CRANBERRY TWP — Historians, enthusiasts and American patriots of every sort will gather at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cranberry Township on Oct. 4 for the Washington’s Trail Summit 2017, “Envisioning the Past & the Future.”

This year’s event will include presentations by nationally-renowned artist John Buxton; Braddock Road expert Dr. Walter Powell; Mount Vernon Vice President Matt Briney; the National Park Service Superintendent of the Western PA Parks, Steve Clark; and a panel discussion with representatives of Heritage Trails and other long distance trails.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is cosponsored by Washington’s Trail 1753, Oil Region Alliance, Pennsylvania Council for History Education and Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau. Registration is required: $30 for Washington’s Trail 1753 members and $45 for non-members. Non-member tickets will include a one-year membership.

The registration fee provides access to all sessions, door prize drawings, lunch and a commemorative journal.

Registration deadline is Sept. 25.

Washington’s Trail 1753 is a nonprofit formed to commemorate 21-year-old George Washington’s first military-diplomatic mission from Williamsburg in Virginia, through French-controlled territory, to Fort LeBoeuf in Western Pennsylvania, a 1,000-mile round-trip journey.

Based in Butler County, Washington’s Trail 1753 activities are directed by an all-volunteer Steering Committee consisting of representatives from throughout Western Pennsylvania.