Blue Rock Heritage Center, 2251 River Road, Washington Boro, will host its annual open house event on Sunday, June 4, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Heritage Center features exhibits and displays of the local area with a focus on native indigenous people who once inhabited the immediate area. It is located in a renovated 1832 stone grist mill that was constructed by Jacob Witmer. A recent acquisition to the displays is a coverlet made by Jacob Witmer, which is signed and dated 1838. The coverlet was woven on a home loom, which was common during the period. Another new item is a board with the date 1807 and carved name of W.M. Lewis. This board was found in the barn, and the signature has been identified as that of William M. Lewis, who married Jacob Witmer's daughter, Catherine.

The open house will feature a 2 p.m. presentation by Ed Wilson. The one-hour slideshow session, "The Indigenous Peoples and Their Land," will highlight the environment of the area and how it influenced the prehistoric people and their occupation of the land. Wilson will utilize archaeological records to present how the prehistoric people adapted to the local environmental conditions. He will focus on the historic contact period, which represents the impact of the Europeans on the indigenous people.

Circle Legacy, a local group that promotes Native American lifestyles and culture, will have a display table showcasing and explaining traditional items. Many items are handmade, representing how animals and plants were utilized to provide for some of the necessities.

Members of Chapter 28 of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology and Debbie Saylor, curator of the Blue Rock Heritage Center, will be present to identify artifacts. People who have found arrowheads, stone tools, or other objects and would like to know about them should bring them along to be identified. Many times, the time period for the arrowhead or stone tool can be identified by its style and stone material.

Additionally, the 1856 Wittmer barn will be open for visitors to see the current renovations that have taken place over the last few years. The large-frame, Pennsylvania-style bank barn, constructed in 1856 by Christian Wittmer, has been undergoing restoration for several years. Exterior siding and windows have been replaced, masonry repairs have occurred, and new electric has been installed. It is envisioned that the barn will be used to display agricultural equipment and to hold special events. The local sewer authority, LASA, which owns the building and leases it to Blue Rock, has provided many of the materials and supplies for the restoration. Volunteers have provided the labor to install the new siding and windows and have painted the structure.

The open house is free to attend, and parking is located at the parking lot by the river access at Blue Rock Road. A paved pathway connects the parking lot and Heritage Center.