The many pieces of her life’s puzzle depict Valley Forge’s Barbara Cohen as a Girl Scout, foreign exchange student, valedictorian, race car driver, interior designer, mom, township supervisor, state legislative candidate, former Phoenixville Area Chamber of Commerce executive director, Renaissance Woman and more.

Together, they form the portrait of the National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum’s tenth Rebecca Lukens Award winner.

“I am very honored and humbled to be the recipient of the Rebecca Lukens Award this year,” Cohen said. “She was an amazing woman, especially given the timeframe in which she lived and worked. Her inspirational story gives me the courage and inner strength to continue my quest to make history come alive and be aesthetically appreciated by all!”

Though well-known for many things, Cohen is perhaps best-known for helping literally transform the face of Phoenixville.

“I was able to help lead the effort to restore and adaptively reuse the historic Foundry Building,” she explained. “It is a contributing structure to Phoenixville’s Historic District, and in 1996 it was named as one of Pennsylvania’s nine most endangered historic buildings.

The weddings, corporate and civic events, and meetings that take place in the building play a vital role in bringing people to Phoenixville.”

Cohen will be recognized for all her achievements and honored with the Rebecca Lukens Award, presented by Citadel Federal Credit Union, during a special May 4 twilight garden party at Graystone Mansion in the Lukens National Historic District in Coatesville.

The 5:30 to 8 p.m. event will also premiere the National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum’s new “Coatesville Rolls Into World War I” exhibit featuring the use of iron and steel in the war, Coatesville’s steel companies, the actions of the city’s citizens, the draft and the men from Coatesville who served.

Find more information or get tickets to the award celebration at the museum’s website here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of Rebecca Lukens’ legacy here.