NEW World PA 250 NEW "Quakers came to do good and ended up doing well." is oft repeated because there is so much truth to it. Examine the early Philadelphians who applied the Quaker Ethos to their business endeavors, experienced unrivaled prosperity, and enabled Philadelphia to become an economic force in the world.

The America that we know began as a unique idea; ordinary people could be sovereign citizens that would govern themselves. Turn back the pages of history two and a half centuries and examine how some extraordinary men, Hamilton, Knox, Madison and Morris, labored to make this idea a reality. Learn of their backgrounds and the interactions that allowed them to form history’s first and longest living people’s federal representative republic. 

NEW Grace Kelly’s ambition was fierce. Her father was refused entry into the Diamond Scullers crew racing in England because he was “in trade.” That slap burned Grace as well. Yet, her beauty and acting skills enabled her to compete in the WASP world of Philadelphia Society. She became a real-life princess through her own integrity.Tea and scones provided.

NEW Explore the impact of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment on Britain and her North American colonies. British thinkers contributed much of the intellectual foundations for the Enlightenment, and these ideas had a significant influence on Britain and her colonies. The results, however, could be dramatically different: in some instances leading to a rational style of living and in other cases political radicalism. Investigate these disparities in art and politics. Co taught by Jean French, Museum Educator (Ret.)

NEW Come to the fairgrounds of despair and delight: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. It plowed new ground by engaging with serious social issues while providing beguiling entertainment. Explore the behind-the-scenes drama, savor the memorable music, discover the immeasurable contributions of two female giants of Broadway, Trude Rittmann and Agnes de Mille, and thrill to the memorable screen portrayals of Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae.

NEW From trans high school athletes to Israel-Palestine, some prominent issues in American politics directly affect only small fractions of voters. Do voters respond differently to symbolic issues, those with few tangible impacts on most citizens? Consider evidence from a large-scale 2026 survey. Daniel Hopkins, Prof, Poli Sci, UPenn

NEW Individual Quakers prospered in the New World. See how, led by William Penn and his Holy Experiment, Philadelphians developed the cultural foundations of America that led this country to unparalleled success in all aspects. Examine their contributions to American Exceptionalism.

NEW Honor the contributions, struggles and sacrifices made by Algonkian people during the War of American Independence. Explore the unique material culture and trade of Algonkian and Iroquoian people. Navigate the complex political paths of patriotism, Toryism and neutrality that these people trod as they worked to preserve their way of life in the face of overwhelming odds. Consider both the devastation of the Sullivan Campaign and the Algonkian contributions to the shape of history. Light refreshments available.