Bites and Bits of History
Spring 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.
April 16
“Getting Around: A History of Transportation in the Mahoning Valley”
with Bill Lawson, MVHS Executive Director
From foot power to horse power, packets, trains, planes and automobiles, explore how the Mahoning Valley’s rich transportation history helped the area grow into a major industrial hub. The canal, railroads and roadways moved raw materials, iron and steel, and locally made automobiles moved people, for generations. Transportation has been vital to our story.
May 21:
“Greystone: An Arts & Crafts Home”
with Jessica Tricket, MVHS Collections Manager
The Arts & Crafts architectural style grew from a philosophical movement launched by 19th-century English
writers, art critics, and designers. They stressed the interdependence of art and labor, both important to the well-
being of society. These ideas came as a reaction to industrialization, urbanization, and modernization. See how
Olive Arms used the Arts & Crafts aesthetic to create a residential oasis in the heart of Youngstown in 1905.
June 18:
“The Natural Foundations of Industry: The Story of Mill Creek Park”
with Diana Alexander, Geologist and Mill Creek MetroParks Educator
Explore the deep natural history that helped shape the rise of Youngstown in this engaging lecture centered on
Mill Creek MetroParks. Millions of years before the first furnaces were lit, ancient seas, glaciers, and shifting
landscapes left behind the natural resources that would later fuel the region’s industrial growth. This program
examines how the geology and waterways preserved within Mill Creek Park connect to the development of
local industry. Learn how these ancient deposits influenced settlement, powered early mills, and ultimately
contributed to the rise of Youngstown as a major industrial center. Along the way, we’ll highlight historic
locations within the park and explore the lasting relationship between the natural landscape and the city’s
industrial past.
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)