Chester County History Center is home to over 100,000 photographs, 70,000 objects, and 750,000 documents and manuscripts that explore and preserve the rich history of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It’s also home to the award-winning permanent exhibit, Becoming Chester County, which is all about choices—the choices that colonists and indigenous peoples made. Colonists made difficult choices to immigrate
Archives: Walking Tours
Powelton Village
The small neighborhood of Powelton Village in West Philadelphia has great stories to tell. Settled by Welsh Quakers after 1682, the village was named for the 18th-century estate of Samuel Powel, the mayor of Philadelphia during the Revolution. This tour features an eclectic variety of mid- to late 19th-century houses, mansions, and a few churches
Powelton Village
The small neighborhood of Powelton Village in West Philadelphia has great stories to tell. Settled by Welsh Quakers after 1682, the village was named for the 18th-century estate of Samuel Powel, the mayor of Philadelphia during the Revolution. This tour features an eclectic variety of mid- to late 19th-century houses, mansions, and a few churches
Mount Moriah Cemetery
Join Bill Warwick on a walk through time on nearly 200 rolling acres of secluded, and largely unknown Victorian era rustic green space situated in South West Philadelphia and Yeadon Delaware County. Chartered in 1855 and the final resting place for an estimated two hundred thousand persons, we will walk and discuss the history of the cemetery
Collaboration Old City Tour with FringeArts
The Preservation Alliance and FringeArts is excited to present a unique collaborative tour experience on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 3:00 pm-6:30 pm. Join us on a tour of Old City led by Preservation Alliance Tour Guide, Antoinette Langeveld, starting at Elfreth’s Alley with stops featuring the Philadelphia Fringe Festival along the way. Highlights include Rhythm Bath, an immersive and
Frankford
Discover beautiful Victorian residences, churches, and public buildings in this historic neighborhood that developed along an old Native American trail. See the commercial revitalization efforts of today’s Frankford Avenue. Learn about Frankford’s early history that predates Philadelphia and how it figured prominently in this city’s colonial past. Experience its tremendous growth during the city’s industrial
Lansdowne
Explore historic Lansdowne Borough and its early Victorian subdivisions that were created as a result of the expansion of the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad. Lansdowne has two National Register listed Historic Districts, 12 locally designated districts and hundreds of historic buildings, all within a square mile. Come explore the tree-lined streets of two neighborhood
Beechwood: Suburban Haverford Township
Explore the early 20th Century suburban developments of Penfield, Brookline, and Beechwood that were made possible by the expanded railroad and trolley lines. The tour includes the former site of the short-lived Beechwood Amusement Park that was created by the P&W in 1907 as well as the former home of the Slinky inventor. Take a
Female Founders of Haddonfield
Haddonfield, NJ is known for its historical Colonial charm once settled by English and Irish Quakers in the late 1600’s. Named by Elizabeth Haddon at just 21 years of age, Haddonfield became a pleasant village providing goods and services to the surrounding farms. In this tour, learn about the incredible women who shaped the town
Spruce Hill Victoriana
Walk tree-lined streets graced with homes that are crowned with Italianate towers and Queen Anne Revival gables. Hear how public transportation encouraged development of this West Philadelphia neighborhood as a streetcar suburb.
