Event Category: Winter Speaker Series

presented by Mark Cartella Mark will present a series of narrated slides that will provide attendees with a detailed description of how the developers envision the historic Wanamaker building will be repurposed for an exciting mix of retail, commercial and residential uses. This talk  will provide an overview of The Wanamaker Building’s evolution from its

presented by Jack McCarthy In this talk, Jack McCarthy highlights the fascinating stories behind Philadelphia’s two premier outdoor concert venues: the Robin Hood Dell, which opened in 1930, and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 1976. Based on his new book published by Temple University Press, A Century of Music Under the

presented by William Whitaker In 1953, Japanese architect Junzo Yoshimura designed a now-classic Japanese house and garden that he called Shofuso. It was built in Nagoya, Japan, and shipped to New York in 1954, where it was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art and then relocated to Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. The curators of MoMA’s House

presented by Lori Salganicoff On a rainy Wednesday 149 years and 9 months ago this February, the world descended on Philadelphia to begin a 6-month celebration of American independence, human ingenuity and the dawn of international consumerism. Now, at the beginning of the nation’s Seminquincentennial year of 2026, Philadelphians and Americans can (and should!) look

presented by Rev. Betsy Ivey This presentation discusses the role of the Black Church in Philadelphia as the most important component of the stability of the initial settlement of the African Americans, free and enslaved.  The Black Church initially served as the bridge for the expansion of the spirituality persons brought with them from their

presented by Tom Stokes Carpenters’ Hall, one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in North America, was designed, constructed, and financed in a group effort by the Carpenters Company of Philadelphia. While its primary purpose was to house the Company (and show off their professional talents), the Hall quickly became a profitable and prestigious

In Philadelphia, precious few landmarks remain that provide tangible evidence of our 250-year history. Buildings crumble and are rebuilt on their original sites, creating an illusion of history. Not so with cemeteries – Palmer Burial Ground, St. Peter’s Church graveyard, Mikveh Israel, and Old Swedes Gloria Dei were here during America’s struggle for independence. These

presented by Irene Levy Baker and Chris Mullins Find out what’s brewing at McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia and one of the oldest in the country. Starting with the launch of its new book, Cheers to McGillin’s: Philly’s Oldest Tavern, Chris Mullins, co-owner of the tavern, and author Irene Levy

Presented by Molly Lester and Michael Bixler “Building ghosts” are the idiosyncratic remnants or imprints of demolished buildings, left behind on the sides of neighboring structures. Mostly seen in older Northeastern cities with rowhomes or party-wall adjacencies, they can reveal remarkable things, such as an old staircase going up the side of a building or

Presented by Morgan Lloyd and Michiko Quinones The 1838 Black Metropolis project focuses on reviving the memory of the Black histories of Antebellum Philadelphia. As the Philadelphia grid has stayed relatively stable, and due to historical preservation efforts, many of the homes of Black Philadelphians of the era that are mentioned in primary historical documents