Germantown Historical Society

Purpose: Sustaining Cultural Heritage Founded in 1683 as the first German settlement in America, the German Township (now Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill in northwest Philadelphia) has evolved into a living laboratory of American history, preserving four centuries of architectural styles. This project consists of the fabrication, installation, and marketing of a long-term exhibit on the 320-year history of the German Township. The exhibit tells the stories of the people who immigrated to the area, their distinctive achievements, the industries and businesses located there, the impact of developments in transportation, and how the area has served many residents as a refuge from undesirable aspects of urban life. The exhibit incorporates new research on immigration, ethnic communities, and the area's twentieth-century history. Visitors will learn about traditions of tolerance and diversity, the impact of industrialization, and the contributions of faith-based, educational, and other organizations to community life. The exhibit will increase public access to the Society's collections, provide a comprehensive introduction to the area's history, and provide a context for understanding the 14 historic sites that are open to the public in the surrounding National Register of Historic Places District.