The Museum of Elfreth's Alley

TSOP Thursdays - 23.Feb.12

2012-02-23T10:37:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.While originally from Ohio, the O'Jays hit it big when they came to Philadelphia. At the forefront of the Sound of Philadelphia, the O'Jays had a string of hits, including this one that currently serves as the theme to The Apprentice. I chose this performance from Soul Train to acknowledge Philly's record-breaking Soul Train dance line that went down at the Art Museum this month.

TSOP Thursdays - 16.Feb.12

2012-02-16T10:47:00.002-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love."Point Breeze" by Marah is a Philly band singing about different places in Philadelphia. Sounds like the perfect fit for TSOP Thursday! Click here to listen to the song.

Genealogical Information

2012-02-08T11:29:00.003-05:00

A 1930's view of Elfreth's Alley

At least once a week we receive an email or a phone call regarding a family history. With thousands of different people having lived on Elfreth's Alley over the past three centuries and only two staff at the museum, it is very difficult to keep track and answer the questions that keep pouring in. With that in mind, we would like to begin crafting a database of residents from 1702 through today, and for that, we need your help!

If your family tree has its roots in Elfreth's Alley or you have access to census records detailing our historic street's residents, let us know! If you like doing genealogical research and would like to volunteer, drop us a line! Send an email to information@elfrethsalley.org with the subject "Genealogy." Over the next year, our staff and volunteers will work on creating a database with all of the genealogical information we can find. Even with this project, there will still be a lot of people we do not have records for, but we will do our best to make this as comprehensive as possible.

TSOP Thursdays - 2.Feb.12

2012-02-02T14:03:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.In 1985, Philadelphia was host to the United States portion of Live Aid. Bob Geldof's mega-benefit concert is iconic, perhaps second only to Woodstock. Several acts graced the stage at JFK Stadium that summer day, and many of them will be featured in future editions of TSOP Thursdays. In the meantime, you may find that this song is just what you needed.

TSOP Thursdays - 26.Jan.12

2012-01-26T12:06:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.Surely you have heard Elton John's upbeat ode to the City of Brotherly Love. But did you know it was actually written about a tennis team? John's good friend, tennis legend Billie Jean King, asked him to write a song for her new team, the Philadelphia Freedoms. These days, one can see the Freedoms play at the Pavilion at Villanova University.

Do You Make Beer?

2012-01-25T13:51:00.001-05:00

Do you make beer? If so, the Museum of Elfreth's Alley would like to invite you to join us for several events over the course of 2012.

New Brews
If you are new to the brew scene and are trying to garner some attention for beer you are making, team up with the Museum of Elfreth's Alley for First Friday events. Beginning in March, the Museum will play host to galleries featuring local artists complimented by street artists outside of the Museum. Last year, we served wine. This year, we want you to serve your brew to the many visitors who peruse the First Friday galleries.

Feeling Festy
This October marks the return of our insanely popular Brew Fest. If you are a local brewer that would like to co-sponsor this year's event, let us know! If you are a home-brewer, get in touch to find out more about our home brew competition!

Prost! Slainte! Cheers!
The creative minds at the Museum of Elfreth's Alley are hard at work trying to come up with more ways to involve beer in telling the great American story of this little street. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share!

To contact us regarding any sudsy suggestions, please shoot an email to Patrick at director@elfrethsalley.org and together we'll get this barrel rolling!

TSOP Thursdays - 19.Jan.12

2012-01-19T11:04:00.002-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.While the legendary John Coltrane was born in North Carolina, his music career began and flourished in Philadelphia. Coltrane's influence is so great that his old house in Brewerytown was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1999. Coltrane, a saint in at least one religion, is joined by fellow Philly musicians Philly Joe Jones and Lee Morgan on this particular record.

Inside the Archives - 1934

2012-01-11T11:33:00.002-05:00

The Elfreth's Alley Association has a tremendous archive focusing on the role the people of this little street have played in Philadelphia's rich history. From insurance documents drafted under the rule of King George IV to a scrapbook maintained throughout the early to mid 20th century, there is a treasure trove of information to be found. With this feature, we invite you to peek into the archives with us and learn a little more about the Alley, it's people, and their place in American history.

Shortly after the Elfreth's Alley Association was formed by residents in 1934, Eliza Newkirk Rodgers began keeping a scrapbook of items related to the Alley. Rodgers added to this book for over 30 years, leaving behind a fantastic resource for research. Thanks to a generous grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the book was carefully preserved by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia. This enabled the EAA to scan and/or photograph selections from the book, one of which is shown below.

Click on the image to enlarge.

This is a photograph of the first page of the aforementioned scrapbook. The larger photo on the left shows Dorothy Ottey and two of her helpers. Ottey ran the Hearthstone Restaurant out of the front room of 115 Elfreth's Alley. The Hearthstone opened on March 20, 1933 and just over one year later was home to the founding of the Elfreth's Alley Association (EAA) on March 28, 1934. Ottey was the EAA's first Vice President, a post held today by noted author and historian Ed Mauger. Ottey served with President Florence Greer on the board of an organization that would go on to save several condemned homes marked for demolition, steer I-95 around America's Oldest Residential Street, and open a museum to educate the public on the history of the Alley and how it helped shaped the country we know today.

Today the EAA continues the work of Ottey, Greer, and all of the others who have served this organization over the past 78 years. While the EAA still assists with preserving the historic homes on the street, it has also expanded and evolved to remain relevant. From events like Artisans on the Alley and Brew Fest to the Twitter and Facebook pages, the EAA manages to meet the needs of modern times while still remaining in sync with the core values of its founders.

TSOP Thursdays - 5.Jan.12

2012-01-05T12:35:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.Happy New Year and welcome to 2012! Each year at this time people make resolutions to try and improve their lives. One of the most popular resolutions is undoubtedly related to health and fitness. So, for those of you out there hoping to get into shape, here's a little musical motivation from Philly's favorite underdog.

TSOP Thursdays - 29.Dec.11

2011-12-29T10:31:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.The year is drawing to a close, and in Philadelphia, that means one thing: Mummers. Stemming from centuries-old European traditions of mummery, the Mummers Parade has been a Philadelphia tradition since New Year's Day of 1901. The Mummers Parade is the longest parade in the country, often lasting upwards of 12 hours, but the highlight for most is the string bands. Below is a clip of Fralinger's first place performance from the 2010 parade. Happy New Year!

Winter Schedule

2011-12-28T10:05:00.001-05:00

As the holidays wind down, the Museum of Elfreth's Alley will move to a shortened schedule for the winter. Please refer to the graphic below for those hours. In the event of snow, check the blog or Facebook for information on closings.

TSOP Thursdays - 22.Dec.11

2011-12-22T10:37:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
This time of year in Philadelphia, several radio stations see fit to play a steady rotation of six or seven agonizingly terrible holiday tunes without adding any variety. Our friends at The What Magazine offered a remedy to this issue by providing us with A Very Merry Mixtape Madness. For this week's TSOP Thursday, we go to track 19 of the mix, which is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band joining Conan O'Brien and members of the Max Weinberg Seven for a rousing rendition of "Merry Christmas Baby." Long before the E Street Band was playing the late night circuit, they were struggling to make it big from their home in Asbury Park, NJ. It was Ed Sciaky (pronounced Shockey) of Philadelphia's own WMMR that gave Bruce and the band the boost they needed to eventually achieve mainstream success. MMR would also be the station that helped launch acts like Joan Jett, Billy Joel, Yes, and Janis Ian.

TSOP Thursdays - 15.Dec.11

2011-12-15T13:50:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
Since we are well into the holiday season and we haven't had a Hall and Oates tune in awhile, here is their version of "Jingle Bell Rock," complete with one of the cheesiest music videos of all time.

TSOP Thursdays - 8.Dec.11

2011-12-08T12:52:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
In keeping with the holiday theme, we will stretch outside of the borders of Philadelphia for Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and their retelling of Clement C. Moore's A Visit From Saint Nicholas. Waring's group originally formed at Penn State and later grew to include several Pennsylvania singers and musicians.

Holiday Shoppe at Elfreth's Alley

2011-12-08T11:27:00.001-05:00

Shop locally this holiday season! With many items in our shop made right here in Pennsylvania, you can support the local economy and help the education and preservation efforts on Elfreth's Alley all while getting some one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones! Stop in the Museum Shop at 124 Elfreth's Alley to see our great selection of gifts!

Open For Discussion - Deck the Alley

2011-12-06T11:56:00.001-05:00

When artisans began setting up shop along Elfreth's Alley in the 18th century, it was commonplace for the famous doors of Elfreth's Alley to sit open as passerby wandered the street. Much like those days of yore, we occasionally like to open our door to a conversation with those of you passing by.

This past Saturday marked another successful Deck the Alley open house. The well-attended event drew in visitors from Canada to California and had Old City buzzing. As always, we would like to hear feedback from those who were at the event. What did you like about it? What would you change for next year? How did you hear about Deck the Alley? Any comments on your feelings about your Deck the Alley experience are welcome. For those who missed out on this holiday tradition, let us know why. Were you aware of the event? Have you attended before and elected to skip it this year? We are always looking for ways to improve the guest experience at the Museum of Elfreth's Alley, and we look forward to your feedback.

Blogger Discount for Deck the Alley

2011-12-01T12:19:00.001-05:00

Since the past few months have seen a tremendous increase in traffic to our blog, we would like to thank you, our readers, with a special discount to Deck the Alley. Click on the green button in the upper right hand area of this page and upon making your purchase, enter the code EABLOG to receive 15% off your Deck the Alley tickets. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you this Saturday!

TSOP Thursdays - 1.Dec.11

2011-12-01T10:34:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
In 1940, the Walt Disney Company released the animated masterpiece Fantasia. With beautiful images set to the exquisite classical music chosen, this film has been popular for decades. What many do not realize is that the orchestra chosen for this film was the one and only Philadelphia Orchestra. While contributions from the likes of Bela Lugosi and Salvador Dali were cut from the final picture, the contributions of the Philadelphia Orchestra remained. The music was recorded in Philadelphia, making this a very Philadelphian film. In the interest of the holiday season, this week's song will be the Nutcracker Suite, as seen in Fantasia.

TSOP Thursdays - Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T11:52:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
As mentioned before, Philadelphia is home to the rock radio station 93.3 WMMR. MMR is one of the very few stations left in the country that has live, local DJs on the air 24/7. The air staff at MMR are also known for a little personal flair here and there. Preston and Steve do their Camp Out For Hunger each year to raise funds for Philabundance (this year's Camp Out begins Monday). Jaxon is known for highlighting local bands. And Pierre Robert, who this week celebrated his 30th year on air at MMR, is known for playing whatever the hell he wants, whether it fits the format or not. And it would not be a Philadelphia Thanksgiving without tuning in to MMR at noon to here good old Uncle Pierre play Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie.

Celebrities, Christmas, and Elfreth's Alley

2011-11-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

Get your tickets by clicking the big, green button on the right hand side of the page.

Also, Friday, December 2nd marks the return of the Famous Philadelphian First Friday Auction. With signed memorabilia from Placido Polanco, Robb Armstrong, Melissa Fitzgerald, and more surprises to come, there are plenty of items to bid on, with all proceeds benefiting the education efforts of the Elfreth's Alley Association. The bidding begins at 5PM Friday the 2nd and ends at 6:45PM on Saturday the 3rd. We hope to see you there!

Christmas in the Colonial Capital Tour

2011-11-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

The Elfreth's Alley Association is proud to partner with Philadelphia On Foot for a spectacular new holiday tradition. The Christmas in the Colonial Capital tour will highlight how the festive holiday season was celebrated early on in Philadelphia's history and how integral the City of Brotherly Love was in shaping the holiday we know today.

Holidays With the Other Half

The Powel House Ballroom

Edward Mauger, author of Philadelphia Then and Now and USA Today's Best Tour Guide in America, has put together this tour to help you celebrate the holidays in the birthplace of America's Christmas. The tour begins with refreshments in the historic and elegantly decorated Powel House ballroom in Society Hill. This very ballroom is where then Commander Washington celebrated his wedding anniversary during "Little Christmas." You will be amazed at how the wealthiest of Philadelphians celebrated the holidays by visiting this house, once home to the richest family in the city.

Yuletide Stroll
Upon your departure from the Powel House, your guide will lead you through 18th century Philadelphia. As you traverse these historic streets, you will be regaled with tales of Christmas Past. Learn the origins of mummery, the meaning of wassailing, and all about jolly old Saint Nick's cranky German counterpart Belsnickel. As no holiday tour of Philly would be complete without a tale or two about a certain bespectacled, pleasant plump fellow, expect a couple anecdotes about some of Benjamin Franklin's more "shocking" holiday experiences.

Elfreth's Alley underneath a dusting of snow.

Melting Pot of Traditions
Your stroll through Society Hill and Old City will culminate at Elfreth's Alley, the cozy street where colonists of all nationalities could see each other's unique holiday customs, or, as was the case with the Quakers, ignore them altogether. Here you will learn about the working class and how their living in such close quarters led to many of the beloved holiday traditions we hold dear today.

Join In the Festivities
The tour will begin at the Powel House on 244 S. 3rd Street. The dates and times are as follows:

Saturday, November 26, 1PM
Saturday, December 3, 1PM*
Saturday, December 10, 1PM
Saturday, December 17, 1PM

Adult tickets are $20, children, students, and seniors are priced at $10. A special family pack for families of four or more costs $50.

Click Here to Get Tickets

Sell tickets online with TicketLeap

*The December 3rd tour will finish at the Deck the Alley holiday open house. Tour goers can purchase Deck the Alley tickets with a 25% discount.

TSOP Thursdays - 17.Nov.11

2011-11-17T09:34:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia is a fantastic breeding ground for great music. Thanks in part to radio stations like 93.3 WMMR, local music is still showcased on a regular basis in Philly through efforts like Jaxon's Local Shots compilations and Pierre Robert's consistent championing of local musicians. One of Pierre's favorites are the Hooters. In fact, it was to celebrate Pierre's 20th anniversary on the air at WMMR that got the Hooters to reunite 10 years ago this week. While various band members achieved success co-writing Grammy-nominated hits for Cyndi Lauper and Joan Osbourne, they are perhaps best known for the 1985 singles "All You Zombies" and "And We Danced."

Next Week: TSOP Thursdays gets into the holiday spirit!

Deck the Alley

2011-11-14T10:14:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia is known for having some of the best holiday traditions in the United States, thanks in part to the early religious freedoms granted by Pennsylvania's founder, William Penn. Where else but Philly can one be dazzled by a variety of holiday light shows or walk through the story of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol? There are dozens of fantastic holiday traditions in the City of Brotherly Love, but only one is the true kickoff of the holiday season, and that one event is Deck the Alley.

Deck the Alley 2011
December 3rd, 4-7PM
Tickets available online or in Museum Shop

Get in the Festive Spirit on December 3rd at Elfreth's Alley!

Over twenty years ago, Deck the Alley was added as a compliment to the annual Fete Day celebration. This winter tradition is the second time each year that Alley residents are kind enough to welcome the public into their homes. Each resident of Elfreth's Alley has a different style of decorating, providing a balance between the modern and traditional styles. Visiting these historic homes will allow guests a rare glimpse into the lives of the many Philadelphians who have called Elfreth's Alley home over the past three centuries.

In addition to touring the historic houses, holiday cheer will be abound on Elfreth's Alley on December 3rd. As you traverse the narrow road between the Georgian and Federal homes, keep your eyes (and ears) open for a group of Victorian carolers who will be on hand to share some revelry. Benjamin Franklin will be taking a stroll down the Alley with you that evening, and be sure to ask him to tell you his penny whistle story. Author Harry Kyriakodis will sign copies of his popular new book Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront. Illustrators Robert and Lisa Papp, known for their work on a number of historical children's books, will be signing several of their works as well.

Should you find yourself wanting a little dessert during the evening, several of the Alley's younger residents will be hosting a bake sale, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Elfreth's Alley Association's preservation and education efforts. To wash down these baked goods, visitors can enjoy free warm drinks courtesy of Old City Coffee or a specially-brewed colonial style porter from Saint Benjamin's Brewery.

A small portion of the crowd at 2010's Deck the Alley

Also coinciding with Deck the Alley is the second Famous Philadelphian First Friday Art Auction. This silent auction on artwork and memorabilia from prominent Philadelphians will begin on First Friday, December 2nd at 4PM and continue until 7PM Saturday. This year also marks the return of the Windsor Chair raffle, in which an authentic, handmade Windsor Chair valued at $800 will be raffled off. Raffle tickets cost only $5 and are available in the Elfreth's Alley Museum Shop now. Keep in mind that one lucky Brew Fest attendee spent $20 on raffle tickets that evening and went home with over $500 worth of prizes.

Finally, if you mention this blog article whilst doing your holiday shopping at our Museum Shop on December 2nd or 3rd, you will receive 10% off your entire purchase. The majority of the merchandise sold at the Elfreth's Alley Museum Shop is made right here in Pennsylvania, enabling you to buy local this holiday season.

All proceeds from this event go directly to furthering the Elfreth's Alley Association's mission of preservation and education, including the opening of a new museum in building 128, currently a vacant warehouse. For more information, check back with the blog as we draw closer to the event or call the Elfreth's Alley Museum at 215-574-0560.

TSOP Thursdays - 11.Nov.11

2011-11-11T10:29:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
A day later, but better late than never! This week's tune comes from three fantastic collaborators. After becoming known for glam rock, in the mid-1970's David Bowie switched gears, mainly due to an obsession with Philadelphia soul. The result was the Young Americans album. The title track from that album lifted a line from "Across the Universe" written by John Lennon, who would contribute to two other tracks on this album. Bowie had a little bit of assistance arranging the background vocals from New Jersey native Luther Vandross. What does this have to do with Philly? Aside from being heavily influence by the sound of Philadelphia, Bowie actually recorded most of this album at Sigma Sound Studios in Center City, again proving Philadelphia's massive influence on musicians worldwide.

Tonight - "Drawings"

2011-11-04T10:32:00.000-04:00

Join us at the Elfreth's Alley Museum tonight for our monthly First Friday gallery. Tonight's featured artist is Francis X. Friel, known in Philadelphia for his unique drawings and films. Friel's eclectic style will be displayed in the museum tonight from 5-9PM. Francis originally joined us in April at our initial First Friday event, and we are pleased to be welcoming him back this evening. Francis will also be our final featured artist of 2011, as next month marks the return of the Famous Philadelphian First Friday Auction.

As always with First Fridays at Elfreth's Alley, the head of the Alley will be lined with local artists selling their craft. These artists come to the Alley through the efforts of Art to Save the World, a local organization dedicated to encouraging artists to use their talents for a positive purpose. This monthly event is a modern tribute to the Alley's origins as a home to 18th century artisans. Admission to this event is free, so be sure to stop by and visit the Elfreth's Alley Museum as you enjoy what is sure to be another fantastic First Friday in Old City.

TSOP Thursdays - 3.Nov.11

2011-11-03T11:21:00.003-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
Another Thursday, another great song from a Philadelphia artist. The Roots have come to be known as America's go-to band for all that is cool, whether it be as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon or backing everyone from Mavis Staples to Yusef Islam to Ozzy Osbourne at the Rally to Restore Sanity last fall. The Roots have been around much longer than that, bringing their sweet sound from Philly to the world since the early 1990's. Here's a slick groove from the Roots for you to enjoy.

Inside the Archives - 1961

2011-11-01T11:19:00.002-04:00

The Elfreth's Alley Association has a tremendous archive focusing on the role the people of this little street have played in Philadelphia's rich history. From insurance documents drafted under the rule of King George IV to a scrapbook maintained throughout the early to mid 20th century, there is a treasure trove of information to be found. With this feature, we invite you to peek into the archives with us and learn a little more about the Alley, it's people, and their place in American history.

Shortly after the Elfreth's Alley Association was formed by residents in 1934, Eliza Newkirk Rodgers began keeping a scrapbook of items related to the Alley. Rodgers added to this book for over 30 years, leaving behind a fantastic resource for research. Thanks to a generous grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the book was carefully preserved by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia. This enabled the EAA to scan selections from the book, one of which is shown below.

Click to enlarge

Today, when visiting Elfreth's Alley, visitors notice a bland, brick wall standing at the East end of the street. This wall serves as a noise barrier between the historic homes of Elfreth's Alley and the section of I-95 known as the Delaware Expressway (For more on how I-95 affected the city, check out Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront). When the expressway was being planned as a part of the federal interstate system, there was growing concern about how it would affect the homes of Elfreth's Alley. For nearly a decade, the debate raged in the local papers over this issue.

As is indicated in the article here, there were enough people who believed that the entirety of Elfreth's Alley and Bladen's Court should be saved. The petition of 12,000 signatures was submitted on 25 yards of parchment, a nice touch of dramatic flair to help get the point across. Thanks to the efforts of these concerned citizens and organizations like the Elfreth's Alley Association, visitors are still able to see the nation's oldest street and visit the museum.

While the construction of the highway did not open up a river view for Alley residents, recent efforts have been made to reconnect the neighborhood to the Delaware River. With the opening of the Race Street Pier and the recent addition of a snazzy new promenade connecting Old City to the Pier, things are beginning to open up. Now if only something could be done to spruce up that big, blank wall!

TSOP Thursdays - 27.Oct.11

2011-10-27T15:22:00.000-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
With Halloween right around the corner, it only seemed appropriate that we selected a very special song for this week's TSOP Thursday. Many are familiar with Warren Zevon's popular tune "Werewolves of London," which is all well and good. However, this version is known locally as "Werewolves of Bryn Mawr" in reference to the Philly suburb where it was recorded. Enjoy!

Click here to listen to a free stream of "Werewolves of Bryn Mawr."

Something Borrowed, Something Brewed

2011-10-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

The first annual Elfreth's Alley Museum Brew Fest was a smashing success! The event went smoothly, attendees were able to enjoy a variety of brews along with some of the best sausage in the city. Experts were on hand to discuss beer and history, and the winner of the first-ever Elfreth's Alley Home Brew Competition got to drink her winning recipe from the prestigious Elfreth's Cup. All of this fun and excitement would not have been possible without the generous help from the following businesses and people:

DONATIONS

Alley resident Rob Kettell talks beer with Tim Patton.

Danielle Alderman at Triumph Brewing Company was one of the very first people in Old City to respond to our request for beer to fuel this event. The Oktoberfest donated by Triumph ended up being the first beer to go, a testament to the quality work done by the stellar brewers there.
Heavy Seas Beer out of Baltimore also kicked in with a couple of cases of their tasty brews. Both cases were awarded as prizes for the $1,000 raffle, and by the night's end, one of the cases was about halfway done!
Stacy Wessel at the Race Street Cafe also pitched in by donating a keg of Stone Pale Ale as well as two $25 gift cards which went to the Home Brew Competition winner and a lucky raffle contestant. Our Race Street neighbors have always been good friends to the Alley, pitching in with every event we do each year.
Tim Patton of Saint Benjamin's Brewery brought over a keg of his Dunkelweiss, which ended up being tremendously popular amongst the drinking public Saturday evening. Keep an eye out for when and where Tim will be around with another keg. We're excited to welcome him back at Deck the Alley with a colonial-style porter.
With all of the beer, we needed some good food to accompany it. Enter Walter Staib, master chef at City Tavern. Staib's German Sausages were quite a hit, and were but a memory by the event's halfway mark.
The guys over at Brave New Worlds kicked in a $25 gift card to their shop, which now belongs to the winner of our Home Brew Competition.
Barry's Home Brew Outlet, fresh off of their move to Fishtown, donated tee shirts that several lucky raffle winners took home.
Local favorite the Book Trader donated two $10 gift cards, one for a raffle winner and one that was included in the immensely popular Swag Wagon.
Thanks to Elfreth's Alley's favorite pizza joint, Gianfranco's, several raffle winners won two free slices of their delicious pizza.
Harry Kyriakodis signed two copies of his book, Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront, which served as prizes for the raffle. You can pick up your copy of this book in our Museum Shop, and get it signed when Harry joins us for Deck the Alley on December 3rd.

VOLUNTEERS
The Elfreth's Alley Museum depends on volunteers for its day to day operations, and Brew Fest was no different. Docents and Board Members were out in full force to help the evening progress smoothly. The volunteers on hand that evening were:

Joe Becton, who kept everyone entertained with his singing and guitar strumming.
Robert Bernstein, who provided the decor.
Edward Mauger, who talked about Philadelphia's history as the colonial capital of beer.
Dan Gaidula, who designed the event postcard and took photos.
Jim Maloney, who donated use of his grill and cooked for the event.
Laura Rock, who staffed the door and took your tickets.
Donna Fahres, who probably gave you several beers throughout the night.
Rob Kettell, Karisa Blake, Jennifer Johnson, and Sarah Williams were also there helping with the food, drink, and fun.

I would also like to thank Jason Rock and Charlie Anderson, who saved the day by getting more beer and cups after we ran out of the first batch.

HOME BREW COMPETITION

Judges Charlotte Haines and Adam Piazza enjoying their job.

The first-ever Elfreth's Alley Home Brew Competition, while small, was quite fun. Four brewers entered a variety of very tasty beers. All of the judges agreed that they would gladly pay to drink any of the four competing brews, which is high praise coming from the sophisticated palates that did the judging.

Tim Patton, Judge, owner and founder of Saint Benjamin's Brewery
John Boswell, Judge, owner and founder of Port Richmond Pour House
Adam Piazza, Judge, co-founder of the GEDO Project
Charlotte Haines, Judge, Elfreth's Alley Museum & Education Committee Member
Brian Krisch, Judge, National Constitution Center
Alyssa McIntyre, Judge, Franklin Institute Science Museum
Ed Coffey, Home Brewer, German-style Roggenbier (Rye beer)
Bill Shouldis, Home Brewer, Pumpkin Ale
Keith Gormley, Home Brewer, Magnum PIPA

A special congratulations is in order for Candy Graham, a local science teacher, for her lemon-infused wheat beer that ended up being the judge's favorite and earned her the prestigious Elfreth's Cup. Next year we will do our best to obtain a trophy that doesn't leak.

PROMOTION

A mass of happy Alley-goers enjoying Brew Fest

Behind every successful event is a group of people who promoted it ahead of time. As you can see in the photograph on the left, the promotion paid off! Whether through the web, word of mouth, or handing out fliers, the following people were instrumental in making this a well-attended event:

Leah Balerno, Alley resident
Suzy Woods, Beerlass
Lew Bryson, Seen Through A Glass
Loretta Vasile, Museum Assistant
Ellen Grupe, Museum Assistant
Bob Fass, Museum Docent

As was mentioned several times throughout the evening, Brew Fest was the kick-off of our fundraising campaign to expand into the abandoned warehouse next door to our museum. If you would like to help out with these efforts, send your information to information@elfrethsalley.org. In the meantime, keep tabs here for upcoming events like Deck the Alley and information on next year's Prohibition-themed Brew Fest!

TSOP Thursdays - 20.Oct.11

2011-10-20T19:17:00.000-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
It seems that each week that the soulful sound Philadelphia is known for, and this week is no exception. This week, our song comes from one-time Temple students Darryl Hall and John Oates, known for popularizing "blue-eyed soul" in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Open For Discussion - Brew Fest

2011-10-16T10:32:00.001-04:00

When artisans began setting up shop along Elfreth's Alley in the 18th century, it was commonplace for the famous doors of Elfreth's Alley to sit open as passerby wandered the street. Much like those days of yore, we occasionally like to open our door to a conversation with those of you passing by.

Yesterday evening's Brew Fest was a smashing success! Many thanks to those who made it out to our Brew Fest Biergarten to learn a little about home brewing and history while enjoying delicious food from City Tavern and tasty brews from Triumph Brewing Company, Saint Benjamin's Brewery, and the Race Street Cafe.

What we would like you to share with us is your thoughts on Brew Fest. Did you enjoy it? What was your favorite part about the event? What would you change to make next year's Brew Fest even better? Did attending Brew Fest make you want to check out other events at the Elfreth's Alley Museum? Use the comment section below to discuss all things Brew Fest, we look forward to reading your comments!

TSOP Thursdays - 13.Oct.11

2011-10-13T10:42:00.002-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
Although the term "The Sound of Philadelphia" became popular after the hit song of the same name, producers Gamble and Huff had their first hit with a group called the Soul Survivors. That hit, "Expressway to Your Heart," is what truly launched what today is known as TSOP, and here it is in all its glory.

As a bonus, here's a cover version by Philly favorites Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

2011-10-09T13:22:00.001-04:00

The mercury has lowered and the leaves are changing, it's October and that means that something wicked this way comes. And by wicked, I mean wicked awesome. In less than a week, the Elfreth's Alley Museum will present Brew Fest 2011, a celebration of our city's sudsy past, present, and future.

During a tour of the museum at Elfreth's Alley, many are surprised to learn that beer was the beverage of choice for Philadelphians of all ages back in colonial times. This little tidbit is much less shocking than the reasons why! Philadelphia has always been a beer haven, from it's first European settlers in caves along the Delaware River right through Prohibition and into the modern trends of micro-brewing and home-brewing.

CHATS
Attendees of Brew Fest will get all the juicy details regarding Philadelphia's rise to prominence in the brewing world. America's best tour guide and noted historian Edward Mauger will discuss Philly's role as the beer capital of the colonies. Also on hand for a chat will be Mixed Pickles director/president of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides, Bob Skiba, discussing the Prohibition Era of bathtub booze and speakeasies. With all of that history, we will also get into current events with a talk on pairing beer with delicious food from the experts at Triumph Brewing Company as well as a quick lesson on how to start home brewing from Saint Benjamin's Brewery.

BREWS
Once your thirst for knowledge is quenched, it will be time for the beer. Leading the charge of participating breweries is our proud sponsor Triumph Brewing Company. With several locations throughout the Delaware Valley, including right around the corner on the 100 block of Chestnut Street, Triumph is a great spot to try some of America's freshest micro-brews while enjoying some particularly delicious eats. Neighborhood restaurant Race Street Cafe will also kindly be donating a couple of kegs to our cause. Joining Triumph and Race Street will be the pirate-friendly brewers of Heavy Seas out of Baltimore and up-and-coming local favorite Saint Benjamin's Brewery. With such a wide selection of beer, you are sure to be satisfied!

GRUB
With the Autumnal Equinox behind us, it would be remiss not to pay homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest, albeit a few weeks late. Therefore, to accompany the stellar brews being served there will plenty of snacks to please your palate. Chef Walter Staib of City Tavern and A Taste of History fame is generously donating his delicious German sausages to be grilled on site. If tubular meets are not your thing, feel free to chow down on some soft pretzels, a Philly tradition brought over by early German settlers.

TUNES
Beer, food, and a little bit of learning would be enough for most people, but the Elfreth's Alley Museum wants to give you more. So in addition to all of the above, troubadour Joe Becton will be on hand to entertain you with tavern tunes both past and present as a group of Philadelphians compete to determine who has the best home brew. The winner will be determined by a panel of judges including Elfreth's Alley Association board member Danniel Gaidula, GEDO Project co-founder Adam Piazza, Elfreth's Alley Museum docent Karisa Blake, Saint Benjamin's Brewery founder Timothy Patton, Port Richmond Pour House owner John Boswell, former bartender/current teacher Alyssa McIntyre, and Brian Krisch, who has worked at too many Philadelphia cultural institutions to name.

SWAG
Finally, we have one more thing for you to look forward to for this year's Brew Fest. Each person who purchases a ticket to the event will automatically be given a raffle ticket. Prizes to be raffled off include cases of beer, books autographed by the authors, souvenirs from the Museum Shop at Elfreth's Alley, gift cards to local businesses, tickets to events, and more. There is also the soon-to-be-legendary Swag Wagon. The Swag Wagon is a wagon chock full of all of the aforementioned prizes. One lucky winner will walk home with that wagon. To increase your chances of winning, you can purchase more raffle tickets throughout the evening!

We here at the Elfreth's Alley Museum are eagerly anticipating this huge event and hope to see you there. We also encourage you to visit the links in this article as we would not be able to host this event without the help of all of these wonderful organizations.

SCHEDULE:
6:00 - Doors open
6:15 - Welcome/Food Pairings
6:45 - Home Brew How To
7:15 - Philadelphia: The Colonial Beer Capital
7:45 - Prohibition Preview/2012 Plans
8:00 - Raffle Prizes and Home Brew Competition Winner

Get your TICKETS here!

Tonight - "Moments of Love"

2011-10-07T12:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight, from 5-9PM, the Elfreth's Alley Museum is proud to present its Artist of the Month, Rebecca Burrow. The museum's monthly art gallery will play host to "Moments of Love," a multimedia series taking you through the stages of romance in a visually stunning manner. Burrow combines breathtaking images with artfully crafted text to convey a variety of feelings and emotions. In addition to the normal gallery in the front room, the second floor of the museum will also be open to display some of Burrow's paintings. For more from Miss Burrow, visit her blog.

As always with First Fridays at Elfreth's Alley, the head of the Alley will be lined with local artists selling their craft. These artists come to the Alley through the efforts of Art to Save the World, a local organization dedicated to encouraging artists to use their talents for a positive purpose. This monthly event is a modern tribute to the Alley's origins as a home to 18th century artisans. Admission to this event is free, so be sure to stop by and visit the Elfreth's Alley Museum as you enjoy what is sure to be another fantastic First Friday in Old City.

TSOP Thursdays - 6.Oct.11

2011-10-07T10:01:00.000-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
First, allow me to apologize for two things. One, for being a day late on this week's song. Second, for the colorful language that pops up midway through the song. Many musicians find, that while on tour, few fans can equal Philadelphia's passion for music. Matt Nathanson, originally from Massachusetts, is one of those musicians. Nathanson has long been known for his love of performing in front of a Philly crowd, from his early days playing in bars in Old City to recording his only live album in the Philly burbs. In fact, just last week Nathanson told a crowd of fans at the Electric Factory that performing in the City of Brotherly Love is akin to performing in front of a hometown crowd for him. The performance selected for this week's TSOP Thursday is a typical occurrence at a Matt Nathanson show: Midway through one of his hits, he will change gears and have the crowd join him in covering another artist's tune. Enjoy the song, and again, please be aware that there is some colorful language in this video.

TSOP Thursdays - 29.Sep.11

2011-09-29T10:31:00.001-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
The City of Brotherly Love has been home to many great musicians over the years. Philly has also served as an inspiration for great music made by artists from all over the world. For example, during their 1977 In The Flesh tour, Pink Floyd stopped in Philadelphia for a show that bassist/singer Roger Waters has been known to call the longest two hours of his life. Waters had been suffering from sever abdominal pain, and a doctor pumped him full of tranquilizers, "comfortably numbing" him just enough to perform at the Spectrum. From that experience, Waters penned the lyrics to "Comfortably Numb" to compliment and instrumental piece guitarist/singer David Gilmour had written. The result is this classic song, which also happens to be the last song Pink Floyd ever played together.

Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront

2011-09-27T11:52:00.000-04:00

The Museum Shop at Elfreth's Alley stands out from the run-of-the-mill gift shops in the area by offering a uniquely local and personal experience. With reproductions of colonial games, snacks, and housewares, official Elfreth's Alley merchandise, and one of the best selections of locally made artwork and crafts it is a must-see on your visit to Philadelphia. Alongside all of this local and historic swag is an ever-evolving collection of books offering new perspectives on the history of this great city. One such book is the recently-published Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront by local historian Harry Kyriakodis.

I first met Kyriakodis at a meeting of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) and found that he was heavily involved in researching the history of Philadelphia's waterfront. At the time, I was learning all I could about the Wood Street Steps, and the other public stairways that once led to the banks of the Delaware River, in order to develop a tour of Old City and Elfreth's Alley based on William Penn's plans. I had found that very little was written on the subject, and was thrilled to find that Harry was working on a book pertaining to that very subject.

"Ibegan the book as a personal investigation into the public stairs that WilliamPenn directed to be built along the front of the Delaware River to facilitateeasy access to the river," the author recalled, "as well as the caves in which early PhiladelphiaQuaker settlers lived." The fascinating stories of early colonial life along the Delaware are told richly in this book. This selection discusses Elfreth's Alley, one of the few surviving pieces of that era:

The alley had become an impoverishedneighborhood by World War I and faced possible demolition. In 1934, a group ofindividuals formed the Elfreth's Alley Association to save several houses frombeing torn down by absentee landlords. They later helped rescue the alley fromother threats, including construction of I-95.

"Philadelphia'sLost Waterfront isultimately a study of the conflict of land use—residential vs. commercial vs.recreational vs. transportational—along the Delaware River from Penn's time tothe present," said Kyriakodis. That conflict is at its most prevalent when discussing the construction of I-95. While the historic homes of Elfreth's Alley were lucky enough to be saved, much of the once bustling Philadelphia waterfront was lost. With Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront, Kyriakodis does an amazing job giving a voice to what was once the heart of Philadelphia.

To get a sneak peak inside the pages of this fascinating read, check out the preface, introduction, and epilogue here. You can also learn more about the book and the author by liking it on Facebook. Be sure to swing by the Museum Shop at Elfreth's Alley soon to get your copy, this title has been selling fast!

TSOP Thursdays - 22.Sep.11

2011-09-22T10:26:00.000-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia has always been known for having a soulful sound. There's a reason our arena football team is called the Soul, after all. Modern artists are continuing Philly's soul traditions whether they be local artists like the lovely and talented Miss Jill Scott, or imports like Floetry or John Legend. This week's song is "A Long Walk" by Jill Scott, one of her first singles. The video for the song gives a great glimpse into one of Philadelphia's many neighborhoods as Miss Scott serenades the streets.

Open For Discussion - Fall Beer

2011-09-21T15:24:00.000-04:00

When artisans began setting up shop along Elfreth's Alley in the 18th century, it was commonplace for the famous doors of Elfreth's Alley to sit open as passerby wandered the street. Much like those days of yore, we occasionally like to open our door to a conversation with those of you passing by.

Today's topic for discussion is beer. With Brew Fest just a few weeks away, we want to know a little more about your brew preferences. Since this event is fall-centric, we will focus on fall beers. Last year, I held a fall beer tasting for Primer Magazine that revealed Brooklyn's Post Road Pumpkin Ale and Dogfish Head's Punkin' Ale as the favorites. This year I have really been enjoying Buffalo Bill's American Original Pumpkin Ale. That could change, as for a pumpkin beer it's flavor is not that robust. Perhaps by the time Brew Fest rolls around I'll be into something else.

What are your favorite fall brews? Use the comment section below to share your thoughts.

TSOP Thursdays - 15.Sep.11

2011-09-15T11:04:00.000-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
Before Gamble and Huff took the Sound of Philadelphia to a soulful new level in the late 1960's, Philadelphia's music scene was swept away by a wave of doo-wop. Groups like the Dovells and the Intruders represented the City of Brotherly love with their nationwide hits, many of which were focused around a new dance craze. One such song is "Mashed Potato Time" by Dee Dee Sharp. This slick little dance is a popular one at the monthly Turnaround vs. Immediate 60's dance parties at the Barbary, and you can expect to have plenty of opportunities to dance the Mashed Potato tomorrow as the DJs spin some classic wax.

Inside the Archives - 1936

2011-09-13T11:12:00.001-04:00

The Elfreth's Alley Association has a tremendous archive focusing on the role the people of this little street have played in Philadelphia's rich history. From insurance documents drafted under the rule of King George IV to a scrapbook maintained throughout the early to mid 20th century, there is a treasure trove of information to be found. With this feature, we invite you to peek into the archives with us and learn a little more about the Alley, it's people, and their place in American history.

Shortly after the Elfreth's Alley Association was formed by residents in 1934, Eliza Newkirk Rodgers began keeping a scrapbook of items related to the Alley. Rodgers added to this book for over 30 years, leaving behind a fantastic resource for research. Thanks to a generous grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the book was carefully preserved by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia. This enabled the EAA to scan selections from the book, one of which is shown below.

Click on the image to enlarge

This article, though written in 1936, touches on many issues faced here at the Elfreth's Alley Museum today. For example, the heading at the top of the fourth column reads "People Come Miles to See It but Natives Here Just let It Stay Where 'Tis." To this day, a visit to the Elfreth's Alley Museum is a must for travelers visiting from afar, yet many Philadelphians are not aware of the museum or even this street's important place in our nation's history. Through efforts like First Friday events and Brew Fest, the EAA has recently broadened its appeal as a destination for locals.

This article also makes mention of Florence Reardon, a woman who, to that point in time, had lived on the Alley for over 50 years. A few decades later, the Reardon family finally moved from their Alley residence after five generations had lived there. The house changed hands several times in the years to follow, and today is occupied by a descendant of the Reardons.

Articles such as this provide a fascinating look at the ways in which the Alley has in some ways evolved and others remained the same over the past 75 years. As the EAA broadens its research initiatives in the coming months, look for some more posts like this one that give you a glance inside the archives.

TSOP Thursdays - 8.Sep.11

2011-09-08T10:29:00.000-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia is home to many firsts, such as the first zoo or the first volunteer fire company. It is also home to many of the oldest places in the country. Elfreth's Alley is the nation's oldest continuously lived on street, so this month we give you Bruce Springsteen's ode to the "Streets of Philadelphia." This song won four Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and an MTV Video Music Award. The video shown below is unique in that Springsteen was actually singing live in the video, as opposed to lip-synching over a vocal track as is done in most music videos.

Tonight - "Pieces of the Alley"

2011-09-02T10:17:00.000-04:00

Tonight, from 5-9PM, the Elfreth's Alley Museum is proud to present its Artist of the Month, photographer Anthony Latess. The Museum's monthly art gallery will be home to "Pieces of the Alley," a series of 20 photographs. Latess' photos capture details of the interior and exterior of three different homes on Elfreth's Alley. Tonight offers visitors a one-of-a-kind experience as they are provided this unique view into the private historic homes that line our nation's oldest residential street.

In addition to the special exhibition of Latess' work, the head of the Alley (at 2nd Street) will play host to a number of local artists and craftspeople. The Elfreth's Alley Museum continues its monthly collaboration with Art to Save the World by bringing you Artisans on the Alley. This monthly event is a modern tribute to the Alley's origins as a home to 18th century artisans. Admission to this event is free, so be sure to stop by and visit the Elfreth's Alley Museum as you enjoy what is sure to be another fantastic First Friday in Old City.

TSOP Thursdays - 1.Sep.11

2011-09-01T10:20:00.004-04:00

Philadelphia has been home to and inspired some of the best music in modern history. Because of this, each Thursday we will bring you TSOP Thursdays, a celebration of music in the City of Brotherly Love.
There is really only one way to start off this weekly feature, and that is with "TSOP" by MFSB. This group was originally a collection of studio musicians who backed groups like the O'Jays and the Stylistics. Then, in 1974, they released this track for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records, and suddenly there was a name for the great music coming from the City of Brotherly Love.

Brew Fest 2011

2011-08-30T10:57:00.004-04:00

The Museum of Elfreth’s Alley is proud to announce its first annual Brew Fest. Happening on Saturday, October 15, 2011, this exciting new event aims to be the who’s who of brewing in the Philadelphia region. Join us as local home brewers compete to please the palates of our panel of expert judges in hopes of scoring the coveted Elfreth’s Cup, recognizing the best home-brewed beer in the region. Where better than the nation’s oldest continuously lived on residential street than to host a home brew-ha-ha?

Brew Fest will begin at 6PM on the evening of the 15th when Flagpole Park at the corner of 2nd Street and Elfreth's Alley becomes the official Brew Fest Biergarten. Special guests will give presentations on topics such as Philly's Beer History, Brew & Food Pairings, and Home Brew How-To at 6:30, 7:10, and 7:45. After the presentations are finished, our expert panel of judges will announce the winner of Elfreth's Cup around 8:45.

Tickets for this event are on sale at the Elfreth's Alley Museum Shop at 124 Elfreth's Alley. Tickets will be available online Thursday, September 1st. During the pre-sale, tickets are $20 for individuals or you can purchase a four-pack for $65 or a six-pack for $100. On the day of the event there will be limited tickets available at the door priced at $25 for individuals, $75 for a four-pack, and $125 for a six-pack. Your ticket not only gives you admission to this exciting new event and beer from local breweries, but enters you in the raffle to win one of over $1000 worth of door prizes.

As the event draws near, more details will be released here on our blog as well as on our Twitter and Facebook pages. For now, we are proud to announce that the always excellent Triumph Brewing Company will be providing beer and some other delicious treats for Brew Fest. The lads and gals of the historic City Tavern will also be on hand grilling some delectable German sausages, a perfect snack to accompany your beer on a cool autumn evening. If you are a home-brewer interested in participating, please fill out this form and send it to director@elfrethsalley.org.

We look forward to hosting this new annual event and having you join us! After all, what better way to spend a Saturday night in October than enjoying a few cold ones with five of your closest friends (that six-pack of tickets is quite the deal) in a city that is among the best in the world when it comes to brewing? Stay tuned for more details, and we will see you in October!

A Kid's Life on Elfreth's Alley

2011-08-24T16:45:00.002-04:00

“Since I plucked geese, played truant, and whipped top, I knew not what twas to be beaten till lately.” William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”

Earlier this month, Hannah and Charlie, two of the Alley’s youngest residents, had a Lemonade Stand (also selling lemon-flavored cupcakes) to raise money for a local animal shelter. This little example of juvenile entrepreneurialism, though not unusual today, would have been even more common in years passed.

Kids assisting with the annual Alley Clean-Up

“When it came to children, from the time they could prop you up in a chair they would have had you at some sort of useful task,” says Philadelphia-On-Foot director Ed Mauger. During the 18^th century, nearly everyone living on Elfreth’s Alley would have taken part in a household business. The denizens of Elfreth’s Alley, for the most part, would have had a shop on the first floor their home, sleeping in the attic and second floor rooms. Children were often apprenticed by the time they were 12 and would typically go and live with the family they were apprenticing. Some scholars have argued convincingly that most people at the time thought of children as “miniature adults,” with the same motivations and interests as their older counterparts. This is understandable, since for much of the 18^th century the daily experience of even a very young child would not have differed much from that of an adult.

As a rule, only the rich would have had formal schooling. As artisans and business owners, however, people living on the alley would have probably had some basic reading and writing skills and certainly enough arithmetic to settle their accounts. Parents would have instructed their children at home, making the house a commercial, residential and educational setting. As a result, the domestic and public spheres were not separate and children operated in both much the same way their parents did. (The notion of spending 8 hours a day in another location surrounded by children their own age would have been completely alien to them.) Oddly enough, a gentler, more child-friendly world would develop in part due to a major shift in economics.

While it is notoriously difficult to determine an actual starting date for the Industrial Revolution, we know that by 1820 economic life had changed enough to warrant a new kind of architecture. The Federal-style houses on Elfreth’s Alley show that privacy had become more of a concern. Unlike their older Georgian counterparts, with their single-step front stoops, and low, wide, front windows (to do display the goods inside), Federal homes have multiple steps up to a recessed entryway and high, narrow windows. There was no place for a shop in a Federal-style home. Instead, one or more family members would have found work in the local factories popping up around Philadelphia. Suddenly, the home became a strictly domestic place, where the wife served as primary care-giver and where the children, at least when they were too young for factories, would remain during the day. (Starting the early 1850s many states would pass compulsory school attendance laws, marking the birth of the public school system.)

Society now took the opportunity to celebrate the innocence of childhood; recognizing children as having different desires and needs from adults. Holidays such as Christmas and Halloween became more light-hearted and child-centric. Traditional toys from the period included cup-and-ball toys, jacks, paddle-ball and hardwood tops whirled with a piece of string. Many of these toys have origins much further back than the 18^th century. (The Cup-and-Ball is a 16^th century invention that was once all the rage in the royal court of France while Ancient Egyptians were known to play with Jacks!) Such simple toys would have been available to children who, unlike those of the previous century, would have had the time to enjoy them.

Today, kids living on the Alley will stop in the take a look at some of these traditional toys in the Museum shop, although one young lady says she treasures her stuffed penguin above all!

Stop by our Museum to learn more about our Kid's Life on Elfreth's Alley tour!

If Beer is Up Your Alley, Come Check Out Ours!

2011-07-20T14:16:00.006-04:00

Today there are not too many Philadelphians who, when heading out for a few brews, realize just how far back the tradition of brewing and imbibing beer goes. Some researchers claim that human beings started brewing beer before we figured out how to bake bread. (Nice to know our ancestors had their priorities straight!)

In Philadelphia, especially, the tradition of cracking open a cold one dates back quite a ways. In 1680, city founder William Penn reportedly began work on his own brewery. Legend has it that some of the most important decisions in the early American history were made over a few pints in local taverns. “It’s true that the Founding Fathers were known to debate over a couple of brews,” says Elfreth’s Alley Museum Director Patrick Wittwer. “I get a kick out of the fact that these guys established the framework for what would become the United States of America right here in Old City.”

The city’s tradition continues to this day, with beer gardens a-plenty, landmark Microbreweries like Triumph and Nodding Head, and a calendar of beer-related events to keep aficionados on their toes. Next up on the agenda for those who were still thirsty after Beer Week will be the Elfreth’s Alley Brew Fest! Nestled in between Race and Arch off 2^nd Street, Elfreth’s Alley has its own long, storied and at times scandalous connection to those who would indulge. For much of the Alley’s history it lay on the border of a section of Philadelphia known as Hell Town, an infamous collection of taverns and houses of vice. “We probably won’t be resurrecting too much of that part of the Alley’s history at Brew Fest,” says Wittwer, “but we do hope to showcase some excellent beers from local breweries and home-brewers.” For people living on Elfreth’s Alley back in the day, it seems, beer-drinking was not so much an indulgence as a matter of survival. According to Wittwer, “Everyone, including small children, would drink beer as a clean alternative to water from contaminated drinking wells.”

Drinking beer to survive? I think I know some people who could get behind that. Brew Fest is coming to Elfreth’s Alley on Oct. 15, 2011. Tickets are currently available in the Museum Gift Shop at 124 Elfreth’s Alley or call 215.574.0560 to pay with a credit card. If you are a brewer or home-brewer in the Greater Philadelphia region and would like to participate in Brew Fest, please contact Patrick Wittwer at director@elfrethsalley.org

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2011-07-15T12:50:00.006-04:00

The Museum of Elfreth's Alley is teaming up with the Camden Riversharks for a special fundraiser this summer. Fans who purchase tickets to the August 11th home game against the York Revolution can enter a special code online to benefit the education and preservation efforts of the Museum. Tickets are priced at $11, and $5 from each ticket sold through this online code will go to Elfreth's Alley. To order tickets, go to the Riversharks' Fundraiser page and enter code "thealley" when prompted.

The Riversharks will be battling to improve their record against the Revolution, who are currently on a two-game winning streak. The game begins at 7:05PM at the picturesque Campbell's Field, located just North of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden, NJ. Philadelphians can avoid driving over the bridge by either taking the PATCO High Speed Line from 8th and Market in Center City or by boarding the ferry at Penn's Landing.

For more information about the Camden Riversharks or Atlantic League Professional Baseball, please visit their websites.

Artisans on the Alley

2011-06-22T12:58:00.001-04:00

Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street in America and traditionally the home of artisans like tailors, hatmakers and leather workers, will celebrate today’s artists of Philadelphia in a new annual event. “Artisans on the Alley,” will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, July 1, 2011.

Hosted by Elfreth's Alley Association, “Artisans on the Alley” marks the introduction of local artist work for sale at its museum gift shop. “We’ve developed this event as a way to remind people that the original artisans on the alley were not doing quaint crafts of a historical time period – it was contemporary for that time,” said Robert Bernstein, the newly appointed President of the Board of Directors of Elfreth’s Alley Association.

Selling local artist pieces is an avenue for visitors to connect to the bygone residents of Elfreth’s Alley, and is also an opportunity for Elfreth’s Alley Association to champion the talent to be found here in Philadelphia.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the fundraising and awareness of the Alley,” said Maureen Peters, President of the Philadelphia Calligraphers’ Society. “The hardest thing about selling my artwork is finding venues that look at letter arts as an art and not just a craft.” Peters will be at “Artisans on the Alley” to showcase her work, which is available for sale at the event and throughout the year at the museum shop.

Peters built her artistic career in Philadelphia. After art school, she worked with printers and graphic houses in the city, leaving to start her own business, Letterworks Graphic Art Studio.

Other artisans featured at “Artisans on the Alley” include painters, photographers, and contributing members of Art to Save the World, a Philadelphia nonprofit dedicated to uniting artists for philanthropic causes.

Philadelphia has long cradled the success of its artisans. “Pennsylvania is…paradise for artisans, and hell for officials and preachers,” said school teacher Gottlieb Mittelberger, in a record of his visit to Pennsylvania in the years 1750-1754.

“Artisans flocked to Pennsylvania in the eighteenth century thanks to the religious freedom William Penn offered,” said Ed Mauger, founder of walking tour company Philadelphia on Foot. “In Europe and in most colonies, the highest tax most regular folks had to pay was a tithe to the established religion. With no established religion, Pennsylvania was the best ‘poor man’s’ country – the best place a person could get a start.”

Elfreth’s Alley was full of highly skilled workers in the eighteenth century who not only got their start but thrived in their trade—a Swedish pewterer, Quaker cabinet maker, African tailor, and the Mantua makers whose home is now a museum representing their daily livelihood.

“No other place in America can celebrate three centuries of working Americans,” said Mauger.

Philadelphia professionals interested in producing artwork for display at “Artisans on the Alley” and for sale at the Elfreth’s Alley gift shop should submit their contact information, a short biography and digital files of related work via e-mail to director@elfrethsalley.org. Artwork should be connected to interpreting historic or contemporary Philadelphia to be consistent with the mission of Elfreth’s Alley Association.

Articles Mentioning Elfreth's Alley

2011-05-13T12:45:00.002-04:00

With our June Fete Day celebration just around the corner, the buzz surrounding the Museum of Elfreth's Alley is growing. Here is a selection of some of the things people are saying about us:

Stray Boots Blog - Elfreth's Alley vs. Acorn Street
Stray Boots is a company that creates scavenger hunts in New York, Boston, and Las Vegas using text messaging. Recently, the creators of these games paid a visit to our museum while researching for the upcoming Philadelphia: The Game. Check their website for more information on their super-cool sightseeing games: Stray Boots Visit Philly - Elfreth's Alley Fete Day
The gals and guys at Visit Philly are known for providing the City of Brotherly Love, as well as its citizens and visitors, the latest information on what to do while in town. This article highlighting our Fete Day Celebration is no different.

Elfreth's Alley - Fete Day Tickets
Of course, the best place for information and tickets will be our own website. Click the link here to get to our breakdown of the events and order your tickets through Ticketleap. You can also pick tickets up at our Museum Shop, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10-5 and Sundays 12-5.

History Mystery - May 7, 2011

2011-05-07T12:39:00.003-04:00

Every once and awhile a visitor at the Elfreth's Alley Museum will come up with a question that is unable to be answered on the spot. In our effort to provide our guests with the most accurate information possible, we started the History Mystery program. Now, if there is a question that can not be answered on site, just fill out a History Mystery card in our Museum Shop, and we will research your question and post it here on our blog!

Today's question has been asked in a variety of ways by a variety of visitors. Two doors down from the Museum Shop, there is a private residence that flies the flag of the United Kingdom. More often than not, people are curious as to why that particular country's flag is flown on the oldest continuously lived-on street in the United States.

The flag was given as a gift to the current residents when they moved into the house. They received this flag because they had bought one of the oldest houses in the city of Philadelphia. Constructed sometime between 1724 and 1728, the house was built when this city was still a part of the British Empire.

Visitors with a keen eye sometimes notice something is amiss with the flag. It is not the flag we are familiar with today, but an older version of the Union Flag. The modern version of the flag has been flying since 1801, after Saint Patrick's cross was added for the inclusion of Northern Ireland (See chart below). Since the house here on Elfreth's Alley was built prior to that alteration, an older version of the flag is flown.

As you can see, this flag is an important part of our history. Not only was it flown here during our time as a colony of the United Kingdom, but it was also a part of some of the original flags of the United States. In fact, an early version of Old Glory featured this flag in the upper left-hand corner, which is now occupied by the white stars on a blue background. Feel free to snap a photo of this major part of our country's history next time you visit Elfreth's Alley!

Fete Day 2011

2011-05-05T17:07:00.002-04:00

Click the photo above for ticket information!

Coming Soon at the Elfreth's Alley Museum

2011-04-30T12:00:00.004-04:00

As the weather grows warmer, people turn out in droves to visit the Elfreth's Alley Museum. It is also the time of year during which we go beyond our typical daily tour operations and host a series of spectacular events. Here is a break down of what to expect from our museum over the course of May and June.

May First Friday
Continuing with the event we held in April, on the first Friday of each month we turn our museum into one of the coolest art galleries in town. On May 6th, from 5-9PM, Doylestown artist Rebecca Burrow returns to Elfreth's Gallery with her series Moments of Love. Burrow's stunning pen and inks were so popular in April that we just had to have her back as our featured artist for May.

Fete Day
Since 1934, the Elfreth's Alley Association has hosted an open house fundraiser on the first Saturday of June. On June 4th, we will continue this tradition. Roughly half of the 32 homes on the street will be open to the public for tours between noon and 5PM. Advance tickets are available until June 2nd and can be purchased at the Museum Shop at 124 Elfreth's Alley. Adult tickets are $20, students aged six through eighteen are $10 and families are $60. Tickets on the day of are $25 for adults, $15 for students, and $80 for families.

In addition to the open houses, the entire street will be closed down for a variety of events. A fife and drum corp will be present to provide some colonial music as you peruse tables set up featuring a number of colonial crafts. You may even run into Benjamin Franklin as you enjoy a Philly soft pretzel!

Famous Philadelphians First Friday Auction
This year the Elfreth's Alley Association is expanding Fete Day into a major, two-day event. Part of that is a very special night at Elfreth's Gallery for First Friday. Prominent Philadelphians will be submitting art work to be auctioned off. Proceeds will benefit the Elfreth's Alley Museum's mission of preservation and education. Celebrities with ties to the City of Brotherly Love have been contacted and we are already collecting their artwork! Stay tuned to our Twitter account for hints as to which of your favorite famous Philadelphians are participating!

With so much going on over the next several weeks, Elfreth's Alley is clearly the place to be. Be sure to visit us for First Friday on May 6th, and for the unofficial kick off of the Philly Summer Season with our huge Fete Day Bash on June 3rd and 4th. We can't wait to see you here!

Philadelphia: A Love Story

2011-04-02T12:46:00.000-04:00

Last night's First Friday opening at the Elfreth's Alley Museum was a smashing success. The unusual for April weather held out just enough to allow a significant crowd to stroll down the Alley and see artwork from our five local artists. The success of Philadelphia: A Love Story is a strong indicator that the Elfreth's Alley Museum will become a regular participant in First Friday festivities for years to come.

Pen & inks by Rebecca Burrow and Francis X. Friel

The historic nature of the Elfreth's Alley Museum provided interesting obstacles for the artists displaying their pieces. How does one hang artwork without damaging the walls? Museum Director Bob Bernstein and Gallery Curator Patrick Wittwer considered a number of options before settling on the ladder shelves pictured at left. This unique method of display not only accommodated the works of five different artists, but struck a stark contrast between the Elfreth's Alley Museum and its neighboring galleries. Guests exiting the gallery commented favorably on the set up and were eager to share their experience at the Museum with others perusing galleries in Old City.

The first level of the Museum was dedicated to pen and ink pieces done by Doylestown artist Rebecca Burrow and Fishtown artist Francis X. Friel. Friel's "Linc," a cleverly titled portrait of President Lincoln, sold quickly. Ms. Burrow's truly encapsulated the love aspect of the evening's theme with her expansive romance series. On the Museum's second level, three Philadelphia photographers displayed pictures capturing the spirit of the City of Brotherly Love. Candy Graham found bits of nature in the city whereas Michael Franklin and Patrick Wittwer focused their lenses on some of the cityscapes and architecture Philadelphia has to offer. All five artists expressed a desire to return in upcoming months to show their work in the Museum's one-of-a-kind gallery setting.

Philadelphia: A Love Story could not have succeeded without the help of a number of people. The gallery itself would not have been possible without Bob Bernstein's generous donation of the ladder racks and lighting used throughout the Museum. Elfreth's Alley Association board members Jeff Pollack and Carole Heys along with Mike Wittwer all were kind enough to donate bottles of wine for the gallery's guests. Dyanna Morkun and Karisa Blake gave up their Friday evening to assist with running the event. The gallery also benefited from the promotion of the event via Twitter from @PhillyVibe, @OldCityDistrcit, @TheWhatMagazine, and @DutchUmbrella.. Ogan Kumova and Eric Staudt were also involved in promoting the event in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Thank you all for your involvement in our success!

This team effort led to a fantastic event that is sure to be repeated in the near future. If you were unable to attend the event worry not, for about half of last night's artwork is still on display, now in the Museum Shop. You can also keep checking back with us here, and on Facebook and Twitter to receive the latest updates regarding First Fridays and other exciting events at the Elfreth's Alley Museum. We hope to see you at our next event!

Artist Websites:
Rebecca Burrow
Michael Franklin

History Mystery - March 18, 2011

2011-03-18T13:58:00.000-04:00

This question comes from a guest who visited the Elfreth's Alley Museum from Ohio. In the Elfreth's Alley Museum, there is an item that was used for spinning yarn. During a tour, the item's exact use was brought into question. Was it used for weaving? Was it used for wrapping the yarn into balls? A bit of research found that it was not exactly used for either! This particular wheel (pictured below) was actually a measurement device! The user would string the yarn along the wheel, and it would pop when the desired length was reached. When visiting the Elfreth's Alley Museum, be sure to ask your guide what popular nursery rhyme was inspired by this contraption! And as always, if there is a History Mystery you need help solving, fill out the card in our shop and keep checking the blog to see your question answered!

First Fridays in Old City

2011-03-18T12:58:00.001-04:00

Beginning April 1st, the Elfreth's Alley Museum will be joining its Old City neighbors in participating in First Friday. First Friday has been a tradition in the Philadelphia art community dating back to 1991 in which local galleries open their doors, free of charge, and allow the public to come in and take in the artwork they have on display for the month. The Elfreth's Alley Museum is excited to join the forty-plus galleries that participate by hosting a gallery dedicated to Philadelphia.

Art work will be on display from 5-9 on the evening of the first. All artists represented are local, and the art itself will be art that was inspired by or created in Philadelphia. If you are an artist interested in showing your work, please contact us at information@elfrethsalley.org.

April's First Friday will be the first in a long string of events in which the Elfreth's Alley Association will involve local artists and artisans, continuing the centuries-old tradition of artisans selling their wares on the Alley. Keep checking back with us here, on Twitter and Facebook, and at our website for more information on this and future events hosted by the Elfreth's Alley Association. See you in April!

Volunteers Needed!

2011-03-13T13:07:00.001-04:00

The Elfreth's Alley Association (EAA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and preservation efforts at Elfreth's Alley. In April, the EAA will be returning to a normal, six-day operating schedule. In order to fully satisfy our dedication to educating the public about the lives of everyday Philadelphians over the course of our city's great history, we need to increase our already stellar team of volunteers.

Volunteers at the Elfreth's Alley Museum function as tour guides. (More about tours here) Guides are scheduled each month, based on their availability, in three or seven hour shifts. If you have a day or part of a day you would like to dedicate to joining our team and becoming a part of America's Oldest Residential Street, please contact us at information@elfrethsalley.org or by phone at 215-574-0560. We look forward to meeting you!

A History of Preservation: I-95

2011-03-05T12:53:00.000-05:00

The construction and placement of I-95 in Philadelphia is, to this day, a subject of some controversy. Ever since the early planning stages for this road in the late 1930's, Philadelphians have had strong opinions regarding the Delaware Expressway. It is thanks in part to these strong feelings and opinions that Elfreth's Alley is still standing today.

In the 1950's, when the plans for a Delaware Expressway were turned over to the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, the new highway was slated to cut through the area where Elfreth's Alley is. While many residents of Old City and neighboring Society Hill were steadfast against a barrier between their homes and the waterfront, it is largely due to the efforts of the Elfreth's Alley Association that the Nation's Oldest Continuously Residential Street still stands today.

About fifteen years prior, house 115 was home to Dorothy Ottey. Ottey ran a lunch counter, called the Hearthstone, out of the front room of her home and was the first to realize the historic value of Elfreth's Alley. Ottey formed the Elfreth's Alley Association in 1934, a group dedicated to the preservation of and education about Elfreth's Alley. After rescuing several homes in danger of demolition throughout the 1940's, the Association came together to rescue the entire Alley from Interstate 95.

Many area residents were concerned about the plans for the Delaware Expressway. As noted in the pictured article from the March 2, 1957 Philadelphia Inquirer, several letters were written to he editor regarding this subject. Over the next decade, several battles were waged in board rooms and court rooms over the plans for the new expressway before a compromise was reached, with the Vice President of the United States showing his support for the residents of Old City and Society Hill.

Elfreth's Alley became a National Historic Landmark in 1966, protecting it from any demolition or construction projects in the future. Today, I-95 barely sneaks by, as seen on this map. So while Philadelphia did lose some history to the construction of the Delaware Expressway, the United States still has its oldest street.

Just the Facts

2011-02-20T12:15:00.002-05:00

Wonder why this building lost its facade? Come find out!

These days, when searching for information, many will go to Google and type in a search. This is true for many visitors who research Elfreth's Alley prior to visiting. Unfortunately, there is a heap of misinformation floating around the world wide web about America's oldest continuously residential street. Today, we will debunk the myths, errors, and absurd notions pertaining to Elfreth's Alley that can be found online.

Social media mavens will be familiar with Foursquare, a mobile game of sorts in which people check in at various venues and leave tips about each venue. On the Elfreth's Alley Foursquare page, there are seven tips. While the majority of the tips are quite helpful, the most popular one, unfortunately, is not true. The tip reads "rumor has it that when Ben Franklin lived off this tiny cobblestone alley he invented the exterior mirror fixtures, to tip him off on his wife’s arrival and release his paramour(s). Cheeky" Cheeky indeed! However, there are a few things to clear up here. First, while Franklin did at one time live around the corner at 2nd and Race Streets, he never lived on the Alley. The exterior mirror fixtures, popularly known as busy-bodies,were not invented by good old Ben. He actually saw them while in Europe, liked the idea, and introduced it to the colonies. And while there is no concrete evidence supporting that Franklin used the mirrors to tip him off on his wife's arrival, he did refer to the busy-bodies as "Mother-in-Law Watchers." Now that's cheeky!

Several other tips on Foursquare refer to Elfreth's Alley as America's Oldest Residential Street. This claim has been the cause of controversy to a small number of web users. While there are a few older cities and streets in the country, Elfreth's Alley is the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the States. Places like Williamsburg and St. Augustine may predate Philadelphia, but they can not claim to have a street like Elfreth's Alley, where people have lived straight through in the original buildings without interruption.

Another common misconception about Elfreth's Alley has to do with the physical street itself. Sites like Yelp and Trip Advisor are chock full of reviews from visitors commenting on the original cobblestone. Unfortunately, the alley has not been cobblestone since 1976, when the present style of paving was laid for the Bicentennial celebration. Prior to today's version of the alley there was true cobblestone, which can be seen on the postcards sold at the Museum Shop. Before the cobblestone, the alley was merely a dirt path.

One thing that seems to be consistently correct on these websites is the fact that people do still live in the houses that line Elfreth's Alley. However, most visitors tend to assume that the houses are all the same size and layout, as if it were a development. This is certainly not the case, as the houses were all built sometime between 1720 and 1840 and have a wide range of sizes and styles. Furthermore, many speculate about the price people pay to live on Elfreth's Alley. While the Elfreth's Alley Association has no involvement whatsoever in real estate transactions on the alley, even we can tell you that the idea that people pay millions of dollars to live here is simply not true.

With so many misconceptions about Elfreth's Alley floating around the web, it can be confusing to separate fact from fiction. Should you have any questions about Elfreth's Alley, feel free to visit our website or contact us via Twitter, Facebook, or even here on our blog.

Touring the Alley

2011-02-19T14:24:00.001-05:00

Elfreth's Alley, America's oldest continuously residential street, has always been a popular destination for tourists and locals alike in Philadelphia. While hundreds of thousands of visitors wander down this historic alley each year, many miss the opportunity to visit the Elfreth's Alley Museum itself. By visiting the museum, guests have the chance to learn a great deal about Elfreth's Alley that they may not have previously known.

Small sample of the artifacts in #126

The Elfreth's Alley Museum occupies houses 124 and 126 on the South side of the alley. Visitors enter the museum via the shop at #124. A knowledgeable shop assistant will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the Alley's history, preservation, and more. There are also volunteer docents in the shop who are there to give you a tour of Elfreth's Alley and the historic Mantua Maker's house at #126. The tours are the prime means to learn a great deal about the Alley during your visit.

Tours typically run on an as-needed basis. A full tour, consisting of a history of Elfreth's Alley from it's inception in 1702 to modern times and a guided walk through the Mantua Maker's home, is only $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. These tours are usually around twenty minutes long, but can often go longer depending on how many questions you have for your guide. On that note, do not be afraid to ask a lot of questions, this will enhance and personalize your tour experience. If you do not have the time for a full tour but would still like to see the house, occasionally guides will offer brief walk- through tours of the home for $3 per person, during which you will see a portion of the home and have the opportunity to ask a handful of questions.

The staff and volunteers at the Elfreth's Alley museum are full of information and eager to answer any questions you may have about the Alley, Museum, or its history. So next time you find your way to the oldest continuously residential street in the United States, be sure to stop in the Museum at 124 Elfreth's Alley to make your visit the best experience possible!

Winter 2011 Hours

2011-02-19T12:38:00.003-05:00

The Elfreth's Alley Museum on a snowy January day

The Elfreth's Alley Museum and Shop will be open on a limited schedule for the early Winter months of 2011. Through March, visitors can enjoy tours of the Mantua Maker's house and shop at our Museum Store Fridays and Saturdays from 11-5 and Sundays from 12-5. We hope to see you soon!