Can you hear the dead? Journey through Laurel Hill East to uncover Philadelphia’s fascinating Spiritualist past, where mediums, believers, and skeptics sought—or doubted—the possibility of communicating with departed loved ones. Continue reading
Category: outdoors
People’s Media Camp 2026: “Push Back! Push Forward” – Multi-day, October 3-4, 2026
People’s Media Camp makes a comeback this year, Saturday and Sunday, October 3–4, as a a two-day gathering for grassroots preservationists, archivists, community historians, artists, and memory workers to share skills, stories, and strategies for resisting erasure and imagining free collective futures.
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Night of Lights 2026 – Multi-day, October 3-5, 2026
A free outdoor public history, architecture, and design exhibition celebrating more than 250 years of history, landscapes, and architecture in Northwest Philadelphia. Continue reading
Fateful Departures: When Death Comes in Twos Tour – October 4, 2026
Step into the past with a cemetery tour that explores the stories of those whose final moments were shared — whether bound by fate, tragedy, or devotion — and now rest together for eternity. Continue reading
Sacred Spaces and Storied Places Tour – October 9, 2026
Discover Laurel Hill West through its breathtaking architecture, lush horticulture, and the unforgettable stories of its residents on this essential introductory tour where every path—and every experience—is different! Continue reading
Hot Spots and Storied Plots Tour – October 10, 2026
In life and death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead? Continue reading
True Tales from the Tombs – October 10, 2026
Bearing true stories of mystery and murder, notable Laurel Hill residents return from the dead in these theatrical walking tours featuring a local cast from The Not Ready for After-Life Players. Continue reading
Darkly Departed Tour – October 11, 2026
Sometimes the dearly departed are darkly departed. Continue reading
Dearly, Yet Oddly Departed Tour – October 17, 2026
Sometimes a dearly departed soul is an oddly departed soul. Continue reading
Hot Spots and Storied Plots Tour – October 23, 2026
In life and death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead? Continue reading
Archives Month Historical Campus Tour – October 24, 2026
Take a guided walking tour behind the 10-foot wall of Girard College, using archival maps and photographs to document the campus’s history and growth Continue reading
Soul Crawl – October 24, 2026
At these annual after-dark tours of Laurel Hill East, hear the storied lives of restless spirits from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Continue reading
Sinners & Scandals: the Seamy Side of Laurel Hill Tour – October 25, 2026
The final resting places of these troubled souls show Laurel Hill East’s scandalous, sinful, and sordid side. Continue reading
Archives Month Tour of Fairmount: Girard College to Eastern State Penitentiary – October 29, 2026
A walking tour through our historic neighborhood, using archival records and photos to explore past and present neighborhood sites. Continue reading
Soul Crawl – October 31, 2026
At these annual after-dark tours of Laurel Hill East, hear the storied lives of restless spirits from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Continue reading
Famous Army, Navy and Marine Corps Veterans Historic Tour – October 12, 2025
From land to sea, learn the role of the nation’s founding forces Continue reading
Night of Lights – October 3 through 6, 2025
Night of Lights opens on Friday, October 3, transforming Germantown Avenue into a walkable outdoor gallery of archival images and stories that celebrate community history, architecture, design, and archives. The colorful lighting illuminates one of Philadelphia’s most iconic main streets, and opening night features live music and family-friendly activities. Continue reading
Darkly Departed – October 11, 2025
Sometimes the dearly departed are darkly departed – from killers and thieves to their victims, uncover the dark past of Laurel Hill Continue reading
True Tales from the Tombs – October 11, 2025
Bearing true stories of mystery and murder, notable Laurel Hill residents return from the dead in these theatrical walking tours featuring a local cast from The Not Ready for After-Life Players. Continue reading
Soul Crawl Nighttime History Tour – October 24 & 25, 2025
At these annual after-dark tours of Laurel Hill East, hear the storied lives of restless spirits from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Continue reading
Sacred Spaces and Storied Places – October 9 & October 25, 2025
Where history and nature connect through stories of Laurel Hill’s permanent residents! Continue reading
Famous Army, Navy and Marine Corps Veterans Historic Tour – October 25, 2025
From land to sea, learn more about the many connections to our nation’s founding forces Continue reading
Hot Spots and Storied Plots – October 11 & October 31, 2025
In life and death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead? Continue reading
App Launch Party – October 4, 2024
Have you ever wandered the graveyard at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church and wondered about the people buried there? Now is your chance to find out. Continue reading
Night of Lights – October 6 through October 14
For nine nights, historical images and films from the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s Archives project through storefront windows and onto exterior walls while neighboring buildings along Chestnut Hill’s main street will be illuminated with theatrical lights. Continue reading
Revolution Remix – October 28, 2023
A walking tour of Philadelphia through the eyes of South Asian Americans Continue reading
Southwark Rediscovered: A Walking Tour of Historic Queen Village – October 3, 2021
Join the Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Preservation Corporation on Sunday, Oct. 3, for a walking tour of Philadelphia’s Queen Village neighborhood, led by researcher and writer Michael Schreiber. Continue reading
Night of Lights – Multi-day, 2021
History comes to light in Chestnut Hill with archival images projected through storefront windows, illuminating multiple layers of neighborhood history and spotlighting community stories. Continue reading
Archives Along Girard Avenue: Girard College and the Gesu – October 23, 2021
Join us for a special joint program for a behind-the-scenes and behind-the-walls look at the historic buildings and archival collections of neighboring St. Joseph’s Prep and Girard College. Continue reading
