Follow in soldiers' footsteps at our next Spotlight Tour, Revolutionary Germantown, on Saturday, September 14th at 10:30am!

Save the date: the Revolutionary Germantown Festival returns October 5th at 10am! See the festival webpage under Programs to learn more.

Cliveden of the National Trust Logo

- What we do -
Cliveden connects visitors to over 250 years of history.

shadows

Shadows at Cliveden: Closing Reception

On September 11th, view the exhibition Shadows at Cliveden: Film Photography at Cliveden of the National Trust from 5:30pm to 7pm. The exhibition features black and white film photography of Jefferson students exploring the natural light and historic space at Cliveden. The exhibition will be on view until September 12th.

shadows

Spotlight Tour: Revolutionary Germantown

Follow in the soldiers' steps as we explore what happened during and after the Battle of Germantown. The program is offered in partnership with the Concord School and Upper Burying Ground. Admission is $20, $10 for 19119 and 19144 residents. 

souls shot open house

Souls Shot Portrait Project Open House & Exhibition

Souls Shot Portrait Project returns this September with an exhibition of portraits portraying those who have lost their lives to gun violence. Join us for an open house on Wednesday, September 18th at 5pm in the Cliveden Barn for a truly moving experience.

souls shot open house
edward duffield

Edward Duffield: Philadelphia Clockmaker, Citizen, Gentleman

Join Germantown Friends SchoolWyckStentonHistoric Germantown, and Cliveden for a free lecture with author and horologist Bob Frishman on the subject of his new book, Edward Duffield: Philadelphia Clockmaker, Citizen, Gentleman 1730-1803. Registration is open now. 

edward duffield
campfire conversation, cliveden campfire, joseph mcgill

Cliveden Campfire Conversation & Overnight with Joseph McGill

Join Joseph McGill for a campfire (not actual fire) conversation and overnight at Cliveden on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 7pm. This program is part of the 8th national Slave Dwelling Project Conference which will take place October 3rd-5th in Philadelphia in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania's McNeil Center for Early American Studies.

campfire conversation, cliveden campfire, joseph mcgill

Revolutionary Germantown Festival returns October 5th!

The Revolutionary Germantown Festival returns in 8 weeks on Saturday, October 5th, 10am to 4pm, rain or shine! Join Cliveden, the sites of Historic Germantown, first-person interpreters, and re-enactors for a glimpse of 18th century Germantown and learn about our neighborhood's role in the American Revolution.

Cliveden Arboretum

Cliveden is pleased to announce the property is now accredited as a Level I Arboretum! The arboretum is free to the public to enjoy whenever the gates are open. Click on the button below to learn more.

2024 Cliveden Tour Season

Tours are available Thursdays-Sundays, 12pm to 4pm, beginning on the hour and can be scheduled in advanced through the link below.

Participate in the Green Space Stamp Rally!

Pick up a free Stamp Rally Booklet from Cliveden this Saturday, August 10th and start gathering stamps from 18 participating Historic Germantown sites to win great prizes. Click on the button below to learn more!

Second Saturdays at Cliveden return!

Every Second Saturday, Cliveden offers Spotlight Tours, free house tours, and a free children's activity, May to October. Click on the button below to learn more.

Support Our Work

Slavery Documents

Confronting the Past

The institution of slavery is woven deep into the economic growth and political fabric of America. Benjamin Chew was born on a Maryland plantation into a family with a history of slave-holding dating back to the 17th century.

Preserving the Past

At Cliveden we have many fascinating item collections that help you understand the world of the Chew family. View our collections at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

 

Shown: Tea cup and saucer from 1811.

tea cup and saucer from 1811

Stay up to Date with Us

Research: Spotlight from the African American Genealogy Group

Three blog posts on the AAGG’s research into the Chew Family Papers & putting a spotlight on discoveries! Adrienne Whaley and the members of the African American Genealogy Group of Philadelphia (AAGG) have worked with the Chew Family Papers for the last two years to lift up stories of the enslaved families and communities that…

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Special Promotion: Free Traditional Cider at Young American!

Have a free cider after your tour! Local cidery and tasting room, Young American Hard Cider & Tasting Room, is offering a special promotion for Cliveden tours! After your tour, head over to Young American for a FREE, traditional cider! This promotion is only good on the day of your tour and visitors must show…

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Second Saturdays at Cliveden

Visit Cliveden on Second Saturdays, July through October from 9:30am to 4pm, for community programs, free tours,  & more! The day begins with outdoor morning yoga led by Amy Marie Yoga at 9:30am, weather permitting. Contact Amy at [email protected] to learn more. Spotlight Tours begin at 10:30am and are specialty tours featuring different topics such…

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View our Latest Events

Cliveden Campfire Conversation & Overnight with Joseph McGill

Join Joseph McGill for a campfire (not actual fire) conversation and overnight at historic Cliveden, a National Register of Historic Places Landmark at 7:00 pm on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 7pm. There is an opportunity to participate in an overnight, but not required. Limited to 35 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must…

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Souls Shot Portrait Project Open House

Open House: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 5pm to 7pm On Wednesday, September 18th, join Cliveden and the Souls Shot Portrait Project for an open house and reception in the Cliveden Barn, from 5pm to 7pm. The Cliveden Barn is located at 98 E. Cliveden Street, 19119, near the corner of Cliveden and Morton Streets.…

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Special Promotion: Free Traditional Cider at Young American!

Have a free cider after your tour! Local cidery and tasting room, Young American Hard Cider & Tasting Room, is offering a special promotion for Cliveden tours! After your tour, head over to Young American for a FREE, traditional cider! This promotion is only good on the day of your tour and visitors must show…

About this event

Considering Re-enactments: The Battle of Germantown in the Light of 21st–Century Gun Violence

Cliveden is known as the site of the 1777 Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown and the annual Revolutionary Germantown Festival held on the grounds every first weekend in October, featuring two battle re-enactments. In response to the increase in gun violence across the country and in the local community, Cliveden looks to evaluate its interpretation…

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Testimonials from our Visitors

silhouette of Charity Castle, an enslaved woman who was given to Harriet Chew (1775-1861)