There's a very famous nativity display that happens each year from about November 24 to January 28. And I'm very happy that I finally got to see it! There were over 60 nativity displays, and about 34 of them are from different countries around the world! It's wonderful to get a house tour here too! You can hear about the construction in the history of this family and this area. I recommend coming and seeing very creative styles of the nativity from around the world!! read more

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Niche find, lots of cool stuff to look at. Would totally recommend for history lovers!

Wow. How can I even describe Glencairn? I'll start with some history. It was built between 1928 and 1939 by Raymond and Mildred (Glenn) Pitcairn as a residence for them, their children, and their collection of medieval and religious art and artifacts. The house (it's hard for me to call it that because it's so much more grand than a house; it's more of a castle or a cathedral in its grandeur) was designed in a medieval Romanesque style, and - wow - is the building is a stunner. I couldn't believe what I was looking at when I walked into the Great Hall. I have no words, so you'll just have to see it for yourself! As is typical for me, I had packed a day trip with too many sights to see and bites to eat, so we didn't have time for a full tour (right now they're offering a 60-minute "Christmas in the Castle" guided tour and the always offered 90-minute Highlights guided tour), but we did have time to stop by for their World Nativities Exhibition (with first floor access only). This taste of Glencairn left me wanting more more more, so I'll definitely be back soon for the 90-minute guided tour. I can't wait to see more of this incredible house and learn more about the people that built it. Not to mention seeing more of the art in their collection! But the World Nativities Exhibition was interesting and charming and allowed me to take in that jawdropper that is the Great Hall. However you plan to enjoy Glencairn, definitely check it out. What an incredible place that I didn't know about until recently! read more

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This is a wonderful and unique museum just north of Philadelphia. This museum of religious artifacts is located in Bryn Athyn, founded in the 19th century, which is a community of the Christian denomination, the New Church. The Glencairn Museum is the former home of the family of Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn, which was turned into a museum. The design of this soaring building is based on medieval Romanesque architecture. It is hard to believe this grand building was the family home. You can take a tour of the family's living quarters, including the top level chapel with its outside terrace views of Philadelphia in the distance. The tours include visits to the galleries of religious artifacts from various cultures and times. Additionally, every year around Christmas time, there is an exhibit of crafted nativity scenes from around the world that can be accessed for a modest entrance fee. Viewing these creches is a nice, peaceful way to start the holiday season as you view the creches, listen to calming recorded music and sit in the soaring Great Hall. This museum is a gem. read more

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This museum was such a pleasant experience. Our tour took us through every floor and a fun elevator ride to the very top, where we were able to see as far as the Philadelphia skyline and a birdseye view of the entire estate grounds. Our tour guide was very pleasant, knowledgeable, and happily answered all of our many questions. She presented many educational snippets about the museum and the artifacts were so well presented and awe inspiring. The pictures that you'll see will do no justice to how elegant, majestic, and well maintained the museum is kept. I highly recommend this museum and it's many enjoyable experiences. read more

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Definitely a very magical building. Take it all in! Being transformed back to medevial eupoean times. Along with Egyptian artifacts. read more

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This is a beautiful castle/estate/cathedral in the unassuming town of Bryn Athen and well worth a visit if you find yourself with a free afternoon in the area. The top of the castle has a great view of the Philly skyline and surrounding woods, and the main floor had a really neat around-the-world collection of nativities -- it was super neat getting to see how other countries like China and Ghana represent the nativity scene in their own culture, people, and artistic style. The cathedral is free to visit and will probably take you 15-20 minutes, and is really thoughtfully outfitted with things like hand sanitizer, tissues, water, and well-heated bathrooms. The castle can only be visited on paid tours and there are two types of tours -- the normal year-round art tour and the Christmas tour. The tours are the only ways to see the upper floors, unfortunately -- as there is only one elevator to access the upper floors, some tours can be bogged down if they have too many people. Nonetheless, a fun way to while away a few hours in the afternoon! Parking is plentiful. Make a reservation for a tour as they do tend to book out. read more

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I'm only updating this review because it's insane that more people haven't been to this wonderful place ! It's beautiful.Now at Christmas time they have the creches from around the world.You don't need to do the full museum tour , although if you never have it's a good idea. If its open , walk down the hill and go to the lovely cathedral- if it's open.All I did this time was go into the main hall , which is either free or can be entered with a small donation.That's where the creches are and it's a spectacular room.If you live in the area and you haven't gone ,it's time ! You know you'd go if this was Europe ! read more

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I went to the medieval festival and it was so good! The two high lights of the day were the musical instruments and the weaponry. They had this man who was capable of playing all the instruments he demonstrated and he knew the history of each piece. He is so exciting! Second best was the weaponry demonstration by a member of the medieval martial arts guild and he demonstrated sword play and described the history behind the motions too. Finally, the tower is a must visit especially in the autumn. Amazing colors. read more

Glencairn Museum - This is the hurdy gurdy! - Museums Near Me - Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania

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I grew up in the greater Phila. area and had NEVER heard of this place (save for quick blurbs on WRTI when some musical performance linked it to them, but the blurbs never said what Glencairn was). I am SO PISSED I didn't know about this place my whole life until now! That is how freaking awesome it is! The first floor has amazing mosaics all over the place with brilliant metallic gold that throws light around in a mesmerizing way. The metal front doors, even, are crazy-gorgeous, and look almost Art Nouveau (like Guimard) as opposed to the more Gothic look going on. The medieval motifs blend seamlessly with authentic period relics, which once made up an unforgettable home. The ceilings on the first floor are not only beautifully covered in art, they are 2+ stories high, and create a breathtaking atmosphere. Photography is allowed, with some restrictions, so I recommend bringing a camera. The antique furnishings are also quite nice, and the rugs are all my style, with the more tribal or Arts & Crafts looks to them (instead of those Bijars found reproduced at Home Depot). The other wood furnishings were nicely crafted. I was amazed they let us sit on some of the furnishings while the docent spoke to us in whichever room. The tour we took began with a short bio/history film, which gives an adept background of the family who built the home: Raymond Pitcairn (1885-1966) and his wife, Mildred Glenn (?-1979). It outlines the Pitcairn family and the fortune they made as Raymond grew up, and then what he did with his life, + his money. It outlines the inspiration, architecture, and construction of the building itself as well. It also explains the family religion, the New Church, which had a strong basis in Bryn Athyn, where this was all created. There is currently a college of the New Church faith, located across the street, with a campus as beautiful as the grounds for the museum. After the film, you are led through the fabulous mosaic-tiled entrance, and into the grand hall, with the 2+ story ceilings, and original Medieval stained glass (plus amazing replicas commissioned at the time the home was built: 1928-1939). Obviously history about the family's use of the space, and details about the architecture, furniture, artwork, is all given by the guide, and questions are graciously answered. You are then taken through various other rooms, including the library, the family chapel, bedrooms, a room with Egyptian artifacts (which also interestingly ties into the religious beliefs of the New Church), a room with old Christian relics (Virgin and child, etc.) and amazing illuminated manuscripts. You also get to see a bedroom and bath, and you even get to go up the tower to get a 360-degree view, which spans as far as the Phila skyline, and places equally far in all other directions. (It has a monel metal railing.) It is a fabulous, fabulous experience, and I recommend it over even the Liberty Bell or any of that Colonial crap downtown (no offense, and I don't mean to sound unpatriotic, but it is crap compared to the artistic experience at Glencairn). I remember taking a field trip for my Humanities class in high school to The Cloisters (part of the Met) in NYC. It was amazing, and a perfect illustration of the material we were studying in class at the time. My teacher was wonderfully knowledgeable (he is now a docent at the PMA in his retirement), and even led a special trip to Europe each summer, which was equally wonderful. Point is, we did not need to travel to NYC, because a relatively similar experience is offered at Gelncairn. In any event, everyone I know who comes to visit will now be offered this excursion at the top of my hostessing list, because it is something this area needs to be very proud of, and to MAKE KNOWN on a larger scale. We spoke to our guide while we were there and told him all this; he was very receptive to our feedback. I suggested they advertise through Funsavers, which is yet another means of access to the public (we'd found them through Groupon). Our guide hadn't heard of the Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern, which is another treasure this area needs to know more about. These places need to get together and create a book rack for their gift shops, entitled "Local Cultural Hotspots," where they sell each other's books, and offer just a little hint at how much more there is to see around here. There is a great book covering the Brandywine Valley ("The Brandywine Valley: An Introduction to Its Cultural Treasures" by James Wamsley), and someone needs to make more references like these. When I worked for a museum downtown, I had a master directory of all the cultural orgs in Phila, and it was WONDERFUL, but it was just a wire-bound list, not a reference book, with essays and beautiful photos. Anyway, just my two cents there. Can't do Glencairn enough justice! read more

AIM Academy, a grade 1-12 school for students who learn differently, has long visited Glencairn Museum as part of its interactive history component of literacy education. Today's students must acquire a deep understanding of historical concepts and be able to relate those concepts to current topics and events. The Glencairn team is knowledgeable and brings history to life. The highly interactive and interpretive tour engages students in a comprehensive few of the period in history being presented. A must see by every school! Pat Roberts, Executive Director, AIM Academy read more

I happened to visit here during an open house weekend and what a treat that was! My mom and I got our own private tour of this amazing modern day mansion. It houses a collection of ~8,000 pieces of artwork from many cultures as diverse as ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman, medieval Christian, Islamic, Asian, and Native American. It looks like an old castle, but it was built in the Romanesque style between 1928 and 1939 by the Pitcairn family, who actually lived there for some time. The artwork was cool, but the building itself was even cooler! And the trip up in the little elevator was neat. I love touring mansions and this one is a treat. read more

This place is beautiful! I definitely recommend taking the paid tour which was only ten dollars per person. It's hard to believe a place this beautiful is only ten minutes from Philly. Not only is the museum beautiful but the views from the top of it are amazing. On the tour you get to go on an old elevator that takes you to the top. It was so awesome! They give you so much to see during the tour but you can tell there are a o many hidden passages that keep you even more interested. Local history and a beautiful spot - check it out! read more

This is truly a one of a kind hidden gem just outside of Philadelphia. I booked tour tickets on a whim and am so glad I did - we are already planning our next visit there. I suggest reading up a bit on the Pitcairn family and the New Church before visiting, but it's not essential to research beforehand to be enchanted and dazzled. We booked a tour with tickets, which I suggest. Although you can do a cellphone tour, without the guide you don't get to access as much of the museum. Our tour guide was Doreen and she was terrific, she was able to answer every question that was asked, even down different varieties of maple wood used in a single piece of furniture. We arrived early for the tour and were welcomed immediately on this freezing cold day and invited to hang up our coats and warm up and wait in the great room and have coffee or tea - served in china cups and saucers - in this fabulous hall where there is something gorgeous to see everywhere you look. We booked our tour at 3pm and next time I will visit earlier in the day to allow time to visit Cairnwood and the Bryn Athyn Cathedral - they were closed by the time we finished the tour. They have special events throughout the year, plus workshops. I have heard visiting at Christmastime is magical with decorations and crèches from around the world. Can not wait to visit again. If you are on the fence about visiting, I hope reading this tips your decision in favor of going, you won't regret it! read more

Interesting place. Will be back for the paid portion of the tour to see the rest of this giant, elaborate home.