Register today for our April Cliveden Conversation with Dr. Gary Laderman on April 24th on Zoom.

Cliveden of the National Trust Logo

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

cliveden conversations, the sacred remains, sacred remains

The Sacred Remains: American Attitudes Toward Death in the Early 19th Century

On Thursday, April 24th at 7pm, join Cliveden and Dr. Gary Laderman from Emory University as he explores the changing attitudes toward death and the dead in the first half of the 19th century. The program is free and virtual; advanced registration is required.

cliveden conversations, the sacred remains, sacred remains
masonry, roofing, electrical, house care, workshop series

2025 Old House Care Workshop Series

Sign up today for the 2025 Old House Care Workshop Series and increase your knowledge on common house care topics through this three part workshop series.

Online registration is recommended as space is limited.

masonry, roofing, electrical, house care, workshop series

On Display: John O'Leary Drawings

Philadelphia artist John O'Leary displays architectural renderings of the Cliveden barn and kitchen from now until June 1, 2025. Visitors can view the drawings in the Cliveden Barn.

May Spotlight Tour: Cliveden Property Walking Tour

Explore the historic boundaries of the Cliveden property and learn how it has changed over 400 years on the first Spotlight Tour of the year! General admission is $20, $10 for residents in 19119 and 19144 zip codes.

Stamp Rally Scavenger Hunt begins Saturday!

The Stamp Rally begins this Saturday, April 19th with a new feature - a scavenger hunt! Visitors are encouraged to visit participating Historic Germantown sites to collect stamps and use the QR code to find the scavenger hunt item. Stop by Cliveden this Saturday between 12pm and 4pm to grab a booklet, collect a stamp and find our scavenger hunt item.

2025 Second Saturdays begin in May!

Second Saturdays at Cliveden return this May and run through October, featuring Spotlight Tours - in-depth thematic tours at 10:30am and require advanced registration - and free tours of the house and grounds from 12pm to 4pm.

2025 Tour Season

Cliveden's 2025 tour season begins on Thursday, May 1st! Tours will be available Thursdays through Sundays, 12pm to 4pm. Tours begin on the hour, the last tour of the day is at 3pm.

Tours can be scheduled in advance through the online form on our Tours page. Walk-in tours will also be available during the tour season.

cliveden conversations, tour illuminating hidden lives

Recordings Available: Facebook Live & March 12th Cliveden Conversation

Recordings are available of the Facebook Live program, Vault Visit: Jacob the Freedom Seeker, and of the March 12th Cliveden Conversation, Illuminating Hidden Lives Film Debut. They can be viewed on the Illuminating Hidden Lives webpage.

cliveden conversations, tour illuminating hidden lives
Revealing Revolutionary Germantown

Revealing Revolutionary Germantown

Cliveden is piloting a new project that explores the 1777 Battle of Germantown and the impact this historic event had on our neighborhood. Use the handouts to learn more! 

Revealing Revolutionary Germantown

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.

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

Drawings On Display: John O’Leary Architectural Renderings

John O’Leary drawings on display through June 1, 2025 John O’Leary is a Philadelphia artist specializing in architectural rendering. The Cliveden staff met him in 2024 as a neighbor who visited the site frequently to sketch. Originally from Pittsburgh, John created work for the Duquesne Incline Historical Society, McNeil Labs, Mellon Bank, and others. The…

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2025 Cliveden Tour Season

Cliveden Tour Season begins May 1st! The Cliveden tour season begins Thursday, May 1st and ends on Sunday, November 23rd. Tours are available Thursday through Sunday, 12pm to 4pm. The last tour of the day is at 3pm. Tours are an hour-long experience and feature our Cliveden Barn, the grounds, our current exhibit The Turmoil…

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Stamp Rally Scavenger Hunt Contest

Participate in Historic Germantown’s Stamp Rally Scavenger Hunt Contest! The Historic Germantown Stamp Rally Scavenger Hunt Contest begins April 19th! Visitors can pick up a Stamp Rally booklet on April 19th and visit the 20 Historic Germantown sites for a stamp and to find a specific item at each site for the hunt. The deadline…

Read more...

The Sacred Remains: American Attitudes Toward Death in the Early 19th Century

Join Dr. Gary Laderman as he explores the changing attitudes toward death and the dead in the first half of the 19th century. Our current exhibit at Cliveden, The Turmoil of Transition, explores the experiences of one household after the death of Benjamin Chew Jr in 1844. The program is free and virtual; advanced registration…

Read more...

Recording Available: Vault Visit

Recording available for Facebook Live program Vault Visit: Jacob the Freedom Seeker A recording available for the Facebook Live program, Vault Visit: Jacob the Freedom Seeker, is now available.  In this Facebook Live event, Cliveden’s Education Director Carolyn Wallace and Adrienne Whaley of the African American Genealogy Group (AAGG) explored the freedom-seeking strategies among the…

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View our Latest Events

Music in the Parlor

Music in the Parlor: Saturday, May 31st ~ 12pm to 4pm New Jersey based historical musicians, The Ministers of Apollo, will play 19th-century music in Cliveden’s Parlor on Saturday, May 31st, 12pm to 4pm. Tour the first floor of the house and hear a song or two during your visit. The program is free. Cliveden is located…

About this event

Drawings On Display: John O’Leary Architectural Renderings

John O’Leary drawings on display through June 1, 2025 John O’Leary is a Philadelphia artist specializing in architectural rendering. The Cliveden staff met him in 2024 as a neighbor who visited the site frequently to sketch. Originally from Pittsburgh, John created work for the Duquesne Incline Historical Society, McNeil Labs, Mellon Bank, and others. The…

About this event

Stamp Rally Scavenger Hunt Contest

Participate in Historic Germantown’s Stamp Rally Scavenger Hunt Contest! The Historic Germantown Stamp Rally Scavenger Hunt Contest begins April 19th! Visitors can pick up a Stamp Rally booklet on April 19th and visit the 20 Historic Germantown sites for a stamp and to find a specific item at each site for the hunt. The deadline…

About this event

The Sacred Remains: American Attitudes Toward Death in the Early 19th Century

Join Dr. Gary Laderman as he explores the changing attitudes toward death and the dead in the first half of the 19th century. Our current exhibit at Cliveden, The Turmoil of Transition, explores the experiences of one household after the death of Benjamin Chew Jr in 1844. The program is free and virtual; advanced registration…

About this event

Testimonials from our Visitors

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