La penitenciaría fue un experimento social del siglo XIX que se basó en los principios cuáqueros. La regla principal era que los prisioneros se encontrarán absolutamente recluidos para que pudieran emplear su tiempo rezando, pensando y cumpliendo penitencia. De hecho, la soledad destruyó a muchos y finalmente la superpoblación impulsó una miseria que ya no buscaba ninguna clase de reforma. Finalmente, la prisión fue clausurada en la década de 1970. El grado de infamia que se vivió en la Penitenciaría Estatal Eastern hacía que Alcatraz fuera juego de niños. Algunos de los prisioneros que moraron entre estos muros fueron el criminal Al Capone y el ladrón de bancos Willie Horton. Aunque la prisión hoy está totalmente derruida, sentirán escalofríos cuando contemplen las celdas abovedadas y la rotonda central.
El Doctor Albert Coombs Barnes, un ciudadano de clase media de Filadelfia, estableció la funsación en 1922 con el fin de promover la apreciación de las bellas artes entre la gente común. Con el paso del tiempo, la Fundación Barnes logró compilar una de las colecciones más notables de cuadros franceses modernos y post impresionistas del mundo entero. La colección está compuesta por piezas de Renoir, Cezanne, Monet, Picasso y Rousseau. Solamente en una ocasión la colección abandonó la Fundación, y fueron pocas las piezas que conocieron otros museos. Para reservar entradas con anticipación es necesario comunicarse telefónicamente.
El Museo Please Touch es una parada importante de todo itinerario. Ubicado en el Salón Memorial, está conformado por instalaciones caprichosas y divertidas, exhibiciones interactivas e ilusiones ópticas. Hagan música con los pies usando el famoso "Walking Piano" (un enorme piano ubicado directamente en el suelo que se toca pisando las teclas), conozcan a los personajes de "Alicia en el país de las maravillas", crucen los ríos de una selva tropical y manejen una máquina de vuelo. Participen de las distintas actividades y charlas especializadas sobre diversos temas, desde la historia hasta las ciencias, y aprendan al tiempo que se divierten. Pasen por el "Please Taste Café" y asistan a un espectáculo de títeres o de música folclórica en el teatro. El carrusel de madera es una atracción muy popular entre los más chicos, así como también lo es el Baile de Cuentos, que cada año muestra una temática distinta y en el que los personajes de sus historias favoritas cobran vida.
El Museo Afroamericano es famoso por preservar y analizar cuidadosamente el patrimonio pictórico y material cultural de los afroamericanos. Tras muchísimos años y con mucho esfuerzo, el museo logró acumular unos 5 objetos en resina, imágenes, documentos, vestidos, fotos y libros sobre los nativos. Los principales eventos que se celebraron en las instalaciones fueron Celebrate Africa 2008!, Discover Greatness, AAMP Art y Quilter's Roundtable. Generalmente los sábados encontrarán un Family Day en el que los más pequeños saldrán con la cara pintada y podrán disfrutar de la hora del cuento, bailes coreografiados y películas. Los artistas locales se ponen sus bellas obras basadas en la vida de los animadores, los políticos y los luchadores por la libertad.
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 Delaware Art Museum is a grandiose exhibition space that features an impressive collection of paintings and illustrations belonging to the Pre-Raphaelite period and the artistic trend of 19th and 20th Century America. Here, you get to see artworks by masterminds like Dante Rossetti, Simeon Solomon, Thomas Dewing, Raphaelle Peale, among several others. Besides featuring an awe-inspiring collection, the museum also hosts various art-related activities like exhibitions and workshops. Apart from that, the various halls located within the premises of the Delaware Art Museum are rented out for corporate functions, meetings, private gatherings, cocktail parties, and several other events.
Heritage Glass Museum established in 1979 is a historic glass museum. It is built to promote the glass manufacturing industry and it houses old glass bottles, tools of workers from the glass factories, fruit jars, historical and Figural Flasks and other hand blown glass items. The museum will present you with the transition that came about in the glass manufacturing industry and also explain about the process of making glassware. Visit the place to know about what era each of their glassware belonged to with a piece of information on the local culture. Group tours of 8 people or more can be scheduled 2 weeks in advance by emailing the museum. Well-behaved pets are welcome to the museum.
Indian King Tavern, also known as Creighton House or Creighton Tavern, is a colonial structure built around 1750. The historical building is of political significance as it is the site where New Jersey transitioned from being a colony into a state. The tavern is also significant for being the site of many important political meetings, including the 1777 New Jersey Assembly that ratified the Declaration of Independence. Restored into a museum, it features antique furniture from the 18th Century, along with other artifacts used by the settlers.
Wharton Esherick Studio is where the great artist and craftsman Wharton Esherick worked his magic until his demise in 1970. The studio was his dream, taking around nearly 4 decades to build. The structure is a reflection of his personality, with echoes of German Expressionism in every corner. The studio now functions as a museum showcasing his lifetime's work which includes an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, antiques, and artifacts.
As its name suggests, The William Brinton 1704 House was constructed in 1704 by its owner at the time, William Brinton. Jr. Located in the southern region of West Chester, this house accommodated the Brinton family for over 150 years, until it was taken over by a local non-profit organization known as the Brinton Connections who converted into a museum in 1967. Tours are offered by appointment, allowing visitors to delve into Brinton history in detail.
Erected in 1682, The Richard Wall House is one of Pensylvania's oldest standing houses accommodating the Wall family for over 3 generations. The property also includes an estate area that spans an acre (0.40 hectares), adding a layer of greenery to the site where the house stands. A subject of numerous reconstructive procedures due to change in ownership as well as age, the house slightly differs from its original state. Tours of the house are available for visitors, offering a sneak peek into life in general, around 300 years ago.
Built in 1696, Thomas Massey House is considered to be the oldest house in the city of Broomall. This 300 year old house is simply unique because of its building style, theme and material. If you love history and architecture, you'll explore various items of the 17th - 18th century like the furniture, cooking items, books, tools and other pieces of information and exhibits. This house museum is open from the last Sunday of April until the last Sunday of October.