PRESS RELEASE: Philadelphia’s National Historic Landmarks Welcome Visitors Back

Reopen House Day will be celebrated on April 18th

PHILADELPHIA, April 9, 2021 – Philadelphia is celebrating the International Day for Monuments and Sites on April 18th by welcoming visitors back to the region’s National Historic Landmarks. Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) is partnering with 22 historic sites and museums to present “Reopen House Day” to encourage in-person and virtual exploration of the region’s history and heritage. Participating sites will offer tours for visitors, virtual programs, special events, discounts and prizes, and much more.

Philadelphia is home to 67 of the nation's 2,618 National Historic Landmarks (NHLs). They represent Philadelphia’s most important historical places, events, and people and can be found in neighborhoods throughout the city and region. By hosting Reopen House Day on April 18th, Philadelphia will share this heritage with the world as part of the global celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites. This day is organized annually by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) to raise awareness of cultural heritages throughout the world and to promote efforts for heritage conservation. 

“Reopen House Day offers visitors the opportunity to explore parts of the city’s heritage that can be found off the beaten path,” said Melissa Stevens, GPA’s World Heritage Program Manager and one of the event’s organizers. “These are sites that have national significance but are deeply rooted in the neighborhoods. Whether you are interested in architecture, music, social justice, military history, or gardening, there's something for everyone.”

Participating NHLs will offer visitors a variety of opportunities to explore and learn about their site’s historical significance. Many of the sites will be open for in-person visitation, with special considerations for the health and safety of visitors and staff. Both indoor and outdoor activities are available and include special guided tours, live music, self-guided audio tours, a live drawing event, a historic reenactment, a neighborhood walking tour, and a whiskey tasting. For those who are unable to visit in-person, there are many virtual activities available as well, including live virtual tours, digital exhibitions, video presentations, webinars, and a virtual curator talk co-presented by Girard College and the Wagner Free Institute of Science. 

“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to position Philadelphia's rich heritage in the international context on International Day of Monuments and Sites, a day that is celebrated globally all over the world since 1982 with the stated aim of promoting awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage of humanity, their vulnerability and the efforts required for their protection and conservation,” said Zabeth Teelucksingh, GPA’s Executive Director. 

Many of the in-person and virtual events require advance registration. Visit https://globalphiladelphia.org/nhl-reopen-house for full details on the participating sites and their activities and to register for tours and events. Visitors who post pictures of their favorite NHL on social media on April 18th using #NHLinPHL will be entered to win a free illustrated Philadelphia Heritage Map. 

Participating National Historic Landmarks:

• Academy of Music
• Arch Street Meeting House
• Beth Sholom Synagogue
• Carpenters' Hall
• Christ Church Burial Ground
• Cliveden 
• Colonial Germantown Historic District
• Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
• Elfreth's Alley
• Fort Mifflin
• Founder's Hall at Girard College
• Hill-Physick House
• Historic RittenhouseTown 
• Johnson House Historic Site
• Mother Bethel AME Church
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
• Second Bank of the United States (Independence NHP)
• Stenton 
• The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
• The Woodlands
• Wagner Free Institute of Science
• Woodford Mansion

CONTACT:
Melissa Stevens
World Heritage Program Manager
[email protected]

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About Global Philadelphia Association

Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) consists of more than 200 internationally involved organizations, businesses, and individuals in Greater Philadelphia. It was created to assist – and to encourage greater interaction among – the many organizations and people who are engaged in international activity in the Greater Philadelphia Region, to promote the development of an international consciousness within the area, and to enhance Philadelphia’s global profile. GPA manages the World Heritage City Project in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia. For more information, visit globalphiladelphia.org.