The Memorial, founded by art-loving millionaire Samuel Fleisher in 1898, offers classes, exhibitions, workshops, residencies and performances and everyone is invited "to come and learn art" for free. More than 100,000 adults and children have participated in Fleisher's special programs. The gallery shows change monthly. Fleisher Art Memorial is the oldest tuition-free visual arts school in America. The Fleisher Art Memorial is supported in part by income from a testamentary trust established by Fleisher's will.
The Brandywine Workshop serves culturally diverse artists by hosting printmaking programs, fine art exhibits, fellowships and a variety of other opportunities. Brandywine features The Printed Image Galleries, a museum facility that promotes artwork from all ethnic groups. Through its programs, Brandywine hopes to expand the role of people of color as both visual artists and audiences. Brandywine has established several programs that provide advanced study opportunities in the print medium and specifically, in adapting commercial technology to the arts.
One of the oldest log houses in North America, the C. A. Nothnagle Log House also known as Braman-Nothnagle Log House is a historic landmark of Gibbstown. Built by Finnish settlers in 1638 and 1643 the cabin features a fireplace with Scandinavian ironware from 1590s. The cabin is made up of double-dovetailed oak logs fastened with hardwood pegs and a roof without a ridgepole. Still privately owned, the iconic log house was added to National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is open to public visits through tours.
Established in 1974, Taller Puertorriqueno seeks to promote and enrich the Puerto Rican artistic culture and heritage throughout the community. Taller Puertorriqueno has a multi faceted function, a gallery that presents Latino artwork, a bookstore that deals in literature from the Latino community, and the day care facility. Taller also supports music shows that draw international touring troupes.
Prince Hall Grand Lodge was established in 1797 and was Philadelphia's first African American Masonic Lodge. It originated under the watchful eye of the Worshipful Master Absalom Jones, Sr., Warden Richard Allen and First Treasurer James Forten. The first black fraternal order in the city was The African Lodge of Free Masons, organized under the charter of the Reverend Prince Hall. Other lodges soon followed. Prince Hall's original location was on Lombard Street in Old City, between Fifth and Sixth.
The Presbyterian Historical Society was founded in 1852 to preserve books, letters and other materials related to the history of the Presbyterian Church. The Society's current library contains over 200,000 volumes and 20,000,000 manuscripts. The building also houses a museum that displays ephemera from area churches, including one of the largest collections of communion tokens in the world and portraits of leading Presbyterians, painted by Otis Bass and Rembrandt Peale. This is the nation's oldest denominational historical society.