Poquessing Trail of History

06/11/2026

There was a full house on Saturday for our living history production This Monstrous Law! We're excited to share more photos next week but here's a sneak peak.

Don't miss our last program, coming up in a few weeks at the Byberry African American Burial Ground now part of Benjamin Rush State Park! More details at the link in bio.

06/03/2026

Thanks Northeast Times for the blurb on our program this Saturday!

Check it out here:

The Poquessing Trail of History, an initiative of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, along with Millicent Sparks Productions invite the

05/29/2026

What happens when you recreate a historic event just steps from where it happened?

Find out the first weekend in June! We’ve partnered with Millicent Sparks Productions to create an original living history production for the Poquessing Trail of History.

It will take place not in a traditional theater, but in a 19th-century building from the time of the story:

The 1808 Byberry Friends Meeting House.

Recently restored, it stands a few feet from where the historic events in the play actually took place.

“Rarely do we get an opportunity to understand history as if we had lived it,” says Jack McCarthy, historian and director of the Poquessing Trail of History project.

“It will be thrilling to see these icons of early Philadelphia speaking again in one of the few remaining buildings from their lives. This is where historic preservation really comes alive.”

Get a FREE ticket while they last:
https://preservationalliance.com/all_events/this-monstrous-law-robert-and-harriet-purvis-and-the-fugitive-slave-act-dramatic-presentation/

05/26/2026

Earlier this month, our director Jack McCarthy was putting Northeast Philly on the map at a special press event announcing the launch of Neighborhood Jawnts.

Neighborhood Jawnts is a citywide tour series celebrating the culture, creativity, and small businesses that define Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

The tours will feature a different neighborhood each week over a 20-week series. Each tour is created in partnership with community members and highlights authentic stories, local businesses, and neighborhood gems.

Join us later this summer on a Jawnt highlighting the Poquessing Trail of History!
https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/neighborhood-jawnts-tour-series

05/18/2026

Tickets for our next event are going fast!

This Monstrous Law!
Robert and Harriet Purvis and the Fugitive Slave Act
Saturday, June 6, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Byberry Friends Meeting

A recreation of a historic protest of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law, which compelled everyday citizens to assist in capturing enslaved people seeking their freedom. Living history performers portray abolitionists Robert Purvis and Harriet Forten Purvis, who boldly responded to the inhumane law by rallying local citizens to defy it.

For more information and to reserve your FREE seat, please visit the link in our bio!

05/14/2026

This tour fills up every time!

We had to reschedule our tour last weekend due to rain - there are tickets available for our new date, this Saturday!

Come join us and hear about the hidden Poquessing Creek from Philadelphia Water Department Historian, Adam Levine.

Registration and more details here:
https://preservationalliance.com/all_events/the-poquessing-discover-philadelphias-forgotten-creek-tour/

05/09/2026

POSTPONED! The threat of rain means we are postponing this until next Saturday.

If you're registered, let us know if you are not able to make it so we can let other folks join!

Stay dry everyone and see you May 16!

05/08/2026

Can you spot the lumber mill worker in this photo?

Our next program, The Poquessing: Discover Philadelphia's Forgotten Creek, highlights some of the historic places that still exist along the creek.

Our tour guide, renowned Philadelphia Water Department historian Adam Levine, has published a website that shares some of the creek's history.

Check it out here:
https://waterhistoryphl.org/2025/10/poquessing-creek-watershed/

Photo: Carter’s Mill, near Somerton, along Poquessing Creek. This mill was located near the present-day intersection of Carter Road and Poquessing Creek Drive. (Source: Bruce Conner Postcard Collection, Northeast Philadelphia History Network)

04/30/2026

Did you know we record all our programs?

Check out the videos of our program last fall, "What Was Purvis Reading? The Books of a Great Abolitionist."

https://vimeo.com/1184600555

Follow us to get updates on videos of our recent events!

04/21/2026

Back by popular demand!

Philadelphia Water Department Historian Adam Levine, renowned expert on waterways and sewers in the city, leads a 3-mile tour along the Poquessing Creek Trail. Explore the Poquessing Creek, which forms the northern boundary of Philadelphia and has sustained life in the region for thousands of years!

Registration is already almost full. Sign up here:
https://preservationalliance.givecloud.co/The-Poquessing-Discover-Philadelphias-Forgotten-Creek-May2026