Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks

Free community event in the Grumblethorpe garden to harvest and roast ginkgo berriesEver wondered what to do about fallen ginkgo berries? Come to our Ginkgo Roast to find out!This free event opens the Grumblethorpe garden to the community to learn about the ginkgo tree and participate in urban harvesting. The ginkgo tree at Grumblethorpe is one of the oldest female ginkgoes in the United States, planted by Charles Wister Sr. in about 1830. Join Operations Manager Michael Muehlbauer to learn about the ginkgo tree, harvest the berries, and roast the ginkgo nuts to eat. Ginkgo nuts have been consumed as

Kick off the growing season with the Grumblethorpe Plant Sale! This third annual fundraiser fills your gardens with plentiful greens and supports PhilaLandmarks in restoring the roof at Grumblethorpe. Friday, May 12th 4PM-7PM | Saturday, May 13th 10AM-2PM

Ever wonder what life was like in Colonial America? What it was like to write with a quill or how sheep’s wool was spun to make clothing? And how in the world did children amuse themselves long before the invention of Nintendo? You’ll learn all that and more at the Colonial Farm and Craft Day 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli. Volunteers from Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation in Newtown Square will demonstrate a range of crafts and farming techniques right out of the 18th Century, including flax processing, spinning and carding wool, quill writing,

Legendary Bluesman and Storyteller Roy Book Binder in ConcertBring lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy an afternoon together listening to Roy Book Binder in the Grumblethorpe garden on Saturday, July 29, 2023, from 2:00 - 4:30 PM. Roy Book Binder is a blues singing, guitar picking, song writing raconteur, and has been for the past 40 years. Tickets are $30, and a light lunch and refreshments are included with admission. The concert will be two (2) hours and have an intermission and a meet and greet session afterwards. CDs will be available to purchase. This concert is a fundraiser

In Their Own Words: Letters from the Valley Forge Encampment Continental Army soldiers wrote lots of letters during the long winter in Valley Forge in 1777-78. Many of those letters survive, and they tell a valuable story about love, hardship and perseverance during a time of war. Come hear scholar and author Nancy Loane talk about that and more at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli. A former ranger at Valley Forge National Historical Park and the author of Following the Drum: Women at the Valley Forge Encampment, Loane will highlight some of the fascinating and

A Hill-Physick House FundraiserImmerse in the Halloween spirit at the Hill-Physick House Fall Fundraiser on Thursday, October 26th. Fans of Stanley Kubrik's The Shining, come meet Lloyd the Bartender. Look for the Grady Twins, and experience a Gothic art installation Dark Forest by Heather Ujiie. Lastly, come in costume! The most awesome costumes will win a gift. The Haunting of Hill-Physick House is a fundraiser for PhilaLandmarks to continue preservation and interpretation at our historic houses. Tickets are $50 tax deductible. Purchase tickets online here or call 215-925-2251.This event is sponsored byJohn Milner ArchitectsSociety Hill Civic AssociationOcean Tents & Party

What was it like in 1793 when Philadelphia was overcome with the Yellow Fever plague?Please join PhilaLandmarks and Christ Church Burial Ground for an educational walking tour highlighting the horrors of the devastating Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793.We will explore the medical realities and social impacts of the fever in Philadelphia by visiting the Hill-Physick House, Powel House, Dr. Rush's House, Christ Church Burial Ground and more!

Halloween crafts and candy hunt at Grumblethorpe!Bring the kids to Grumblethorpe for Halloween! Grumblethorpe Youth Volunteers will host a spooky garden and candy hunt with pumpkin painting, crafts and games from 4-6pm on Sunday, October 29th. $5 suggested donation per kid. Free entry available, no questions asked. Don't be shy and come on by! Costumes encouraged.

Join us in the garden for a community Ginkgo Roast!Join us for the 5th Annual Grumblethorpe Ginkgo Roast on 11/11 from 1-3pm! This year, we will try ginkgo bean curd soup alongside fresh roasted ginkgo seeds and beats from local partners S(tree)tworks, who is even bringing their see saw printing press!

A holiday event at Historic Waynesborough for the whole family!Join the family fun at the Holiday Candlelight Tour and Open House, 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli. The historic mansion has been beautifully decorated for the season by local garden clubs. Take a tour, craft festive ornaments for the holiday tree, and enjoy refreshments, music, and more. Tree lighting at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults$5 for children$25 for families and groups of fourTickets available at the door or online.

Ever heard of the Ticking Tombstone? How about the Gray Devil? Charles Adams will talk about those bits of local lore and other fascinating legends at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli. Adams has been tracking strange happenings all around Pennsylvania and the Jersey Shore for decades, and has written more than a dozen books on the subject. His talk will focus on the ghostly sightings, haunted houses and other oddities of the Philadelphia region, including Chester, Montgomery and Delaware Counties. Adams is the editor of The Historical Review of Berks County. He has served as

Join us as we kick off the Hill-Physick House Spring Plant Sale!Enjoy drinks and nibbles with first access to the handpicked herbs, house plants, annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets.

Returning to the garden!PhilaLandmarks and the Hill-Physick House Garden Committee are pleased to announce the return of the Annual Spring Plant Sale. This beloved neighborhood event directly supports the maintenance and operations of the Hill-Physick House.We will have hand-selected herbs, house plants, annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets available in the Hill-Physick garden on Friday, May 3rd (10a-5p) & Saturday, May 4th (10a-4p).We will also have a variety of local artisans selling handcrafted wares to accompany your new plants and flowers. Information about the artisans to be announced at a later date.

PhilaLandmarks and the Hill-Physick House Garden Committee are pleased to announce the annual Spring Plant Sale. This beloved neighborhood event funds the operations of the Hill-Physick House. We will have available hand selected herbs, house plants, annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets in the Hill-Physick garden on Friday, May 3rd (10AM-5PM) and Saturday, May 4th (10AM-4PM). During the Plant Sale, there will be vendors of unique wares and goods in the garden. On Thursday May 2 from 5 PM – 7 PM, join us as we kick off the Hill-Physick House Spring Plant Sale and enjoy drinks and nibbles with first

The Powel House Garden Party – This year’s “talk of the town”! Join us for an elegant evening in the Powel House Garden on May 17th from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Whether you enjoy basking in a beautiful garden, learning about eighteenth-century history, or are a fan of Bridgerton, you’ll find something to love at this event. Enjoy a live violinist (playing everything from Vivaldi to Taylor Swift!), delicious hors d'oeuvres, a signature cocktail or mocktail, and good company on this spring evening. Tickets are $125

This year’s “talk of the town”!Join us for an elegant evening in the Powel House Garden. Whether you enjoy basking in a beautiful garden, learning about eighteenth-century history, or are a fan of Bridgerton, you’ll find something to love at this event. Enjoy a live violinist (playing everything from Vivaldi to Taylor Swift!), delicious hor d'oeuvres, a signature cocktail or mocktail, and good company on this spring evening.Tickets $125

Farm to Table dinner from the garden at GrumblethorpePhilaLandmarks and the Grumblethorpe House Committee invite you to join us for an early summer evening farm to table dinner to be held al fresco on the grounds of the working farm at Grumblethorpe, home of the Wister family. The dinner will take place under the stars in Grumblethorpe's lush garden. The dinner will prominently feature home grown ingredients from the 280-year-old working farm and kitchen garden grown by local students participating in the youth food program under the tutelage of the Grumblethorpe Youth Volunteer Mentor and Grumblethorpe Operations Manager. Grumblethorpe Staff

Monster-themed Halloween fundraiser for the Hill-Physick HouseImmerse in the Halloween spirit at the Monster Mayhem Halloween Fundraiser at Hill-Physick House on Wednesday, October 30th. Classic cinema from the 1930's through the 1950's produced so many wonderfully eccentric monster movies. Let us usher you into this bygone era with movie posters, popcorn, flickering silent film, the DNA-Splice signature cocktail, and innumerable Halloween delights. Costumes are optional! Enjoy unlimited food and drink while you help support the preservation of this 18th century historic house.Monster Mayhem Halloween Fundraiser at Hill-Physick House is a fundraiser for PhilaLandmarks to continue preservation and interpretation at our

Gary Ecelbarger speaks at Historic Waynesborough for a new and fascinating look at the Battle of the CloudsThe Battle of the CloudsJoin historian and author Gary Ecelbarger at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, for a new and fascinating look at the Revolutionary War battle that nobody won and which hardly happened at all.This tale of wet gunpowder, muddy roads, and missed chances still fascinates military scholars and history buffs alike. What really happened the day the Continental Army and the British redcoats stared each other down from two opposing hillsides outside of Paoli?Ecelbarger has written 10 books and dozens of

Start the holiday season in the historic Powel HouseThe Powel House Committee cordially invites you to our traditional holiday party. Celebrate the season and enjoy the evening in the historic Powel House on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Enjoy the holiday buffet and cocktails while members of the Orpheus Club of Philadelphia lead guests in carols. This year, we are pleased to feature portrait artist Ted Stuessy, who will create personalized hand-cut silhouettes for guests to take home. There will be a silent auction to help support the preservation and interpretation of the houses of PhilaLandmarks and is a great way

The Historic Waynesborough Open House and Candlelight tour is on December 15, 2024 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Tour Anthony Wayne’s House and learn about holiday customs, create a festive craft, and enjoy beverages and cookies after the tour. All tours begin in the Carriage House located at 2049 Waynesborough Road, Paoli, PA 19301. Admission is $10 for adults $5 for children $25 for families and groups of four Tickets available at the door or online.

The Battle of the Wabash On November 3, 1791, the army of the new American republic congregated along the Wabash River in Ohio to prepare an attack on Native American strongholds. By the end of the next day, the army would suffer what was to be the worst defeat in U.S. history by Indigenous people. Sometimes called The Battle with No Name, this bloody event would trigger the first-ever Congressional investigation and halt U.S. westward expansion for the next four years. Join author Rick M. Schoenfield at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Historic Waynesborough to find out more about

Willistown Conservation Trust will talk about supporting birds in your neighborhoodMany cavity-nesting birds, like bluebirds, have become reliant on manmade bird boxes to provide them with the safe spaces they need to raise their young. Willistown Conservation Trust will speak at Historic Waynesborough about The Bluebird Project on Sunday, April 13th from 2:00 - 3:30 PM. With unprecedented habitat loss and insect declines, birds need all the help they can get. Fortunately, our yards hold the keys to restoring some of this lost habitat while restoring our shared ecosystems. Learn all about how to support bluebirds and other native songbirds by maintaining bird boxes,

Join us to watch Grumblethorpe transform into a Wisteria Wonderland, alongside a variety of tulips and other Spring bulbs. Enjoy Spring Garden Moments and a cup of Wisteria lemonade at Grumblethorpe for the Historic Germantown Stamp Rally Kickoff!

Please join the Powel House Committee and PhilaLandmarks for a special day of touring three historic mansions along the Delaware River.Please join the Powel House Committee and PhilaLandmarks for a special day of touring. We will be visiting three historic mansions along the Delaware River and enjoying lunch at the oldest tavern in Pennsylvania.As an added bonus we will have a special guide on the bus to provide additional information about interesting places we pass as we travel from site to site. Our tour will start at the lovely Glen Foerd house built in 1850 by Charles Macalester. The next

Join us as we kick off the Hill-Physick House Spring Plant Sale!Enjoy drinks and nibbles with first access to the handpicked herbs, house plants, annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets.If you are unable to make it to the kick off party, be sure to come to the plant sale on Friday, May 2nd (10AM-5PM) and Saturday, May 3rd (10AM-4PM) at the Hill-Physick House.If you want to get an even earlier head start on buying plants, you may preorder them here

Lecture by Ellen Endslow from Chester County History CenterAlliances and negotiations in the 1600s formed relationships between the indigenous Lenape and the Europeans who colonized what is now eastern Pennsylvania. Join us on May 8, 2025 at 7 PM in the Historic Waynesborough Carriage House for a presentation by Ellen Endslow that examines how the mutual respect for self-determination, shared land use, and freedom shifted as colonial leadership changed and settlers increased in the early 1700s. The presentation also looks at some of the decisions leading to the removal of indigenous people from Pennsylvania in order to share some insights

Spend an enchanted evening in the Powel House garden. Sip refreshing cocktails while feasting on a delicious buffet and passed hors d'oeuvres while enjoying the entertainment and lively companionship of friends new and known. Spring attire and fancy hats encouraged! Tickets $125

Spring's most awaited event!Spend an enchanted evening in the Powel House garden. Sip refreshing cocktails while feasting on a delicious buffet and passed hors d'oeuvres while enjoying the entertainment and lively companionship of friends new and known.Spring attire and fancy hats encouraged!Tickets $125

Presented by Historic Waynesborough and the Valley Forge Park AllianceExplore why William Penn founded the city between two rivers and the ecological and geological forces that define the region, and hear how the Lenape, the region’s first people were themselves active forces in shaping the landscape.Learn what flora and fauna Anthony Wayne, George Washington, and Ben Franklin saw during their time and what has changed today.

Join us for a BYOB Happy HourThis summer we are excited to open up the the beautiful Hill-Physick House garden for a happy hour evening. Come bring a bottle of wine and enjoy one of the neighborhoods premier private gardens.Admission will be $12 at the door. Water and light snacks will be provided.Rain date is the following Thursday, June 26th.

This summer we are excited to continue our garden happy hour series and open the the beautiful Powel House garden. Come bring a bottle of wine and enjoy one of the neighborhood’s premier private gardens. Admission will be $12 at the door. Water and light snacks will be provided. Rain date is the following Thursday, July 24th.

Colonial Farm and Craft Day at Historic Waynesborough Ever wonder what life was like in Colonial America? What it was like to write with a quill or how sheep’s wool was spun to make clothing? And how in the world did children amuse themselves long before the invention of Nintendo? You’ll learn all that and more at the Colonial Farmstead Day 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 3, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli. Volunteers from Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead, Chester County Beekeeper Association, Springton Manor Farm will demonstrate a range of crafts and farming techniques right out of the 18th

Play colonial games, make ice cream, and see a honeybee hive!Colonial Farm and Craft Day at Historic WaynesboroughEver wonder what life was like in Colonial America? What it was like to write with a quill or how sheep’s wool was spun to make clothing? And how in the world did children amuse themselves long before the invention of Nintendo?You’ll learn all that and more at the Colonial Farmstead Day 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 3, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli.Volunteers from Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead, Chester County Beekeeper Association, Springton Manor Farm will demonstrate a range of crafts and

Join us as our BYOB Happy Hour Continues into the Fall.As we enter into the fall season, we are excited to open the beautiful Hill-Physick House garden for a happy hour evening. Come bring a bottle of wine and enjoy one of the neighborhood’s premier private gardens.Admission will be $12 at the door. Water and light snacks will be provided.

If you've ever wanted to learn how to sketch in watercolor, this is a perfect way to get started. Led by local artist Anne Kullaf, we will paint on the beautiful grounds of Grumblethorpe using watercolor, focusing on the plants, gardens, and architecture of this historic farm. ALL levels, including total beginners, are welcome! All materials are provided, and there will be demos and lots of individualized attention. Group size is limited so register today!

Historian and author Mike Harris will discuss the fascinating and little-known story behind the 1777 Battle of Fort MercerThe Continental Army Defeats the Hessians at Fort MercerHistorian and author Mike Harris will discuss the fascinating and little-known story behind the 1777 Battle of Fort Mercer at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli.Harris will talk about the role of Hessian forces, their attack on the New Jersey fort and their defeat by the Continental Army. It would be the army’s only victory during the long and bloody Philadelphia Campaign waged by the British as they marched their

Annual Hill-Physick House Halloween FundraiserAttention cool cats! Grab your flapper dress, brush up on the Charleston, and pour yourself some bubbly. Tickets are on sale for PhilaLandmarks’ annual Halloween fundraiser! This year‘s theme is the Spooky Speakeasy, the bee’s knees of fall festivities.This all-you-can-eat-and-drink soirée will transport you back to the Roaring Twenties for an evening that would make Gatsby and gangsters jealous. Complete with custom cocktails and mocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, music, costume contests, and more.Tickets are $75 and help preserve the Hill-Physick House. Reserve your spot now before tickets sell out.This event is kindly sponsored by:

Philadelphia. The home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and of course Ben Franklin, who once invented things and coined pithy sayings while stoking the flames of revolution. But Philadelphia—the Athens of America, the City of Brotherly Love—is so much more than what you learned in school. Join author and historian Paul Kahan at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Historic Waynesborough in Paoli to hear about the fabric of culture and history that has always been Philadelphia. Kahan will discuss not just the city’s roots—the Lenape people who once lived along the Delaware River and the European settlers