Guided Search: Event, History and Preservation, North America

Philadelphia World Heritage Day was instituted by Mayor Jim Kenney in 2016, and is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of each May. This annual event is an important part of bringing awareness of Philadelphia's World Heritage City to all city residents. Each year, the celebration is carried out in a different location and in a different way. In 2022, we will celebrate our 7th year as a World Heritage City by holding a week of activities and event to be held May 22-27th.  

Each year, corporate, government, diplomatic, and academic leaders gather to recognize the contributions of World Trade Centers toward peace and prosperity across the globe.

Join professor Brigitte Fielder as she examines symbolism of antislavery imagery.

Paul Laurence Dunbar knows “why the caged bird sings” in part because of such connections between the enslavement of black people and the captivity of animals that were so prominent in nineteenth-century culture. Because birds, in particular, were viewed as symbols of freedom, arguments that they should not be caged abounded in discourses on pet-keeping.

On the third Wednesday of every month at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m., professional genealogists from the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) will be available to discuss your research. These one-on-one consultations are designed for beginner and experienced genealogists alike: schedule a sixty minute consultation to help get the answers you need, find your long lost ancestor, develop a research plan, or break through that brickwall research problem! Space is limited, so reserve your consult today!

On the third Wednesday of every month at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m., professional genealogists from the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) will be available to discuss your research. These one-on-one consultations are designed for beginner and experienced genealogists alike: schedule a sixty minute consultation to help get the answers you need, find your long lost ancestor, develop a research plan, or break through that brickwall research problem! Space is limited, so reserve your consult today!

Brendon Burns: "Researching your Revolutionary War ancestor and proving their service at Valley Forge"

On Wednesday, October 14th at 11:00 A.M., the Parkway Central Branch of the Free Library will be offering a free, virtual lecture on Crowdcast called: “Defying Putin: The Dangers and Opportunities in Opposing Russia’s President.” The speaker for this program is Dr. Benjamin Nathans, a historian from the University of Pennsylvania who is an expert on both the Soviet Union and contemporary Russia. He led an international committee of scholars who helped to shape the content for the Museum of Jewish History in Moscow.

Join World Heritage historian Sarah Sharp for a two-hour tour of buildings around Independence Hall to talk about Philadelphia’s status as a World Heritage City! Learn about what this distinction means in our past and our present as Philadelphians. Children and adults welcomed.

We’ll meet at the World Heritage plaque outside the east-side of Independence Hall, walk around Independence National Historical Park and conclude at the Bourse for snacks and conversation. 

This event is free to attend but registration is required.

Long before beer became a pub favorite, it gave our nomadic ancestors fuel for survival. It was a safer source of hydration than water, provided ample nutrition, and even helped early humans make the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to village life. Evidence of brewing dates back to more than 14,000 years ago, and while we may not appreciate the taste of the ancient version, our ancestors brewed it and celebrated it much like we do today.

Spend a sparkling autumn afternoon on the grounds of six historic houses in Fairmount Park sipping on cider samples from some of the best cideries Pennsylvania has to offer. Enjoy live music, pay as you go food trucks, food samples, and activities to complement your tastings.