Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic
Thursday, October 10, 2024
10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Philadelphia Revealed is an exhibition, a podcast, and a platform for anyone to add their story to Philadelphia history: bit.ly/m/Philadelphia-Revealed
Visit the Exhibition
The exhibition, Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic, is a large, interactive display of over 600 authentic objects, telling the story of Philadelphia’s city history collection. Inspiring pride in our great city, this major exhibition reflects 350 years of Philly history. The exhibition highlights the strengths of the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University (former Philadelphia History Museum), including material representing the Atwater Kent Museum’s earliest acquisitions, eclectic collections it absorbed, national celebrations, development of the city and civic history, Philly sports, salvaged material and relics, manufacturing and retail, and art and music. The Collection grew over 80 years to encompass an array of Philadelphia stories: objects reflect the city’s diverse residents and their contributions over three centuries. Along with 600+ artifacts, the exhibition includes hundreds more historical images as well as multimedia and hands-on elements.
Philadelphia Revealed will run from Thursday, July 18, through Sunday, Dec. 1, in the Fisher Brooks and Frances M. Maguire Galleries at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), in the Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building at 128 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia. Operating hours are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving day)
Admission will be waived for anyone with a Drexel ID, and the exhibition will be free to the public on Thursday, Sept. 26, Friday, Sept. 27, Sunday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Nov. 24.
Share Your Story
Visitors to the exhibition can find and share their own stories through an interactive game developed by First Person Arts. Philadelphia history is still being told. Philadelphia Revealed aims to find out what these objects mean to all of us. First Person Arts is a nonprofit organization that believes everyone has a story to tell. We tell them in different ways, but they are all part of our collective history. Visitors of all ages can pick a booklet—with three storytelling themes to choose from—that will guide them to find and tell their story. At the end, they can add it to the First Person Arts story archives.
Public Programs: First Person Arts will also facilitate two free public programs at PAFA: Saturday evening, September 14, and a Family Arts Academy workshop Sunday, October 6, 2024. PAFA will host additional Education programs and Events in conjunction with Philadelphia Revealed.
Listen to the Podcast
Visitors can hear other Philadelphians’ stories through The Philadelphia Revealed Podcast, produced by WHYY in partnership with Rowhome Productions. Hosted by Jamie J. Brunson of First Person Arts, each episode features a new storyteller highlighting an object from the exhibition and sharing their own story inspired by it. A turnstile from Veterans Stadium, a hat worn by Abraham Lincoln, handcuffs that may have held abolitionist John Brown—these are just a few of the treasures highlighted. We think everyone will be able to see themselves in the Collection—and that learning about Philadelphia’s many histories can help us understand its present…and future. The first episode comes out July 10, 2024. (Find it on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.)
Contact Information
Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel
info@philadelphiahistory.org