illinois and later attended Academy High School in Erie. He graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and returned to Erie. He painted an Erie Series of buildings in addition to national works. He also completed murals in local schools and organizations. He was president of the Erie Art Club in 1938 and was employed as the art director at the National Service Engraving Company. He also opened an art studio in Erie.
The following exhibits remain on display:
- Children’s Exhibit-Winifred Watson’s Bedroom
- Expanded Griswold Ironware Exhibit
- Servants’ Quarters
- Battles Bank President Charlotte Elizabeth Battles’ clothing, personal paintings and furnishings
- A tribute to the Curtze family
