Ephrata, PA – Today, Melissa Mann, Director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums, announced the appointment of Bradley Smith as the new site administrator at the Ephrata Cloister. Mr. Smith will begin his appointment immediately, transitioning from his most recent role as the site’s curator.
In his new role, Mr. Smith will oversee all aspects of day-to-day operations and visitor services at the Ephrata Cloister. He will be responsible for ensuring a welcoming environment for all visitors and upholding the highest standards of customer service, focusing on community engagement, the interpretation of the historic site, and the preservation of its historic buildings, grounds and collections.
"We are delighted to welcome Bradley Smith to this new leadership role at the Ephrata Cloister," said Melissa Mann, Director of the Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums. "Mister Smith’s deep connections to Pennsylvania history, his comprehensive experience across curatorial work, public programming, and academia, and his specialized knowledge of the site and its history make him the ideal leader for the Ephrata Cloister. We are confident that his expertise and commitment will further the museum's vital mission of preserving and sharing the story of this unique communal society."
Mr. Smith has a distinguished 20-year career with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC). Immediately prior to his appointment as site administrator, he served as the Ephrata Cloister’s curator. His PHMC service also includes 11 years at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, where he held roles as curator and curator-supervisor, and 7 years with the State Museum of Pennsylvania, where he served as a public program coordinator and chief of the museum’s curatorial division.
Prior to his work at Ephrata Cloister, Mr. Smith worked for 6 years with the Berks History Center as a curator, archivist, and assistant director. He has also served as Adjunct Professor of History for 20 years at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, and is a frequent speaker for museums, libraries, and historical societies. Additionally, he has taught Pennsylvania Dutch language classes for several organizations.
Mr. Smith’s notable work has been recognized multiple times, including a PA Governor’s Innovator Award (2014), a PA Museum’s Special Achievement Award (2018), and the Outstanding Pennsylvania German Activities Award by the Deutsch-Pennsylvanischer Arbeitskreis (2024).
A native of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Mr. Smith earned his master’s degree in American History from Shippensburg University in 1997. As an Ephrata resident for more than a decade, he is particularly excited to build and strengthen relationships with community partners in the Ephrata area.
About the Ephrata Cloister
The Ephrata Cloister engages diverse audiences by exploring themes of religious freedom, creative expression, and intellectual inquiry, highlighting Pennsylvania’s historical role in these human rights issues. Founded in 1732 by Conrad Beissel, the Ephrata Cloister was a unique German Protestant monastic community. At its peak, it was home to nearly 80 celibate Brothers and Sisters, living in its striking Germanic-style log, stone, and half-timbered buildings, and nearly 250 family members residing in nearby homes and farms. The celibate Brothers and Sisters led a disciplined life devoted to spiritual devotion and communal labor, creating distinctive manuscripts, choral music, and printed materials that garnered international attention. Learn more about Ephrata Cloister on their website.
The Ephrata Cloister is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and is actively supported by the Ephrata Cloister Associates, a non-profit community-based organization. The Ephrata Cloister is one of 23 historic sites and museums that make up the Pennsylvania Trails of History.
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on Facebook, X , Instagram or LinkedIn.