I went for an event not a tour. It's sad when you at one point in life lived so close to such an…read morehistorical gem and had no idea this beauty existed. But maturity can drive a lot if change. I've always been a history buff but now I look for more things that peak my interest locally. On a search for 'mansions in Philadelphia' this mansion as many others in the area have interesting events. This event was unusual, view a movie in the Parlor. I didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed myself. As for the portion of the house I could see, it was impressive. A house with lots good sized of rooms. Each room displayed pre and civil war era decor, As per the time heavy, dark and opulent. I found the staff inviting and edifying. I will ensure I visit again for other events and possibly the book club.

I saw a very reasonably priced tour for 4 people on Groupon and purchased it for myself and…read morefriends. While certainly a mansion, the home was much smaller than I was expecting. Our tour included 10 rooms: parlor, dining area, kitchen, library, mother's day room, mother's bed room, husband's bedroom, husband's bathroom, children's room, and billiards room. I've toured other family homes including the Ford Family estate in Grosse Pointe, MI (60 rooms) so I think I had different expectations.That's my own fault though for not researching more about the home. Note: you are unable to take photos inside the house, although this seems to be common practice when touring family homes. The house itself was an interesting piece of history and our tour guide was incredibly informed. Great quality, 5 stars. The reason the overall score is so low is because of my experience with the Executive Director. Very poor, 0 stars. I second Celic's comments of interacting with someone rude. My friends and I were waiting for her to process my Groupon payment, so I asked a couple of questions about the family while we waited at the bottom of the stairs. When Joan was in the middle of explaining, the director (who was in another room) snapped at me and said, "If you'd actually give Joan a chance to explain, she'll get to what you're wondering about. So hold your questions until the end." It is like she mistook asking a question as an insult to the quality of the tour instead of interest and excitement in what Joan was talking about. In case you're reading this- a more gracious way to handle this would be: 1) Explaining before the tour begins to hold questions until the end. 2) A reminder to come from THE TOUR GUIDE using language such as "That's a great question. And we're going to talk about that more when we enter the children's room. So let me know if you have any more unanswered questions about the family at that time." They have some interesting events that happen throughout the year - and I'm contemplating attending - but frankly the thought of having a possible negative interaction (again) with the director might be enough to keep me from spending more money here.

I absolutely loved the Shofuso. It's not as big as I thought it would be, however it's beautiful…read morenonetheless. We first visited the house no shoes only socks allowed. Outside we were able to feed the koi fish it's $2 for the koi fish. Had a great time.

Such a beautiful place! It changes with the seasons. I missed my group due to work but the woman at…read morethe ticket booth let me in to walk in the garden. The azaleas are starting to bloom! They added color to a dreary day! The pond is surrounded by greenery and flowers. It started to rain. That just brought another dimension of beauty. The house is interesting.I didn't go in this time but You can see some of the rooms from the outside. The space is serene It is perfect to sit and take a minute to breathe. It is a little bit of Japanese culture in the middle of the Park.

Went for a 52 Firsts event and had such a good time. The staff here really made the experience…read more Everyone was warm, welcoming, and just genuinely happy to be there, which makes a big difference in a smaller space like this. Also didn't realize this is part of the National Park Service, which is pretty cool. The museum itself is on the lower level. You walk in through a gift shop, then head downstairs where there's a compact exhibit space and a small auditorium. It's definitely on the smaller side, but it's done in a really thoughtful way. The interactive exhibits were my favorite. There's something about pressing buttons and getting a dramatic "huzzah" back that just makes it fun. It leans a little dry in terms of humor, but in a way that actually works and feels very on brand. Best part for me was the printing studio. Getting to see old-style printing techniques in action was really cool and not something you see every day. It made everything feel a bit more hands-on and real. It's also right next to the post office, which is a nice little bonus stop if you're already in the area. Only thing is I do wish it were bigger, but for what it is, it's a really enjoyable visit. Small, interactive, and full of personality. Definitely worth stopping by.

I never realized Ben Franklin was responsible for so many of the sayings I heard growing up!!!…read more I'm also very happy to experience this part of American history then I'm so proud of. I loved seeing Ben Franklin's printing press , and Stories about his time in Philly. I'm happy to see how he enjoyed his life and made such interesting observations . The staff here is very friendly and great, and best of all it super cheap to come here. I'm really glad I came !!!

I went to the Seaport museum to see a candlelight theater show…read more When you enter the building, you get a chance to spend time in the museum before going into the theater area. Everything was pretty interesting and very neatly presented. There was a parking garage that was pretty convenient on the way in. For about two hours, it was $33. Lots of traffic, leaving the garage due to the show ending and a stop light right outside.

Expensive.i wanted to go for 30 mins, not that big. It would have cost $65+ for 3 people. We leftread more

This was a wonderful day in the sun for The Strawberry Festival here at The Strawberry Mansion…read moreHouse in beautiful Fairmount Park. There was so much to do and see. We were entertained by the lovely Vessna Scheff. She sang originals and pop favorites with her beautifully unique flair. Check her out here https://www.vessnascheff.com/. The children played with the Kids yes they had young goats to pet. LOL...A creative artist offered free face painting for the children and they loved it. There were a lot of donated treats made of strawberries and strawberry combinations. Most of all there were lots of free strawberries to eat there or take home with you. There are a lot of things to see here in this part of the park. The grounds are lovely and the flowers are beautiful, the Mansion is magnificent! During the festival there was a free tour of The Strawberry Mansion House. The narration of history was very interesting and delivered with a colorful flair by the wonderful Ty. He spoke of so many Philadelphia 1st's, truly fascinating. I hope this festival continues to grow as I will make sure to be time next year.

What an exceptional house and tour. The tour guide was wonderful. He was so educated on the house…read moreand Philadelphia history. The house and content were gorgeous. Price is low. The Fairmount park is beautiful. Tour are hourly starting at 10am Thursday to Sunday. $5 for seniors. There are gardens to see in the spring. Highly recommended visiting.

Probably my favorite spot in Philadelphia. This place has been home to many tender events in my…read morelife: picnics, time with my mother, even my engagement photos were taken here.

While my family and I was in a wonderful city of Philadelphia we visited many different sites the…read moresculpture garden that was over here next to the art center museum was amazing it has so many different sculptures so many different fun things to see project statues sculptures everything you could possibly want to see this was a really fun family adventure for sure

I've been here twice now, and both visits were a great time…read more The first was during a 52 Firsts event, where they even had cake, Ben Franklin walking around, and other historical mascots. The second was during the Philadelphia 250 Red, White, & Blue To-Do celebration. Both events had a fun atmosphere and gave me an excuse to spend more time exploring the museum. The museum does a great job showcasing the history of firefighting in Philadelphia. The first floor is home to beautifully restored antique fire engines that are impressive to see up close. Upstairs, there's a gorgeous stained glass window that really caught my eye, along with more exhibits about the city's firefighting history. One thing I thought was especially fun was that visitors can dress up in firefighter gear for photos. It's a small touch, but it makes the museum feel interactive instead of just a place where you're reading signs on the wall. The people working here are what really make the experience. Everyone I talked to was incredibly friendly and genuinely passionate about the museum. They were happy to share stories, answer questions, and explain the history behind the exhibits. You can tell they truly love what they do, and that enthusiasm makes the whole place feel welcoming. Overall, it's a small museum with a lot of heart. If you're exploring Old City or have any interest in Philadelphia history, it's definitely worth stopping by. I had a great time both visits and would happily come back again.

Fireman's Hall Museum is a fire department museum and historical preservation society that opened…read morein Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1967. It was founded by the Philadelphia Fire Department. The building that houses the museum is a historic firehouse that was built in 1898. It was the home for Philadelphia's Engine 8 until 1952. At that time, the company moved to 319 Race Street with Ladder 2. Engine 8 moved again in 1968 and was officially disbanded in 2009. The old firehouse on N 2nd Street was turned into a museum by the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1967. Fireman's Hall Museum is one of the nation's premier institutions focused on the preservation of firefighting history and the promotion of fire safety. The museum also features the first exhibit commemorating the firefighters who died from the tragic events of 9/11. Philadelphia firefighter Brian Anderson serves as the museum's curator. My wife and I first visited Fireman's Hall Museum in 2015. At the time, we were still dating and didn't have children, yet we both really enjoyed visiting the museum. Jump to 2025, we visited the museum a second time... only now we have two little boys who love the fire department! Both of our sons had an absolute blast exploring the museum's collection. It features a number of vintage hand-drawn, horse-drawn and motorized fire apparatus, vintage firefighting gear and artifacts, a fire boat exhibit, an area where visitors can try on a firefighter uniform, and much more! We also enjoyed learning how Philadelphia's first volunteer fire company was founded by none other than Benjamin Franklin. In addition to being a Founding Father, scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, statesmen, and postmaster general, he is also credited as the "Father of the Fire Service". We think that Fireman's Hall is one of the best fire museums we've ever visited and also one of the most underrated museums in the city.

I enjoyed my experience here. I brought my family to the Belmont Mansion and had no idea what to…read moreexpect. For starters, we were dropped off on the premises and weren't too sure exactly where to go. But I saw a flyer with the hours of operation on a door and walked into what looked like a dining room with artifacts on the wall. Need to Know before you go: -Bring Cash or a Card (They aren't accepting digital payments) -They will charge your card in the office, which is upstairs -The Musuem has three parts with a tour guide available to answer any questions you have -A packet of information is yours to keep and read at your leisure

Hidden diamond. This beautiful mansion and it's rich history have wonderful staff to match its…read morepowerful story. Staff led me through this former site of the Underground Railroad and gave life to history through stories and exhibits. On the day I visited, there were live actors set up around the mansion reenacting the tales of kings and queens of Africa and the awful events of slave auctions. This place left a deep impression on me that I will remember for many years to come.