This is a wonderful family friendly event to attend and a good way to see the cabin. I hear it is…read moreopen more regularly during warmer months. Be prepared to park further away and walk if you need to as this is in very small space. Apparently there used to be a smokehouse here, but when it was being fixed up in 2015 or 2016, a tree fell on it a few hours after the repairman left for the day. Thank goodness the repairman was not hurt. Many decades ago, before organization(s) took this place over, locals would use this place for the usual of any form of debauchery that you can think of. It was nice to try to meet people and very casual, but I felt out of place. I had attended the Swedish museum's outdoor market and Lucia The Weeknd before, and a volunteer recommended I check the cabin out. I suggest that for special events that you check the cabin out with a friend or a child if you have that option to feel less out of place.

Fabulous site of an early Swedish cabin built between 1640 and 1650 along Darby Creek…read more This is one of the oldest surviving structures from the 1600s.

The Chester County Historical Society in the heart of downtown West Chester is an excellent example…read moreof what a history museum should be. They have a fine collection of Chester County fine and decorative arts as well as various objects used by people in work and leisure over the last three centuries. The exhibits are informatively displayed. My favorite room is the hands-on room where you can touch everything and play with a lot of old toys. There is also usually a special exhibition being shown and right now it is an interesting one on the era of life in the '60s in Chester County. Next time you're heading to West Chester for drinks or to eat in one of the many restaurants, you might want to arrive early and check out this interesting historical society and museum.

I am SHOCKED, I'm the first reviewer!…read more This place is great, we went during one of the many temporary exhibits (which was fun), but the standard exhibits which features local furniture, facts, etc... was fun and educational. If you live in West Chester, it is a 1/2 day and 4 hour tour. not very hands for the littlest kids, but tweens should be engaged well.

I'm going to need to file this under my "D'Oh! I should have gone here long ago" folder. You see, I…read moregrew up nearby this place. Have seen the signs thousands of times along Earlington Road. NMT has friends who live a block away. Yet I have never, ever been there. This changed when dear friend PhillyGal, up from Virginia for a visit, suggested we go to see the house decorated and the trains. Sure, I know right where it is but have never been there. Yes, really. The Grange estate is interesting in that it's nestled along a slope ending in Darby Creek, tucked at the back of a 1950s single home development and bordered on one side by US1- City Ave. Back in the 1970s there was talk about the estate being purchased by a developer, whose plans were to knock it down and build houses. The neighborhood rallied, got Haverford Township involved, saving it literally at the last moment. The Grange is a historic estate, with it's origins dating back before the Revolutionary War, and it's owner during the war was John Gross, who financed uniforms for the Revolutionaries. George Washington dined there several times, and The Marquis de Lafayette was a close friend who stayed there. The estate was named after The Marquis' "La Grange" estate in France. We learn all of this, and more, from a quite knowledgable and animated tour guide, who also shared that she was the last of the 1970s group who lobbied to save the Grange and convinced Haverford Township to buy the property & preserve it. She told us how they were ready to chain themselves to the gates if needed. Now she volunteers, showing us interesting things and sharing how life was lived in this house. Next to the 'main house' is a barn, substantial in size, and within it for the holidays model train enthusiasts set up quite elaborate railways for all to enjoy. I was impressed. The main house, barn and trails are wall well maintained, the landscaping lush even in December. There is a caretaker who lives in part of the house full time and their work definitely contributes. As this is owned by Haverford Township, there is no admission fee and no fee to do a self-guided tour. They ask $5 donation to the Friends of The Grange for a guide led. It's a bargain. The house when we visited was decorated beautifully for the holidays, with different themes in each room, including a pretty mind-boggling "Santa" room. Note: when you go, there is a small-fish parking lot and there is some street parking in the neighborhood. It's an easy walk from SEPTA buses and The Norristown High Speed Line, so that's a good way to go. The Grange is definitely one of those 'hidden gems' that not only tells us stories about its inhabitants, but also about the role some of the 'lesser known' supporters of the Revolution played in the securing of our freedoms. It's well worth the time to go spend some time there.

Cute little place to walk your dogs. They have some running water and a windmill, some old…read morecottages, and a cute small trail. There's some water in case your dog likes to take a dip.

SO COOL!! So much history here it's amazing to see. I was…read moreable to take our wedding photos here and I'll post them so you can see how amazing of a backdrop it is!! Totally recommend

One of the things I never realized until I left Philadelphia was the sheer mass of historical…read moreplaces and artifacts I was surrounded by. There are so many places that are important to understanding where we came from that some end up becoming obscure, unknown, sometimes demolished in the name of progress. Then there are those that are saved from that fate, usually by passionate historians and community members who lobby to save the place from being destroyed. In the case of the Lazaretto Quarantine Station and Hospital, they succeeded - just barely. It is a success story worthy of a Hallmark special. The Lazaretto Quarantine Station and Hospital was the first of its kind, built and put into service after the Fever of 1793 swept through Philadelphia, killing 25% of the city's residents. This Quarantine station was built by the City of Philadelphia, long before the Federal Government became interested in such matters, because of the devastation of 1793. The Station served as a first point of entry for ships coming from abroad, where passengers were screened for contagious diseases and either held until their health was assured, turned away or let pass. It, along with the more famous Ellis Island, served as a major portal for immigrants coming to the United States for over one hundred years. It ceased being an immigration point in 1895, after which it was used as a port for seaplanes, an athletic club, and for many years after that, an abandoned property. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, which gave it some protection. It was the threat of demolition that saved it, when a group of citizens and historians worked with Tinicum Township and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to restore the property. It is now home to Tinicum Townships' government offices. Walking around the building, still being restored, it's breathtaking. The long porch facing the river is stunning, the rooms all being carefully preserved while being updated with modern conveniences. I love that this has been done and love that it will continue to serve the residents of the Commonwealth, not from infectious disease, but serving as a place where they might get a building permit, enact ordinances, meet on issues concerning their community. Call this one a win for history.

BLUF: An eclectic mix of abandoned buildings, new construction, restored historical structures and…read moreparks along the Delaware River. Very minimal Navy presence but various companies, some in the shipbuilding industry, occupy space the 1,200 acres.

The Falls Bridge that gives you access to West River Drive (M.L.K.) and Kelly Drive. This also…read moregives you access to East Falls if you are coming from West River Drive. Not really much I can say about this bridge other than you can get to Point A ,and B with minimal to traffic at times. Minimal at times, but it can get jammed pack at certain times. During the day it doesn't look like much ,looks old, and decrepit , wondering how does it stay there without falling into the river. Don't worry it will not, they did some renovating to it, beefing it up to keep the on goers going. It is also well lit up at night so you can't miss it coming or going from there. Review over, not really much more to say about this bridge.

The Arch Street Theater is no more but this marker remains. It opened in October 1828 and was one…read moreof the three main Philadelphia theaters for plays. It was demolished in 1936. The marker is in good condition and reads, "Three famous actors, Philadelphia-born, were the third generation of this "Royal Family of the American Stage." Lionel (1878-1954), Ethel (1879-1959), and John (1882-1942) performed on stage, screen, radio. Their grandparents, the Drews, managed the Arch St. Theatre here." And yes, the John Barrymore mentioned is grandfather of current movie star Drew Barrymore (E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Charlie's Angels, Scream, The Wedding Singer). John is laid to rest in Philadelphia's Mount Vernon Cemetery. [Review 18294 overall - 590 in Pennsylvania - 1816 of 2022.]

I was attending a political organizing event that was held at the Tredyffrin Public Library…read more I did not have a chance to look at much of the library because I spent most of my time in the main meeting room. The room itself had a couple of tables and did not have a cramped feel at all. It probably has enough room to hold around 100-150 people. It seemed like the library had plenty of books, computers and other resources. There were a couple of parents at the political event and some of them let their kids out in the library to read or do some work. This library had a couple of signs for events at the library including movie nights. Across the street from the library are a couple of pairs of tennis courts, which looked to be in good condition. Once it gets warmer, I wouldn't rule out stopping odd here once in a while to hit some balls. Altogether, the Tredyffrin Public Library is a nice space to hold gatherings/events or do some reading or other work.

Nice librarians. I've been taking my kids (ages 4 and 2) here every couple of weeks for the last 2…read moremonths. The children's section is in the basement and has a ton of books. Signage is great and it is very easy to find the type of books you are looking for. It is also very clean. And there is a decent playground right next to the library. There is lots of parking and an electric charging station in the parking lot for electric vehicles.