Bites and Bits of History
Fall 2026
Throughout 2026, our Bites and Bits of History programs will align with the America 250-Ohio Monthly Themes.
Visit https://america250-ohio.org/2026-celebration-themes/ for more information.
October 15:
“Restaurants of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley“
with Tom Welsh, local author and historian
Learn about the city’s restaurant industry, moving from 1945 to the present; beginning with a description of postwar downtown Youngstown, including the Mural Room, Raver’s, the Italian Restaurant, and Jay’s Lunch. Explore the manner in which trends contributed to the decline of the city’s restaurant industry and the establishments that have served as symbols of continuity in changing neighborhoods.
November 19:
“To Honor and Remember: Veterans and First Responders at Oak Hill Cemetery”
with Traci Manning, MVHS Curator of Education
From the Revolutionary War to Vietnam, Youngstown Police Department’s first Line of Duty death to medical workers giving their all, this presentation highlights some of the hundreds of veterans, police officers, fire fighters, and other first responders interred at Oak Hill Cemetery.
December 17:
“This Season in History: Yuletide Stories of the Valley’s Past”
with Dante Bernard,
MVHS Museum Educator
The final topic on the America 250-Ohio Commission’s Monthly Themes list is “Future Ohio: Projecting Ohio in 2076.” To quote William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, “what’s past is prologue.” To understand what may come in the future, one must have an understanding of the past. Museum Educator Dante Bernard is taking this idea and infusing it with the holiday spirit, taking you on a journey through the Mahoning Valley’s bygone holiday seasons.
Join the Mahoning Valley Historical Society for Bites and Bits of History Lunchtime Programs, regularly held on the third Thursday of every month. These lectures are free to the public. Bring your lunch and join us to learn about many interesting topics involving the Mahoning Valley. You can also check out our previous virtual programs below, or email Traci should you have additional questions.
You can watch our Bites and Bits of History lectures live on our YouTube Channel at @mahoninghistory
Previous live streams can be found under the “Live” tab on our YouTube page.
Check out these previously recorded lectures on our YouTube Channel:
SUMMER 2021
September 16—Ask a Historian
August 19—Youngstown as a Gretna Green (ONLINE)
July 15—Youngstalia: Italian Foodways in the Mahoning Valley (ONLINE)
SPRING 2021
June 17—Baseball in the Mahoning Valley (ONLINE)
May 20—The History of the Local YWCAs (ONLINE)
April 22—April 1861, 160 Years Later (ONLINE)
WINTER 2021
March 18—Remarkable Women of Trumbull County (ONLINE)
February 27—A Cookie Table and Cocktails Special (ONLINE)
January 21—Tokens of Affection: Historic Valentine Greetings (ONLINE)
FALL 2020
December 17—Cheers to Your Health! (ONLINE)
November 19—The Art of the Glassblower (ONLINE)
October 22—Strolling Through Oak Hill Cemetery (ONLINE)
SUMMER 2020
September 17—MVHS & Good Humor Anniversary Special (ONLINE)
August 20—Shall Not Be Denied: History of the Women’s Suffrage Movement (ONLINE)
July 16—Lowellville, OH: Murders, Mayhem, and More (ONLINE)
SPRING 2020
June 18—What Brought Them Here: African American Migrations into the Mahoning Valley (ONLINE)
May 21—Crazy Quilts in the Mahoning Valley (ONLINE)