Governance & Stewardship

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust (ASMHPT) is excited to invite the public to explore the completion of major renovations and brand-new museum exhibits.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the success of the ongoing A Place for Friends Capital Campaign, ASMH now features a fully reimagined Lobby and West Room exhibits, with new stories, interactive elements, and technology. In the West Room, enhanced lighting showcases the simple, yet breathtaking, beauty of the historic 1811 worship space that was designed by master carpenter Owen Biddle, Jr.

Arch Street Meeting House’s two-acre property on the corner of 4th and Arch Streets in Old City has been a part of the community for nearly 324 years since Pennsylvania’s Quaker founder, William Penn, deeded the land as a burial ground in 1701, and the meetinghouse was later built between 1804 and 1811. Joining its legacy as a place of Quaker worship, ASMH has served as an exhibition space since at least 1904 when thousands of Quakers from across the Greater Philadelphia region commemorated the meetinghouse’s centennial. Reimagining and preserving historic sites like ASMH is crucial for maintaining Philadelphia’s diverse cultural landscape and its place as the first World Heritage City in the United States. By exploring the diverse stories of our country’s past in the meetinghouse’s exhibits, we can protect irreplaceable sites like ASMH and enrich our community.

“We’re getting ready for the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026, and we’re thrilled to unveil phase one of these exciting upgrades. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that the museum can honor the rich history of Arch Street Meeting House while making it a more welcoming, educational, and compelling place for people of all backgrounds,” said Sean Connolly, Executive Director of Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust. “This project represents a major step in preserving our site and ensuring that the unique story of Quakerism and its impact on American history continues to inspire future generations.”

“Quakerism played a vital, yet often overlooked, role in the shaping of our nation,” said George McNeely, Trustee of Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust. “This is the Quaker City and it’s known as the birthplace of American democracy, so Philadelphia’s revolutionary story must include Quakers’ commitments to religious freedom, community, equality, and the belief that every voice matters.”

About Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust

Located in the heart of Old City, Philadelphia, Arch Street Meeting House (ASMH) is a museum and National Historic Landmark operated by Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust (ASMHPT). ASMH is also an active Quaker place of worship for the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia. Since its first documented burial in the 1680s and its official 1701 deed from Pennsylvania’s Quaker founder, William Penn, ASMH’s two-acre property has been actively and continuously used by both the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the greater community.

In 2011, the Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust (ASMHPT) was formed to preserve the historic building and grounds and welcome the public to participate in programming to learn more about Quaker history. Last year, Partners for Sacred Places found that through ASMHPT’s stewardship, the meetinghouse’s programs, education initiatives, space sharing, and rentals bring an annual economic impact to Philadelphia valued over $5 million.

Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust (ASMHPT) preserves, operates, and interprets the meeting house and grounds which will serve to increase public understanding of the impact and continued relevance of Quakers and Quaker history.

Arch Street Meeting House
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About the A Place For Friends Capital Campaign
‘A Place for Friends’ is a campaign that will empower Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust (ASMHPT) to make the capital improvements necessary to engage with an ever-expanding community of visitors, worshipers, and those curious about Quakerism. ASMHPT has contracted some of the region’s best engineers, architects, preservationists, and historians to complete the capital improvements by 2026 in conjunction with the Semiquincentennial of the United States.

As the Trust’s first Capital Campaign in over 25 years, this ambitious project aims to raise $4,700,000 in funding over two phases for vital improvements and ensure the long-term preservation of Arch Street Meeting House, a historic and culturally significant site in Philadelphia. Through individual giving and grant funding, ASMHPT has already made significant progress, raising $3.6 million. This success in the earliest phase of the campaign, which accounts for approximately 66% of the $4.7 million goal, demonstrates the strong support that the community has for preserving this important pillar of Philadelphia’s Quaker history.

For more information about ’A Place for Friends’, please visit historicasmh.org/aplaceforfriends.

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Photo credit Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust and Eddie Einbender-Luks

Link to Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ianxo1k590k5yfpib4y6c/AAGjsa8pN9D3V-aD2ZGdvRE?rlkey=5o5gswklvhw8435x0ipnvd0kq&st=izp36e55&dl=0

Kayla D’Oyen
Development &
Communications Manager
kdoyen@historicasmh.org
215-413-1804×103