Revolutionary Germantown Festival Activities
Rain or Shine, all these historic sites will be open from
10am – 4pm with tours and activities
10 AM
- All Historic Sites open to the public
10:30 AM
- 3 half-day bus tours: The Generals, Explore Germantown History, and Curators Glimpse. Departing from Stenton. See Tours for more details.
12 Noon
- Battle reenactment lasts about an hour, and will be staged twice during the day, at 12 noon and 3 PM on the grounds of Cliveden and Upsala. Food vendors, and maps for guided walking tours of Germantown available. See Battle of Germantown.
1:30 PM
- 2 half-day bus tours: The Generals, and Explore Germantown History. Departing from Stenton. See Tours for more details.
2:00 PM
- At the Upper Burying Ground and Concord School there will be a wreath laying ceremony, led by the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment honor guard, to honor the fallen. Also the Concord School bell will be rung.
3 PM
- Battle reenactment lasts about an hour, and will be staged twice during the day, at 12 noon and 3 PM on the grounds of Cliveden and Upsala. Food vendors, and maps for guided walking tours of Germantown available. See Battle of Germantown.
Day Long Programs
- Concord School and Upper Burying Ground — The site where several officers and soldiers are buried, tours will be available throughout the day.
- Deshler-Morris House — “Meet” British General Howe at his headquarters after the Battle of Germantown, also known as the Germantown White House, which later served as the temporary home to President George Washington in 1793 & 1794
- Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion — Philadelphia's only Victorian house museum, will be open for tours.
- Grumblethorpe — Site of one of the Battle’s legendary death scenes (there are still bloodstains on the floor...). Re-enactors will present accounts of events during the Battle along with special activities for children and light refreshments.
- Historic RittenhouseTown — Will offer historical walking tours of the grounds and hand papermaking demonstrations at the site of North America's first paper mill.
- Johnson House Historic Site — An Underground Railroad Site will have tours and special programs showcasing the role of the house and the role of African Americans in the 1777 Battle.
- Stenton — Tea, tours, storytelling and re-enactors
portraying freed slave Dinah, famous housekeeper,
as well as British aide Lt. McGillvery.
- Wyck — Learn about the farm and gardens at Wyck and how the Haines family house was used as a battle field hospital. Sample treats evocative of kitchens and gardens of the past. Tour the enlarged Home Farm.
- Upsala — Students from La Salle University will offer
a selection of 18th century games and activities for children; and a re-enactor
portraying Continental soldier Ned Hector will talk about the various ways in which African-Americans participated on both sides of the Revolution. Hours: See Cliveden.
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