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Historic Germantown wants you to visit nine of its twenty destinations and museums in Northwest Philly this summer at a discounted rate.
The Historic Germantown OnePass bundles admission to several locations, offering visitors more flexibility, said Caitlin Mongan, Manager of Operations & Partnerships at Historic Germantown.
“We have kind of corralled the OnePass with these sites so that it would be more accessible to visitors,” she said. “We’re also trying to keep the cost a little bit more equitable. We’re trying to make it really accessible for our local community, like the greater Northwest Philly folks, as well as any tourists or visitors that are interested in seeing multiple sites.”
The sites included give visitors a range of options to learn about Germantown’s history, Mongan said.
“They range from large sites like Clivden, which is an 18th-century country estate, and they have a fantastic house museum, and it’s also the site of the 1777 Battle of Germantown, to smaller sites, such as the Colored Girls Museum, which is like a world-renowned art museum and they have rotating exhibits all the time.”
Connecting to history
Germantown began as a settlement of German immigrants in 1683 – almost a full 100 years before the U.S. was officially founded. Although it was originally its own independent township, it eventually became the site of Revolutionary History.
The area is where the Battle of Germantown was fought in 1777, and it was also the temporary spot where George Washington and his cabinet lived in 1793.
Mongan said Historic Germantown aims to spread awareness about this history – oftentimes through its museums and historical sites.
“A big part of our mission here in Historic Germantown is really reaching out to our local constituents and having awareness of these incredible sites,” she said. “Germantown alone is such a special place when you talk about the history, but also there’s… the evolving culture over the 300 years that we’ve been here.”
She said although this pass only gives access to nine of the organization’s twenty sites, they hope that this piques visitors’ interest in the area enough to continue exploring.
“Maybe you come to these sites, and then you’re here and you think, ‘Oh wow, I’ve heard of this one house, Grumblethorpe, and I didn’t realize it was right there,’” she said. “And maybe you’re interested in Grumblethorpe, and you schedule a tour with them at a later date.”
The pass itself costs $43 for those thirteen or older, and it’s $28 for seniors and youth. This includes one-time access to all nine sites – which Mongan said can be used in any way you want.
“It’s up to you if you’d like to use them in a day, in 2 or 3 days, or if you’d like to go once a week,” she said.
The pass is valid for use any time on Fridays and Saturdays between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. through August 29.
Mongan said this gives participants the opportunity to split up their site visits over multiple weekends.
“If you’re an adult, $43 gives you either three days or three different weekends of things to do in the area,” she said. “Because if you go to more than three sites, I personally think you’ll get some fatigue.”
Mongan explained that she hopes the program could be extended in the future to add more sites.
“A big initiative for us at Historic Germantown is to have access to all of our sites be consistent,” she said. “That’s something that we’re really working towards. So right now, we have nine sites on the OnePass. We’re hopeful at a later date to have more of our sites be open on the same days and times.”
Mongan said to be aware of the site hours and reservation requirements before visiting.
The following sites are included in the OnePass subscription:
- Cliveden – an 18th-century country estate; a site of enslavement and the 1777 Battle of Germantown. It is open Thursday-Sunday from 12-4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are encouraged.
- The Colored Girls Museum – an internationally-recognized museum with a stated mission “to provide sanctuary for the collective memory of ordinary Black girls, women, and gender-expansive peoples.” It is open Friday-Saturday from 12-4 p.m. Reservations are required.
- Concord School House – a one-room schoolhouse from 1775. It is open Fridays and Saturdays from 12-4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
- Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion – Philadelphia’s only Victorian historic house museum. It is open Friday to Sunday from 12-4 p.m. Reservations are encouraged.
- Germantown Historical Society – library and archives featuring exclusive collections and art exhibits. It is open Thursday to Saturday from 12-4 p.m.
- Johnson House – one of the city’s few intact historic sites and waystations on the Underground Railroad that is open for tours. It is open Friday and Saturday from 12-4 p.m.
- Lest We Forget Slavery Museum – a singular collection of authentic slavery artifacts. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12-4 p.m. Reservations are required.
- Stenton – the 1730 home of James Logan and Philadelphia’s most authentic historic house. It is open Tuesday to Thursday from 1-4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12-4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
- Wyck – a Quaker home to nine generations and a renowned rose garden. It’s open Thursday to Saturday from 12-4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
And to learn more about the OnePass and purchase, head to their website.
