Historic
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Philadelphia’s Masonic Temple Houses Many Unusual Treasures, Including Mold of Former U.S. President’s Face
The mysterious Masonic Temple in Philadelphia houses many unusual treasures, including a replica of Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 plaster life mask, writes Kristin Hunt for PhillyVoice. Home to the Freemasons, members of a centuries-old fraternal organization renowned for its secret rituals and symbols, the building houses approximately 40,000 items, including art, prints, and ceremonial garments. The…
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How Phoenixville Transformed from an Industrial Hotspot to One of Chester County’s Most Beloved Boroughs
Phoenixville’s intriguing history has included everything from industrial factories to an iconic 1950s film, writes Gene Pisasale for Times-Leader. In the centuries since its founding, the borough has transformed from an industrial hub to a charming town that attracts tourists and locals alike. First settled in 1732, Phoenixville was originally named “Manavon.” Businesses flourished during…
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Lost World War II Letters From Soldier Arrives in Ridley 80 Years Later
A soldier’s unopened, undelivered letters from World War II recently made it to his family in Ridley Park, writes Liz Crawford for CBS News Philadelphia. A brother and sister opened three sealed letters from 80 years ago that their late father sent to his parents in 1944. Siblings Kathleen Morris Rosati and John Morris received…
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Paranormal Investigators to Check Out Haunted Marcus Hook Plank House
The one-bedroom Plank House in Marcus Hook is one of the oldest operating houses in Delaware County, and is said to be the home of the pirate Blackbeard. “It dates back to the 1700s,” said Joshua Chjaires, founder of Phantom Detectives LLC. “At that time, Marcus Hook was a well-known shipping port. It has a…
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After Decades of Closure, Lansdowne Theater Set to Open Its Doors Again as a Concert Hall
A century-old Lansdowne Theater is set to open its doors on August 22 after nearly four decades of closure, with the presentation of Chazz Palminteri: A Bronx Tale, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY. The movie theater was forced to close in 1987 after a devastating fire and has stayed unused since then. Ownership of the…
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SS United States, Currently Docked in Alabama, Prepares for Planned Sinking in Late 2025
SS United States, which was anchored at Pier 82 on the Delaware River in South Philadelphia for nearly three decades, is currently in Mobile, Alabama, slated for sinking, writes Cheryl McCloud for the Tallahassee Democrat. The retired ocean liner is currently being prepared for conversion into the largest artificial reef in the world. Its aft…
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Coatesville Ceremony Finally Honors Zachariah Walker After Brutal Lynching in 1911
Coatesville resident Zachariah Walker was finally recognized with a dignified burial after his brutal death over one hundred years ago, reports staff for 6abc. Walker, a Black man, was killed by a white mob after a self-defense shootout with a white police officer. Walker was injured during the shootout, and mob members later kidnapped him…
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Local History Professor Shares His Decades of Duffy’s Cut Research
Local history professor William Watson has shared the story of first discovering Duffy’s Cut, a mysterious landmark in Malvern, as he writes in an article at The Conversation. The Immaculata University professor and a team of students first discovered Duffy’s Cut in 2004. In the decades since, the team has continued research on the site,…
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Fairmount Teen Becomes Youngest Storyteller at Historic Philadelphia’s ‘Once Upon a Nation’ Benches
Zoe Levenstien has eagerly awaited Historic Philadelphia’s annual “Once Upon a Nation” storytelling benches since she was four — and now, at 17, she is the program’s youngest storyteller, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY. “Every summer, from probably 4 years old and on, my family would come down and do the benches,” she said. “We…
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Group of Locals Work to Give Wayne’s Anthony Wayne Theater A New Life
A group of locals have been working to give the shuttered Anthony Wayne Theater new life as an elevated dining and entertainment destination, writes Gina Lizzo for the Main Line Today. At the moment, the semi-gutted interior of the Wayne Theater presents an eerie sight. The inspiring effort to bring the Wayne space back to…
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Joseph Mikulec Autograph Book Heading to Croatia After Century in Philadelphia Private Collection
A book of autographs by Joseph Mikulec, a forgotten Croatian hero, is set to return to his homeland after nearly a century in a private Philadelphia collection, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY. Mikulec was born on a farm near the small town of Oroslavje in 1878. Driven by a strong sense of wanderlust, he spent…
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The Star-Spangled Banner, One of Best-Known National Anthems in World, Has Rowdy Origins
The Star-Spangled Banner, one of the best-known national anthems in the world, has roots far more rowdy than patriotic, writes Barrymore Laurence Scherer for The Wall Street Journal. The melody was originally written by English composer John Stafford Smith as a popular drinking song, “To Anacreon in Heav’n.” A pupil of renowned composer William Boyce…
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Inside Kennett Square’s Long History with the Underground Railroad
As Juneteenth approaches, the Kennett Underground Railroad Center seeks to educate the community on Kennett’s history with the abolitionist movement, writes Madeleine Wright for CBS News Philadelphia. Historic buildings throughout Kennett Square served as stops along the Underground Railroad. The community as a whole was a vital space for abolitionist work throughout the nineteenth century.…
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Looking Back on How a Group of West Philly Middle Schoolers Honored MOVE Bombing Victims
May 13, 2025, marked the 40-year anniversary since the MOVE bombing, in which a State Police helicopter dropped a bomb in Cobbs Creek, killing six adults, five children, and destroying several homes, writes Natalia Sanchez Loayza for Billy Penn at WHYY. Since then, residents and neighbors have been brewing up ways to honor the lives…
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An Underground Railroad Marker Unveiled in Drexel Hill
There’s a marker now in the 400 block of Shadeland Avenue letting people know it is the site of the Riverview House/Cleveland Farm section of Upper Darby’s Underground Railroad, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times. Upper Darby unveiled the marker on Friday. The Upper Darby Underground Railroad self-guided tour was created in 2021 by…
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Philadelphia’s Mount Vernon Cemetery One Step Closer to Being Purchased By New Jersey Green Burials Group
Steelmantown Cemetery, a New Jersey green burials group, is moving closer to buying Philadelphia’s Mount Vernon Cemetery and restoring it to its former glory, writes Isaac Avilucea for AXIOS Philadelphia. The historic cemetery in North Philadelphia has been sitting in disarray for years while local preservationists searched for a new owner. However in April, a…
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Historical Society of Pennsylvania Remembers Pope Francis’ 2015 Philly Visit, Thanks to Collection of Souvenirs
In 2015, Pope Francis made a historic visit to Philadelphia. Upon that visit, the director of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Lee Arnold, made sure to find and collect as much memorabilia as possible to document that visit, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY. The souvenirs collected include 3D photos of the Pope, “I [heart] the…
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Ending the Curse of Billy Penn
Under a long-standing gentleman’s agreement, no building in Philadelphia could rise higher than the hat of William Penn’s statue atop City Hall. But in 1987, after that agreement was violated, Philadelphia’s formerly successful pro sports teams just stopped winning championships. The result: Philly went from four pro teams fighting for championships in 1980 to zero wins after 1986. …
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