America has a problem talking about our brutal roots, and it's shocking how many school curriculums…read morewhitewash our history and play down 400 years of human bondage as a necessary evil that disappeared a long time ago. It's almost as though we think if we don't talk about something, it'll go away... The Lest We Forget Slavery Museum pushes back on this mindset with an exhaustive collection of genuine artifacts, each one more chilling than the next: auction tags, bills of sale, shackles, branding irons, lynching photos. There are cases of grotesquely grinning Jim Crow memorabilia, and a whole room of heart-breaking obituaries of young men struck down by gun violence in the streets of Philadelphia. One of the most striking things about the LWF Slavery Museum is how well it traces the trauma this twisted system inflicted upon untold millions, through many generations, including today. It's not all doom and gloom, though -- even the scourge of Slavery can't diminish the incredible strength and courage enslaved people demonstrated over generations of bondage and subjection. There were revolts, resistances, uprisings, sabotage. Daring escapes and coordinated efforts with sympathetic white people fighting side by side for human rights. LWF also celebrates black achievements in a lively display called "We Did It, They Hid It." Rare (and few) museums like LWF are the best way we have to reckon with our own understanding of our country's checkered past -- and our racially-complicated present. LWF offers affordable memberships, too, so you can slow down and process all the feels & facts over successive visits. To read my full review including video Zoom tour, go to nwlocalpaper dot com, featured under the "Local Live" tab.

This museum is like a precious diamond because it holds the most sacred parts of our ancestors'…read morehistory in America. The artifacts are genuine pieces that remind us of such a horrible history of slavery, and also to remind us of the damage that was passed down from generation to generation. There is no doubt that many of us still hold the pains, trauma, and suffering within our DNA after 400 years of servitude. We were there on 1/3/2020, and I felt blessed to be in the presence of such a well educated and spoken narrator. I love the location, the building gave me the impression and feeling of walking into an underground secret society that holds the key to our past, present, and future journey. Thank you, Gwen Ragsdale(curator).

The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia offers a deeply meaningful…read moreand important experience, thoughtfully preserving the stories of Jewish life, history, perseverance, and the consequences of antisemitism. It is a serious and sometimes difficult place to visit, but an essential one for understanding and acknowledging history and carrying its lessons forward.

Saw the museum from afar while exploring Philadelphia and stopped in to explore, and we were very…read moreimpressed by the exhibits. Very comprehensive look at the American Jewish story through the years - as a couple who met at a Jewish summer camp we were particularly captivated by the camp exhibit! Admission is donate as you wish, so if you have any interest in the subject area, definitely take some time to check out a very well curated museum!

Inside the Philly 30th Street train station is a massive room next to the ticket windows. The…read moreSpirit of Transportation exhibit is on the main wall that is a carved out sculpture to represent ancient to future travel. The room has many smaller pieces of historic art on the walls. Most visitors look at the history while waiting for their train like I did.

Spirit of Transportation - This sculpture is very impressive and dynamic, beautifully capturing the…read moreimportance of transportation in the city's history. I liked its detailed design and placement, where it really stands out. It's an interesting artistic feature that enriches the public space and is definitely worth a shortstop.

Mom and I loved our self guided tour of this fascinating art tile factory. You get to see the tiles…read moremade the way the founder did. The building is so cool and you can buy hand crafted pottery. Loved it!

A "working museum," Moravian Pottery & Tile Works was founded and built by Henry Chapman Mercer in…read morethe early twentieth century, and the facility still produces handmade tiles using techniques that Mercer developed, and reproductions are crafted using his original molds and locally sourced clay. You can show up and just shop in their store (lots of tiles to choose from) or you can take a tour. The tour starts with a video (a pretty old one!) that explains the history and the architecture of the tile works and the process used by the tileworks to make its tile (pretty much the same as 100 year ago). Then you can wander through the self-guided tour path and see a demonstration of some tiles being pressed and talk to the staff about the tiles and process. It's definitely one of the many places worth visiting in Doylestown. It makes a great day or weekend trip combined with some of Doylestown's other attractions (like Mercer's home Fonthill, which is just next door, and the museum he founded in town). The tiles are beautiful, and it was great to learn and see how they're made!

I checked hours on website, called and the site had same hours, but when I arrived they were not…read moreopen and neither phone nor socials listed anytime different. It's frustrating when a site doesn't do any minimum to answer their phone nor update website or socials. There are so many easy ways to be helpful, but alas I was not able to visit and would be unable to return if unsure if/when they are open.

I can't believe I have lived in Trenton NJ for 15 years and never visited this little gem!…read moreI came in early December for their fantastic holiday greens sale. The place was popping! I nabbed some cool and unique gifts and beautiful fresh wreaths. We came back later in December for the annual Hogmanay celebration. Complete with bonfire, lectures and tour of the Trent House. We will definitely be back in the spring when the authentic 1700s gardens start to bloom. Especially the heritage apple orchard. Apples grown through out the 13 colonies as old as 1600s!!

I visited the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) last weekend, when I was in Philly for…read morea day. I was there to see their current special exhibit but had plenty of time for a full visit. Let's start with the reason I was there - "Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design." It was a great exhibit on a fashion designer who created the designs for Sinners, Selma, Black Panther, Do the Right Thing, and many more movies, and who has won two Oscars for her costumes. The exhibit was made even better by the docent-led tours they offer. I learned a lot about the costumes from the docent at the museum! However, the exhibit takes place in Galleries 2, 3, and 4 - a majority of the museum's space. I had expected the museum to have a permanent collection and artifacts telling the story of Black Philadelphians, but I was disappointed to find that the museum doesn't have much of a permanent collection. I did find one room, part of the permanent exhibit "Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia, 1776-1876," which consisted of a timeline of African American history with pictures. I didn't find the second room pictured on their website, part of the same permanent exhibit, which has 10 full-size video projections of trailblazers from 18th century Philadelphia. I saw a sign for the auditorium, but I didn't think to go see it. Usually, an auditorium is just an auditorium, used for special events or screenings. When I looked at their website later, I realized I had missed a temporary exhibit that was displayed in the auditorium: "Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad." When I entered the museum, there was quite to line to buy tickets, so I didn't get much of an explanation when I entered about areas not to miss or where to go to see the temporary exhibits. Sadly, I did end up missing a bit in the museum when I visited. The exhibit was great. But I was sad to find that the museum doesn't have much of a permanent collection or a large permanent exhibit. I can certainly recommend visiting if there's an exhibit you're intrigued by. But I wouldn't visit if you're not interested in the temporary exhibit, because there's not much else to the museum!

This museum is small but beautifully curated. The exhibit on display were blacks in Philadelphia…read morehistory and Ruth E Carter costume designs for legendary movies. The first exhibit was interesting because four projectors were in the ceiling but weren't projecting images, I believe they were used for the sound of the narrative being presented. There was an interactive touch screen, wrap around timeline with information and images of different black people on the wall. On the second floor, Ruth E Carter's exhibit showcased the Black Panther costume collection along with Coming to America and LeBron James Fortnite costume.

Normally I'm a big huge supporter of original art and all that it has to offer. But this is just a…read moreplace that I can't take seriously. You know how John Malkovich played the jaded art teacher who painted nothing but triangles in Art School Confidential? This would be that in art gallery form. All this gallery ever has on display is different canvases (canvas,wood,etc.) that are painted in a combination of colored blocks. A bright summer color on one side meets a dark night color on the other. Or sometimes it's just a piece that's one color and nothing more. and the entire art display is themed that way, so you can go by every piece rather quickly without putting much thought into what the art might be about. and somehow these pieces of art (?) manage to sell for well over $500. At least the the people who work there are friendly. So at the very least it's an amusing stop to make during First Friday.

If you like Contemporary Art this is the gallery for you. They really stick to the style and don't…read moreventure far from it. It's not my cup of tea because I typically think that contemporary artists are trying too hard to be different and end up being exactly the same as every other contemporary artists. The space is nice. I stop by when I walk by in hopes of finding an artist that grabs me. It hasn't happened yet, but like I said, its my style of choice.

I was enthralled with Woodmere before setting foot inside. The museum is housed on six acres in a…read more19th century stone mansion, surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful statuary. Before going home I sat on the verandah, imagining what it must have been like to live there. The museum is dedicated to the art of Philadelphia. I was captivated by local artists I never before heard of. One of my favorites is Edith Neff. (See the swimming pool painting I posted.) The photography exhibit with works by Harvey Finkle, captured the humanity of political and social justice movements. It resonated with me. And then there's the children's gallery. The current exhibit, "Walk in the Rainforest" was created by young artists, and runs through October 27th. The museum is relatively small. Take in the architecture and the beautiful chandeliers, which I guess are original to the house. Docent-led tours are available and the museum hosts "Friday Night Jazz," with tickets available on line.

What a great little museum nestled in the neighborhood!…read more Love this area and it's a nice establishment to come explore! We got here on a nice sunny day and there was plenty of parking on site. Inside, there's some twist and turns and cool exhibits in each direction. It's a small museum that you can definitely spend a few hours in. We got here when one of the visiting artists was giving a presentation - so cool! His works were on display in the main gallery and it was great to hear his story and also chat about his work. Definitely worth the hike out of the city for a little art and culture within the woods! Enjoy!