Step inside Arch Street Meeting House, built in 1804 and still an active Quaker place of worship. Originally deeded by William Penn in 1701 as a burial ground, its historic grounds hold nearly 20,000 burials.

On this tour, discover how early Quakers helped shape Pennsylvania and influenced the founding ideals of the United States.

FREE. Registration not required.

Pop by the Education Cart to create, learn, and explore some unexpected history. Fun for all ages.

Stay tuned for more information.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

Step inside Arch Street Meeting House, built in 1804 and still an active Quaker place of worship. Originally deeded by William Penn in 1701 as a burial ground, its historic grounds hold nearly 20,000 burials.

On this tour, discover how early Quakers helped shape Pennsylvania and influenced the founding ideals of the United States.

FREE. Registration not required.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

An immersive performance will bridge the stories of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of ASMH a century apart. Yet, both struggled with racial injustice, political activism, and their experiences within the Quaker faith.

This 45-minute interpretive program brings their writings and experiences back to life, highlighting the often-overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom.

Launching Memorial Day 2026, the program will run on Saturday mornings and afternoons from May 25, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

An immersive performance will bridge the stories of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of ASMH a century apart. Yet, both struggled with racial injustice, political activism, and their experiences within the Quaker faith.

This 45-minute interpretive program brings their writings and experiences back to life, highlighting the often-overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom.

Launching Memorial Day 2026, the program will run on Saturday mornings and afternoons from May 25, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

An immersive performance will bridge the stories of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of ASMH a century apart. Yet, both struggled with racial injustice, political activism, and their experiences within the Quaker faith.

This 45-minute interpretive program brings their writings and experiences back to life, highlighting the often-overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom.

Launching Memorial Day 2026, the program will run on Saturday mornings and afternoons from May 25, 2026, to Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

It's the summer of 1948, and dynamic civil rights activist Bayard Rustin has a very important speech to prepare for at Arch Street Meeting House. But outspoken 18th-century educator, activist, and artist Sarah Mapps Douglass doesn’t know who this young interloper is.

A Quiet Roar is a theater performance that bridges the lives of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Written & Directed by Yvie Jones

Run Time: 30 minutes

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) at ASMH practices unprogrammed, silent worship. Following the performance, the audience will be invited to engage in a 30-second moment of silent reflection and a Q&A.

Cast: Leslie Hartshell (Sarah Mapps Douglass) & Najee Duwon (Bayard Rustin)

The program will run on Saturday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and afternoons from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, through Labor Day, September 7, 2026.

On Friday, September 11, 2026, enjoy the opening reception for the inaugural Art at Arch Street Meeting House installation, Redefining Democracy in Red, White, Black, and Blue.

Redefining Democracy in Red, White, Black, and Blue is the latest series by local artist Walter Francis Elling. In homage to Jasper Johns, Elling uses actual flags as canvases to provoke responses to issues of race and queer liberation. Spray-painted messages interweave with a color-altered geometric landscape of the flags themselves, transforming the geometry of the stars and stripes into visual symbols that reimagine patriotism.

CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.

As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.

• Campus Philly Block Party

  September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets

  Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

• Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®

  Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!

• …and more!

CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.

As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.

• Campus Philly Block Party

  September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets

  Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

• Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®

  Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!

• …and more!

CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.

As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.

• Campus Philly Block Party

  September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets

  Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

• Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®

  Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!

• …and more!

CollegeFest, happening September 14-20, 2026, is Campus Philly's "welcome to Philly" celebration, curated for new and returning college students in the Philadelphia region. Now extended to a week-long event, throughout the week and weekend, more than 25 museums, attractions, and historic sites will offer free admission, exclusively for college students who sign up for CollegeFest with Campus Philly.

As part of their CollegeFest programming, the iconic Campus Philly Block Party will also make its return for the fifth consecutive year. The Block Party will feature 25+ local brands & vendors, live performances, and swag & giveaways. Explore key dates, additional activations, and ways to promote CollegeFest to your audience below.

• Campus Philly Block Party

  September 19, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM | Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets

  Presented in partnership with Moore College of Art & Design and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

• Free Rides on the Philly PHLASH®

  Ride the PHLASH for free, only with your CollegeFest pass. Check out the PHLASH map here, with service every 15 minutes to nearby museums and attractions participating in CollegeFest!

• …and more!

Revolutionary Family: The Biddles & American Independence

Arch Street Meeting House and Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum are excited to partner on a special program highlighting Andalusia’s current exhibition Revolutionary Family: The Biddles & American Independence.

Enjoy a screening of engaging documentary videos on the Biddle family and the Revolution, followed by a conversation and audience questions. A light reception will precede the program.‍ ‍

Revolutionary Family presents historic objects, artwork, and manuscripts to explore the influential roles that Biddle family members played during the Revolution. Four short-format documentary videos complement the exhibition, illuminating the experiences of nine Revolutionary-era Biddle family members and their stories of bravery, loss, ingenuity, love, and friendship: Mary Scull Biddle, matriarch and map editor, and her son John Biddle, surveyor and exiled loyalist; Colonel Clement and Rebekah Biddle, a devoted Quaker couple at camp; Captains Nicholas and Charles Biddle, brothers at sea; and Edward, James, and Owen Biddle, leaders of Revolutionary thought and action. Owen's son, architect Owen Jr., later designed Arch Street Meeting House.

The documentary videos feature subject matter experts from Andalusia and many other Philadelphia-area institutions, including the American Philosophical Society, Carpenters’ Hall, Independence Seaport Museum, and Philadelphia Museum of Art. After the screenings, Andalusia Executive Director John Vick and Research Assistant Brie Stoltzfus will join Arch Street Meeting House Executive Director Sean Connolly for a conversation about the project and its themes of family life during this fascinating, yet challenging, moment in American history.

Revolutionary Family: The Biddles & American Independence is on display through November 13, 2026, at Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum.

A 50-acre site located on the Delaware River in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Andalusia was first established in 1795 by Philadelphia merchant John Craig, then later expanded into a Greek Revival estate by his son-in-law Nicholas Biddle. Today, Andalusia stewards the Biddle family’s history and legacy through tours of the historic house museum and access to its spectacular gardens. Visit AndalusiaPA.org for more information on the exhibition and site.

The 52 Weeks of Firsts shines a light on different Philly-born Firsts each week through a series of free public events called Saturday Firstivals, held every Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm from January 3 to December 26.

Each Firstival will feature a brief opening ceremony, a Once Upon A Nation storyteller sharing the true tale of that week’s First, family activities, giveaways, music and entertainment, selfie stations, and the spotlighting of a #1 sculpture representing that milestone.

All the FREE Saturday Firstivals will take place throughout 2026 at the locations — or in neighborhoods representing them — where these significant Firsts occurred.

Learn more about 52 Weeks of Firsts at 52firstsphilly.com.

Did you know that the first officer of the Continental Marines was a Quaker?

When Samuel Nicholas joined the Continental Marines (the precursor to the U.S. Marine Corps) during the American Revolution, he was kicked out of Arch Street Meeting House’s Quaker worship community for “learning the Art of War”. Quakers are pacifists after all!

Maj. Nicholas is buried here at ASMH, but his official resting place on the property is unknown. A memorial gravestone was placed on ASMH’s grounds by the U.S. Marines in 2013. Can you find it near the #1?

Another Philadelphia Quaker, Joshua Humphreys, is known as the “Father of the American Navy.” Humphreys designed the six original frigates of the Continental Navy. Of these frigates, the USS Constitution is still in use today.

LISTEN TO THE 52 WEEKS OF FIRSTS PODCAST

Fleeing political upheavals in England for settlement in the New World, Quakers rose to unprecedented economic and political power in the Pennsylvania colony. However, the failure of the Quaker-dominated government to provide for defense in the wars from the 1730s into the 1760s began their downfall. By the Revolution, their fortunes waned and they were brutally suppressed by their political foes. Several dozen influential Friends were exiled to Virginia without so much as a hearing, and Quaker farms and businesses were subject to depredations. Labeled dissenters by Loyalist and Patriot alike, they stood their ground, alone and isolated.

Through the words of those who were there, author and historian Jeff Denman vividly describes the precipitous rise of the Philadelphia Quakers and their fall during the American Revolution.

On Thursday, November 5, 2026, join Jeffrey A. Denman at Arch Street Meeting House as he discusses his book, Philadelphia Quakers and the American Revolution.

• 6:00 PM - Explore The History of Quakers: A Religious Revolution - ASMH’s new permanent exhibition, which opened in April 2026.

• 6:30 PM - Keynote Presentation by Jeffrey A. Denman, followed by a Q&A and book signing.

• 7:30 PM - Program Ends

Presented in partnership with the John Woolman Memorial Association.

SAVE THE DATE! Arch Street Meeting House’s annual winter celebration, Meetinghouse by Candlelight, returns on Friday, December 4th, 2026, from 4:30 pm to 7 pm.

Celebrate the season with festive live music, hands-on craft activities suitable for all ages, and exciting raffle prizes from local Old City businesses and institutions. Lit by real candlelight, experience ASMH’s historic West Room (1811), then Meet Quaker History by exploring the museum’s exhibits.

Stay tuned for more information.

The documentary Becoming Benjamin Lay by director Tony Buba and historian Marcus Rediker explores the life and ideas of an unknown radical Quaker dwarf abolitionist who demanded an end to slavery almost 300 years ago. At the center of the film is the prize-winning play Rediker wrote with Naomi Wallace, The Return of Benjamin Lay. Actor Mark Povinelli embodies the visionary Lay, challenging us to live with courage and conviction in dark times. The film brings a forgotten hero back to modern public memory.

Marcus Rediker is Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History at the University of Pittsburgh. He has written or edited seventeen books, including The Many-Headed Hydra (2000, with Peter Linebaugh); The Slave Ship  (2007); The Fearless Benjamin Lay (2017); and Freedom Ship (2025). His writings have won numerous awards and been published in twenty languages worldwide. He has produced two documentary films with Tony Buba: Ghosts of Amistad in 2014 and now Becoming Benjamin Lay.