Friends of Arch Street 
Newsletter

Welcome to the Arch Street Meeting House Newsletter for June 2022!

Philadelphia’s most notable museums, cultural institutions, and attractions will open their doors free of charge, or, for an optional pay-what-you-wish donation, throughout the entire festival. Arch Street Meeting House will be open to the public on Saturday, June 25th from 10 am to 4 pm. 
 

Arch Street Meeting House is one of three Quaker sites participating in Free Museum Day on June 25th! Below you can find more information about the other participating sites, as well as their visitation hours for the day.
 

12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Johnson House Historic Site
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Paul Robeson House & Museum

For First Friday, Arch Street Meeting House will be doing an outdoor screening of the 1996 classic film Independence Day (Rated PG-13) from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm! For a suggested donation of $5, grab a picnic blanket, snacks, and BYOB for a special 4th of July weekend movie night in Old City.
 

Registration is required and includes admission to the museum prior to the screening. Lawn seating is first-come, first serve.
 

Mark your calendars! Celebrate 4th of July weekend with Arch Street Meeting House! On Saturday, July 2nd, visitors can participate in our brand new walking tour of Quaker sites in Old City, Philadelphia, and a hands-on Quaker history workshop facilitated by an ASMH staff member.
 

The tour begins with a brief exploration of the historic burial grounds at ASMH before continuing on a walking tour of important Quaker sites throughout the neighborhood. This is not just your run-of-the-mill famous Founding Fathers' tour! It is perfect for visitors who are seeking a different side of Philadelphia history.
 

About the tour: Visitors will start their walking tour at Arch Street Meeting House, then continue to the Betsy Ross House and on to Welcome Park, the site of William Penn's first residence in Philadelphia. After snaking their way through Independence National Historical Park, the group will stop at various other sites with a Quaker twist.

As many of you know, the outdoor exhibit project has been many years in the making, and we are thrilled that we were finally able to share the completed vision with you. We could not have made this happen without the continued interest and support from our community.

If you were unable to join us last week, we hope to see you at Arch Street Meeting House soon! Beginning today, the museum will now be open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm. The grounds at ASMH will be open from 9 am to dusk.
 

Taking nearly forty hours to craft and made of materials like felted wool, paper mache, paint,  and clay, the diorama was inspired by Marcus Rediker's book, "The Fearless Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Dwarf Who Became the First Revolutionary Abolitionist". 

The diorama isn't currently on view at Arch Street Meeting House, but if you're interested in learning more about Benjamin Lay and Quaker's involvement in the slave trade, listen to our podcast episode featuring Dr. Rediker.
 

Will you continue to support us with a contribution, and help prepare Arch Street Meeting House for a successful 2022?
 

Make checks payable to:
Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust, 320 Arch St. Philadelphia, PA 19106
Or donate via the website www.historicasmh.org/donate

All donations are tax-deductible up to the fullest extent of the law.