Cliveden
Share
A National Trust for Historic Preservation site in Philadelphia/ Germantown.
A National Historic Site, well known as a battleground during the Revolutionary War, and commemorated every year during the Revolutionary Germantown Festival. Tours and exhibits tell the fascinating stories of the wealthy elite Chew family and early African American history in Philadelphia. To experience Cliveden is to experience the American story, and all of the struggles for freedom endured by a people.
09/23/2026
Try your hand at 18th-century crafts at the festival! From 10 am to 4 pm, interact with skilled craftspeople and experience 1777 Germantown through fun, hands-on activities such as:
🕯 Candle dipping, papermaking with Historic Rittenhouse Town or basket weaving
🔏Making ink from pokeberries with Awbury Arboretum and sign a copy of the Declaration of the Independence with a quill
🛠️ Watching a blacksmith at work for a fascinating look into 18th-century manufacturing.
✨New to the Festival: The PA Flax Project will be at the festival for the first time! Stop by their table to learn how flax is grown and was used during the 18th-century.
These family-friendly activities will be running throughout the day—perfect for visitors of all ages to craft, learn, and create.
See the festival schedule at https://cliveden.org/revolutionary-germantown-festival/ to plan your day.
09/18/2026
Half Crown Bakehouse will be at the 2026 Revolutionary Germantown Festival for a second year!
Chef, food historian, and Resident Baker at George Washington's Mount Vernon Justin Cherry returns to Cliveden bringing the tastes and techniques of 18th-century baking. Recently featured in The New York Times —which highlighted their process and gave Cliveden a shoutout—Justin will be firing up his mobile oven built from Carolina terroir.
Stop by their station on Saturday, October 3rd, to learn about historic baking methods and pick up a loaf of freshly baked bread. Make them an early stop on your festival route—supplies won't last long. 🍞
The full schedule can be found here: https://cliveden.org/revolutionary-germantown-festival/. Start planning your day today.
✨Festival Details
📆Saturday, October 3rd
🕢 10 am to 4 pm
📍at Cliveden - 6401 Germantown Avenue, 19144
What does a pint of Guinness have to do with traditional decorative painting? More than you might think. 🍺
For Cliveden’s entrance doors, Guinness was used as a binder for the glaze during the faux mahogany graining process, drawing on traditional decorative painting techniques where beer was used to create a workable medium for building color, depth, and grain.
A small glimpse into the materials, handwork, and layers behind bringing these historic doors back to life. - Jacintha Kruc, Preservation and Decorative Arts LLC
09/13/2026
Take a tour of the Chew House while at the 2026 Revolutionary Germantown Festival! Visitors can tour both floors of the house this year and view the exhibitions, 'Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation' and 'Looking Glass.'
While touring the house, stop by the small parlor to speak with Elizabeth Oswald Chew - portrayed by Vicki Lynn Embrey - about life during the Revolution. If you missed speaking with her at Cliveden earlier this year, you'll definitely want to do it at the festival.
✨Tour Details
🕢: Tours available 10 am to 12 pm & 1 pm to 3:30 pm
🎟: Admission is $5 for adults, free for children
📍: 6401 Germantown Avenue, 19144
Visit our website for the festival schedule to start planning your day on October 3rd. We'll see you in a few weeks!
2026 Revolutionary Germantown Festival
09/12/2026
Yesterday marked the anniversary of the 1777 Battle of Brandywine. Earlier in the week, Washington had stationed troops at two fords along the Brandywine River – Wistar’s Ford to the north and Pyle’s Ford to the south – to prevent the British from continuing their march to Philadelphia and to force a confrontation at Chadds Ford. Unfortunately, British General Howe and his troops crossed a ford further north, catching the Continentals by surprise. The battle ended in the evening as a British victory, and the Continentals retreated to Chester.
Follow Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site on Facebook and their website https://www.brandywinebattlefield.org/ for more details about the Battle of Brandywine.
Cliveden and Historic Germantown are at Honey Fest today until 4pm! Stop by for coloring pages, stickers, buttons and to learn about upcoming fall programs. Looking forward to seeing you here. 🍯🐝 Wyck House | Garden | Farm
09/12/2026
It's Second Saturday today - join Cliveden for tours from 10:30 am to 4 pm!
✨Spotlight Tour: Revolutionary Germantown - 🕢: 10:30 am - 12 pm
Cliveden and the Concord School House and Upper Burying Ground partner for a tour following the soldiers steps during the 1777 Battle of Germantown. This is a walking tour - wear comfortable shoes and bring water. 👟
✨Free House Tours: Second Saturdays at Cliveden - 🕢12 pm - 4 pm
Take a guided tour of the Chew House, featuring 'Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation' and 'Looking Glass.'
🏛 Tours begin hourly; last tour is at 3 pm. Meet an Interpreter at the Barn to get started (98 E. Cliveden Street, 19119)
📖 Don't forget to grab a Stamp Rally booklet during your visit and start collecting stamps! Use to share your progress.
Note: Tickets for the Spotlight Tour can be bought in-person today. Special discounts available for 19119/19144 residents and Cliveden/National Trust for Historic Preservation members.
📸 #3: 'A Rift is A Hole, is A Way Through: Kristin Neville Taylor
09/11/2026
The Fall Stamp Rally begins tomorrow and Cliveden is one of the kick-off sites!
This Stamp Rally's theme is Trailblazers of Historic Germantown.
From tomorrow, September 12th to November 14th, visit the sites in Historic Germantown, collect a stamp and scan the QR code to find the site's trailblazer. Write the name down on the site's page in the booklet. If you collect 6 or more stamps and answers, you're eligible to win a prize. To learn more about the Stamp Rally (and the prizes), visit https://historicgermantownpa.org/stamprally250/ .
Come to Cliveden during our tour hours - 12 pm to 4 pm - to grab a booklet and start collecting. Use to share your progress.
Explore local history at Cliveden this Saturday:
🔶At 10:30 am, join us and the Concord School House and Upper Burying Ground for the Spotlight Tour: Revolutionary Germantown and explore what happened during and after the Battle of Germantown. Comfortable shoes and a water bottle are highly recommended for this walking tour. 👟 Tickets can be purchased through our website or in person on Saturday. 🎟 https://cliveden.org/revolutionary-germantown/
🔶Stay for free tours of the Chew House in the afternoon, 12 pm to 4 pm, starting on the hour. The last tour of the day is at 3 pm. No registration is needed - just come to our Barn to get started (98 E. Cliveden Street, 19119). 🏠
Unable to join us but want to get ready for the festival? Then check out our free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects! View 'Revealing Revolutionary Germantown' self-guided tour to explore the sites involved in the Battle of Germantown. 📱
We'll see you on Saturday!
Spotlight Tour: Revolutionary Germantown
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.