Highlighting the rich history of the Byberry neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia by activating four historic sites along or near the Poquessing Creek Trail through public programs and historic restoration and interpretation.
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Benjamin Rush Birthplace
Benjamin Rush House, early 20th century photo. Signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush was born in 1745 in this house in Byberry built c.1690 by his ancestors. Image: Historic American Buildings Survey.
Lenape Memorial
1735 painting of Lenape Chief Tishcohan. The Lenape inhabited the Byberry area for thousands of years before European settlement began in the 17th century. Image: Atwater Kent Collection, Drexel University/Courtesy of Historical Society of Pennsylvania Collection.
Byberry Township African American Burial Ground
Society for the Preservation of Philadelphia African American Assets board members Jacqueline Wiggins and Fred Morrison at a cleanup of the Byberry Township African American Burial Ground. Image by Hannah Wallace.
Byberry Hall
c. 1895 photo of Byberry Hall, built in 1846-1847 by Black abolitionist Robert Purvis and others to host anti-slavery and other meetings. Image: Byberry Library, Byberry Friends Meeting.
We have a wide range of programs and events planned for the project. Follow us on social media and sign up for the email list to keep up with the project and learn about upcoming events.
PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS
Friends of Northeast Philadelphia History • Byberry Friends Meeting • Society for the Preservation of Philadelphia African American Assets • Friends of Poquessing Watershed • Delaware Tribe of Indians • Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks • Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
PROJECT SPONSOR AND FUNDERS
The Poquessing Trail of History is an initiative of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia supported by grants from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage and the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial.
