Cliveden

Last week, Cliveden hosted several volunteers from the 2026 American Alliance of Museums Annual Conference and MuseumExpo to inspect and rehouse pieces in our collections and were visited by National Trust for Historic Preservation Site Directors! Here are several pictures showing the volunteers inspecting a jacket and skirt, and the site directors exploring the two exhibitions on view: 'Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation' and 'Looking Glass.'

Opera on Tap Philadelphia and Cliveden are pleased to present Fête Galante: 18th Century Opera!
📆: Saturday, June 6, 2026
🕕: 7 pm to 9 pm
📍: Cliveden Barn - 98 E. Cliveden Street, 19119
🎟: Tickets available for purchase through Eventbrite - $20: single ticket; $35: double ticket

Opera on Tap Philadelphia comes to Cliveden for the first time, performing favorites from Mozart and Handel as well as lesser-known forgotten works.

Start the day by taking a house tour at Cliveden (12 pm to 4 pm, beginning on the hour; last tour at 3 pm) and then join us at 7 pm in the Cliveden Barn (98 E. Cliveden Street, 19119) to enjoy a period-appropriate operatic recital.

Advanced registration is recommended. Purchase your ticket today.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fete-galante-18th-century-opera-tickets-1988255458599?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&fbclid=IwY2xjawSGojpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFrTEtVZ0JTbFNvRXc4enhtc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkCKq_VB-RUT0xQHaf1TvCCOa52PStlufeFI6ZD18px5ISKPwaaMe-lwXoFo_aem_QUYP0dG2DWiY3V1PcCGU5A

Fête Galante: 18th Century Opera Opera on Tap Philadelphia and Cliveden are pleased to present: Fête Galante: A Celebration of 18th Century Opera!

Ray Tschoepe and Andrew Staples discuss window repairs tonight at 6:30 pm at the first Old House Care Workshop class! West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN)

Old House Care Workshop: Intro to Window Repair
📆: Today, May 26th
🕛: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
📍: in the Cliveden Barn - 98 E. Cliveden Street, 19119
🎟 : $10 - Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the Barn.

For directions to Cliveden, https://cliveden.org/visit/. To purchase a ticket online, visit https://secure.givelively.org/event/west-mt-airy-neighbors/historic-preservation-initiative-campaign/old-house-care-workshops-2026.

📆On Saturday, June 13th, join Cliveden for our second Spotlight Tour: Transcending Thresholds.

This 1.5 hour experience takes a deeper look at the built environment and landscape at Cliveden as well as:
🔸Uncover the lives and labor of those enslaved and in service at Cliveden
🔸Discuss the physical and metaphorical thresholds between people who labored at Cliveden and the Chew family
🔸Reveal the history of stratified social relationships in the household that relate to American culture today

This program is a part of our ongoing 'Transcending Thresholds' initiative dedicated to studying, restoring, and interpreting the service spaces at Cliveden.
📍: at Cliveden - 6401 Germantown Avenue, 19144
🕙: 10:30 am
🎟️: $20 - General Admission | $10 - Discounted rate for 19119 & 19144 residents, Cliveden, and National Trust for Historic Preservation members

Advanced registration is encouraged - visit https://cliveden.org/transcending-thresholds-spotlight-tour/ to purchase a ticket today or purchase one in person at the Cliveden Barn on June 13th.

The Kousa Dogwood is blooming in the arboretum. The tree produces white flowers which last from May to July. Check out the blooms and enjoy the shade when visiting the grounds! 🌸🌳

Elizabeth Oswald Chew is here today! Meet her in the little parlor and hear her experiences of being at Cliveden, a mother and life during the American Revolution.

The program is free and open to visitors until 4 pm. We look forward to seeing you here.

Visit Cliveden tomorrow afternoon to meet Elizabeth Oswald Chew!

Meet Elizabeth Oswald Chew
📆: Saturday, May 16th
🕛: 12 pm to 4 pm
📍: at Cliveden - 6401 Germantown Avenue, 19144
🎟 : FREE

Visitors will meet Elizabeth in the little parlor in the Chew House to discuss the events of the day, her family - she was the wife of Benjamin Chew and mother to 12 children - and her experiences during the American Revolution. After speaking with Elizabeth, visitors can take a walk through the house to view the current exhibitions, 'Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation' and 'Looking Glass.'

Elizabeth will be portrayed by Vicki Lynn Embrey. This program is free and open to visitors of all ages. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon.

Meet Elizabeth Oswald Chew is generously supported by The Haley Foundation.

Ray Tschoepe and Andrew Staples are the instructors for the first Old House Care Workshop class on May 26th!

Old House Care Workshop: Intro to Window Repair
📆: Tuesday, May 26th
🕕: 6:30 pm to 8 pm
📍: Cliveden Barn - 98 E. Cliveden Street, 19119
🎟️: Class fee is $10

Learn about window anatomy, repairing rotted wood, glass replacement, reglazing, and sash repair.

Online registration recommended as space is limited. Save your spot today!

bit.ly/house-care-workshops-2026

West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN)

Join us in learning to care for your old house!
Register here: bit.ly/house-care-workshops-2026

Thank you to DESIGNS BY GRACE for the floorcloth in the Entrance Hall of the house!

The floor cloth is part of our new exhibit, 'Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation,' which explores the experiences and struggles of the household at Cliveden as a new nation formed. The house is interpreted back to the 1760s and according to account records, Benjamin Chew paid for a floorcloth to be painted in the house. The floorcloth served as both decoration and protection.

See the exhibit and house on tour days:
📆: Thursdays through Sundays
🕛: 12 pm to 4 pm, beginning on the hour. Last tour of the day at 3 pm.
📍: 6401 Germantown Avenue, 19144
🎟 : https://cliveden.org/tours/