Community Tours
African-American Heritage Tour
Philadelphia’s African-American Architects & Historic Landmarks of North Philadelphia
Saturday, February 22, 9:30am
SOLD OUT!!!
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Led by Architect Emanuel Kelly
principal of Kelly/Maiello Inc., Architects & Planners
This tour will highlight Philadelphia’s African-American architects and the people and events associated with North Philadelphia architecture. This area was largely countryside until after the Civil War when the city grew, pushing north, with housing and factories nearly all built between 1875 and 1900. In the 20th Century, North Philadelphia became a center of African American life and included notable civic leaders Father Divine, Cecil B. Moore, William Gray--both Senior and Junior, and Father Paul and Christine Washington.
At 9:30, we will meet at the White Dog for muffins and coffee before departing by motorized trolley at 10am to look at a number of historically significant buildings that punctuate North Philly’s streetscape including Girard College, the Church of the Advocate , the Divine Lorraine Hotel, Broad Street mansions, the Wagner Free Institute as well as a few significant buildings en route including , the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Following the tour, we will return to the White Dog for lunch where we will be joined by Richard Watson, Exhibition Director of the African-American Museum in Philadelphia and curator of AAMP’s past exhibit “Philadelphia’s African American Architects.” He will bring select items from the exhibit & exhibit booklets filled with info on African-American Architects, past & present, that have made an impact on Philadelphia.
