Blog of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Category: Philadelphia (Page 1 of 12)

Do You Want to Own a Piece of the Industrial Revolution(s)? Then We Have a Bridge for You

Odds are if you ask a historian of industry to tell you about The Industrial Revolution, they will respond with, “Which one?  There have been four.”  If they are from Pennsylvania, they may even add that Pennsylvania has many places associated with all four of them.  So, what are these four industrial revolutions and what Pennsylvania places are associated with them, you ask?

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Marking the Journey, Part 1: We the People

Back in July, we announced the Historical Marker Program’s plans to recognize Pennsylvania’s role in U.S. history during the Semiquincentennial with a series of marker trails. These trails highlight both familiar and lesser-known stories, encouraging visitors to build a deeper and more meaningful connection to the past. Now, the first installment of Marking the Journey is live and ready to explore!

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Byberry Hall: Robert Purvis’ Legacy

September is International Underground Railroad Month and this week’s post features the story of Robert Purvis and Byberry Hall.

In 1844, Robert Purvis, a prominent Black abolitionist and leading figure in the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia, moved with his wife Harriet and their children to Byberry, a rural village in the far northern part of Philadelphia County.

For the next 27 years, they helped make Byberry a center of abolition and Underground Railroad activity. In 1847, Robert and two others built Byberry Hall as a meeting place for discussion of anti-slavery and other social issues. The building is now a key site on the Poquessing Trail of History.

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