Dating back to 1982, the University of Pennsylvania LGBT Center is the oldest center of its kind in the city. Operating for more than 25 years today, it welcomes one and all warmly. It also offers educational programs and has over 20 groups of graduate and under graduate students who learn, socialize, conduct events and discussion at the center. It also offers rental spaces for private events and many other good facilities.
Barclay Farm House is a Federal-style farmhouse dating back to the 19th Century. Spanning across 32 acres (12.95 hectares) of land, the farmhouse features a herb garden, farm buildings, playground, community gardens, orchard and nature trails following River Cooper. Besides numerous tours of the interiors, the house also plays host to outdoor concerts, craft fairs and other such cultural events. If you want to glimpse at a slice of local history and culture, then a visit to Barclay Farm House can be a great idea. Note that besides the usual timings, Barclay Farm House is also open to the public on the first Sunday of every month from April to November between 12p to 4p.
The Oddporium opened its doors to avid explorers in September 2015. Today, it is popular among tourists and locals alike as the most bizarre entities of Arden, Delaware. Touted as a gallery full of peculiar objects, the store lives up to its name and how! Among the outlandish items on exhibit here are well-preserved, vintage electroshock therapy kits, asylum relics and a cyclops pig. If eerie collectibles are your thing, there is a host of human skulls and skeletons to browse through too. When in the city, explorers of the curious world must head to the Oddporium, for this the ultimate home of oddity.
Congregation Mikveh Israel was founded in 1740 and is the second oldest congregation in the United States, in fact, it's the oldest continuous synagogue in the country. Benjamin Franklin contributed to the building fund and a letter that George Washington wrote to the Congregation can be viewed when you visit here. Congregation Mikveh Israel is even known as the "Synagogue of the American Revolution." Early members of the Congregation include Nathan Levy, whose ship brought the Liberty Bell to America, and Isaac Leeser, who was the first to translate the Hebrew Bible into English for Jewish readers. Congregation Mikveh Israel is one of four congregations in the world that utilizes the Sephardic, Spanish/Portugese Rite.
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the first A.M.E. church in the world. It was founded by free American blacks in the 1700s. The current building was constructed in 1889 and occupies the same location as three previous structures. Stained glass windows feature masonic and religious themes and the shrine of the church contains the tomb of Bishop Allen, his wife Sarah and Bishop Morris Brown. Purchased by Richard Allen in 1791, this site is the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by African Americans. The Richard Allen Museum contains 19th century artifacts from the church. Traditionally, all other A.M.E. churches are designed along the plans of this building.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church was dedicated in 1850 and is one of Philadelphia's most attractive churches. The architect was John Notman, who also designed the Athenaeum and the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square. Built in the Gothic Revival style, the beauty and elegance of the parish buildings and garden are reminiscent of those found in England. A notable feature of St. Mark's Church is the silver altar in the chapel.