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    The Wharton Esherick Museum

    4.9 (19 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    The Wharton Esherick Museum Photos

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    Miche

    When someone suggests visiting Wharton Eshrick Museum... Do it! Pennsylvania has some gems and charms... and this IS one. You will tour the home /studio of Wharton Esherick ( 1887 - 1970) + hear his very special contributions. Consider his time frame! He and his wife Leticia bought property in 1913. He built is studio up on the hill part of his land. You will get to see this! IMHO It's a thrill to see his imaginative mind's creation and inside his delightful curving furnishings. Pleasing to the eye. What skill and precision. His furniture was on display at the WORLDS FAIR. He was before his time. His paintings were lovely. And how wonderful it was that he discovered his true calling with his woodworking. His two buildings you tour are amazing. To hear his story is delightful. His works paintings, woodblock prints, and everything he did with wood... all of it. What an amazing American Story.

    Located down a small private road in a residential neighborhood.  Look for the small brown sign, it can be very hard to find.
    L L.

    Though I'd heard the museum mentioned on WRTI once or twice, they mention a lot of museums, and it just never registered how close this one was (for us to make the effort to see it). What led us to actually visit was me doing online research to find wood carving shows in the area, and the Wharton Esherick Museum's annual competition came up. Well, we got reservations for the following day and it made for a great Memorial Day outing. We drove past the place on our first pass, and had a lot of trouble finding it, even when we doubled back. I presume that this is so hard to find because of fussy neighbors, based on what I know of the residents nearby. Perhaps it is also because of the museum policy of reserved tours, and they don't make themselves obvious to prevent drop-ins? Anyway, I mention this to be helpful because there was no head's up about the clandestine-ness of the location when I looked at the website, so just be on the lookout, it helps. I was impressed to hear about all the Esherick pieces that are in the Met. Our guide didn't mention any of his pieces at the PMA, which I'd have loved to hear about because I don't remember seeing any there, but they do have some. (I am sure that the guides have so much info they can't possibly give it all in one tour, and they probably vary it to keep their job interesting, I understand. Not meant as a criticism, as our guide was excellent.) But upon my own Google search, I see a lot of prints and some sculptures, at the PMA, possibly more. So he is represented locally, which is great. Hopefully downtown the didactic info explains about his home/museum in Malvern, so people there know about the added place to visit. As many have already stated, the home is extremely artistic, unique, and interesting. Our neighbor growing up actually built his home himself, and did custom artistic woodwork throughout, including cabinets, furniture--down to the whittled toilet paper holder--all in WE's style... I always credited the neighbor with such talent, until I realized he just copied WE. I mean, it was the same style, same details, same cabinets, same wood types, it was definitely straight up copying WE. It's still a feat and cool, but if you are capable why not make your own art? Anyway, just a weird feeling for me to be there because I felt like I already knew the house (since there is an attempted replica in Media). Though I felt I knew it already, going through the WE museum, there will be so many little details to notice, you could stay for hours. The atmosphere was really peaceful and pleasing. I felt really comfortable in his environment. And though the home had many comforts and handy artist inventions, it did lack the contemporary "modern conveniences" for its own day (like a bathroom). Esherick's dedication to natural materials, and a nature-inspired life really showed, and felt wonderful to experience. Saw the museum featured on Groupon shortly after we'd gone. So this is good to know about, to grab for future visits. Reservations are required in advance. You will get a docent to lead your group of about 6 people (or fewer). Very intimate and informative this way, and it allows you to ask many questions. Neat Local Trivia: Esherick, though situated in the northern region of Malvern, was actually very active with artisans from Rose Valley, adjacent to Media (during Rose Valley's Arts & Crafts heyday), and his wife and daughter were extremely active at Hedgerow Theater, and were among those who lived at Hedgerow for a number of years.

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    8 years ago

    Best kept secret for local historical gems!!! Great place to take out of town guests!

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    9 years ago

    Extraordinary property. Excellent guide. Marvelous experience. Hadn't been there in 40 years. It's just as breathtaking as I remembered.

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    Review Highlights - The Wharton Esherick Museum

    I mean, it was the same style, same details, same cabinets, same wood types, it was definitely straight up copying WE.

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    Fonthill Castle - Fonthill Castle

    Fonthill Castle

    4.6(89 reviews)
    25.5 mi

    Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!read more

    Wow. What a unique, random gem and historic property. What is Fonthill and why is there a castle in…read moreDoylestown, Pennsylvania? Fonthill Castle was the home of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. (Also in Doylestown are two more Mercer buildings you can tour - the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works building, the business Mercer ran and where most of the tiles in the castle were produced.) Henry Mercer seems like he was an interesting guy, and you can see that in his home - 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 200 windows, who knows how many staircases...! And designed and decorated in a way I've never seen anywhere else. The castle is an early example of poured-in-place concrete building and is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles. And there are, of course, Moravia tiles (and some historic and international tiles that he collected during his life) throughout the house - almost more than you could imagine. We visited last Saturday to experience their "Fonthill Castle Holiday Lights Meander Experience," which allows you to visit the castle through a self-guided experience (there were staff in various rooms who were happy to answer questions) and enjoy a series of Christmas trees on display throughout the home. I definitely enjoyed the experience but am definitely planning a return visit to see the castle in better light (not at night in the dark - which was perfect for the Christmas tree experience) - they offer 60-minute guided tours though the house for most of the year! The castle is pretty wild, and I look forward to visiting it again and experiencing it in a new way. If you are interested in architecture, art, crafts, the Arts and Crafts design movement, or just quirky, unusual places, definitely add Fonthill to your list and check it out!

    Photos
    Fonthill Castle - Castle Exterior Spring 2023

    Castle Exterior Spring 2023

    Fonthill Castle - Fonthill Castle

    Fonthill Castle

    Fonthill Castle - Fonthill Castle

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    Fonthill Castle

    Lost River Caverns - Stalactites

    Lost River Caverns

    4.3(88 reviews)
    35.4 mi
    $$

    Lost River Caverns is a natural limestone cavern and tourist attraction located in Hellertown,…read morePennsylvania that has been forming for 250,000 years. Consisting of five chambers, the caverns were formed by the karstification or dissolving of the limestone by water. In the past, the cavern was also referred to as "Rentzheimer's Cave" or the "Lost Cave". The "Lost River", so named because the source and mouth of the river have not yet been discovered, flows through it. The temperature in the cave is consistently close to 52 °F (11 °C). The area on the surface of the cavern was a limestone quarry in the 19th century. In 1883, quarry workers ignited a black powder blast to remove limestone from the cliff face. In doing so, they discovered the entrance to the cavern. The first systematic exploration of the cavern didn't take place until three years later. In the years following the cavern's discovery, local residents found the underground spaces ideal for a variety of uses. During the late 1800s, a wooden dance floor was constructed in what is now called the "Crystal Chapel". Regular dances were held in the natural air conditioning of the cave. Irwin Gilman purchased the cave in 1929 and opened it to the public the following year. It is still owned and operated for tours by the Gilman family today. A small museum and gift shop stand above the surface of the cave entrance. From 1949 - 2009, the "Crystal Chapel" was available for weddings and other private ceremonies. Approximately 35,000 tourists explore the caverns annually. My family and I visited the Lost River Caverns this past summer while we were visiting relatives in the area. My wife and I had previously visited some natural caverns in upstate New York years ago. This was the first time that we explored caverns since we became parents. Both of our young sons loved exploring all of the various chambers. The tour was fun for the whole family. Our sons also enjoying learning about the different geological features such as stalactites, stalagmites, and fluorescent rocks. We even bought a toy miners helmet in the gift shop for our older son. If you're looking for a fun family activity to do in the Lehigh Valley, then we recommend visiting the Lost River Caverns.

    The gift shop was fairly large with the usual collection of stuff but in addition had a large…read morecollection of various rocks and gem stones for sale. Our cave guide was enthusiastic and knew her stuff, handling questions as the tour progressed. If you've never been in a cave before you might be impressed but if you have , well I think you'll be disappointed. There aren't all that many types of formations to look at and those that are there are not all that impressive. We picked here because in our local area we have only been to Crystal Cave and thought we'd give it a shot. Glad we did but would recommend Crystal Cave over here. That said, if you've been to say Luray Caverns in Virginia then you won't be blown away by either of them!

    Photos
    Lost River Caverns - Fluorescent rocks

    Fluorescent rocks

    Lost River Caverns - Crystal Chapel

    Crystal Chapel

    Lost River Caverns

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    Winterthur - Winterthur -- gift shop

    Winterthur

    3.9(149 reviews)
    19.9 mi

    I visited Winterthur for the first time with my mom on Christmas Eve for their Yuletide exhibit…read more I'd been mildly curious about the mansion over the years, and it seemed like a fun thing to do on my day off from work. The mansion is ornate, truly massive, and opulent. It's a true peek into the lifestyles of the rich. The Yuletide theme this past year was centered around Christmas and children's books, like Alice and Wonderland, Twas the Night Before Christmas, etc. When we arrived, we were a bit confused on where to park, as my mom has a handicap sticker. We ended up parking right at the visitor's center where the tram retrieves guests. We didn't have a long wait. On the tram, the driver recommended starting at the house and then walking down to the galleries. She didn't mention the enchanted woods/garden, so I didn't even realize they were there until I got home later that night -- bummer. Some of the folks working the rooms were pleasant, others felt like security guards. One chided my mom for leaning her hand against a wall at one point. Some were knowledgeable, and others clearly didn't want to be there. I appreciated the girl in the garden entry room who snapped our photo with the decorated trees before we stepped into the house! I took many pictures while in the house, and then we traipsed over to the galleries. The gallery building had a doll house, a really well-done gingerbread train station, furniture and other exhibits on the ground floor, and a rotating, very interesting exhibit on African American history on the second floor. After the galleries, we stopped by the museum store, and while most everything was dramatically overpriced, I did find a few cool items in my price range. We were on the grounds for roughly 2-3 hours I'd say before having lunch nearby. Arriving early was a good choice. They do offer reciprocal garden access with other garden memberships (I have one at home in Richmond, VA), so perhaps one day I'll use that access to see the gardens that I missed!

    This was not on our list of museums to hit but since the weather was so darn hot we changed what we…read morewere going to do after spending the morning at Longwood Gardens. It helped that we got free admission with our reciprocal museum membership. It was 2:30pm we when we arrived so we didn't have a lot of time. We were given good advice on what to do in our limited time from the folks at the ticket office. We took the garden tram tour which was educational and got off at the house where we did the self guided tour. You only see a small fraction of this giant mansion but that was enough for me. While most of the docents had interesting facts the actual contents of the collection were not that interesting to me. If you are really into this era of American decorative furnishing supposedly they have more in-depth guided tours. We still had time to see a bit more of the grounds around the house but with big thunderstorms rolling in we headed out. I am guessing for some this place is a must... I am glad we got free admission.

    Photos
    Winterthur - Winterthur -- gift shop

    Winterthur -- gift shop

    Winterthur - Winterthur -- gift shop

    Winterthur -- gift shop

    Winterthur - Winterthur -- gift shop

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    Winterthur -- gift shop

    The Mütter Museum - Statue in Medicinal Garden

    The Mütter Museum

    4.2(873 reviews)
    19.0 miRittenhouse Square, Penn Center

    Philadelphia was the first hub of modern medicine in the US. It's incredible to just take a few…read moreminutes to really appreciate the magnitude of this. The staff was really nice as we arrived a few minutes after our allotted time on our purchased tickets. I struggled with the tightness of the space. Many specimens required me to squat which may not be possible for other guests. There is so much to see but it's in such a tight space, specifically the first floor. Many of the glass cases were also warped which was not easy on the eyes. The museum has great potential if everything was spaced out more. Given that the space is tight, one felt rushed to read everything because there were other guests shoulder to shoulder trying to experience the space. If you were ever into Ripley's Believe It or Not, check the Mutter Museum out, plenty of unique cases! I felt queasy at times seeing real specimens floating in jars. The pharmaceutical marketing room was intriguing, I love seeing ads from the past!

    If you like medical anomalies, check out the Mutter Museum. It's a very interesting and informative…read moremedical museum. It holds a collection of medical instruments and anatomical specimens, which include skeletons and organs. At the exhibits, you will find conjoined twins, diseased bones, and various types of skulls. Everything has been preserved carefully. No pictures in the main exhibits, if it features human remains. $20 for adults or $15 for students. Other discounts may apply.

    Photos
    The Mütter Museum
    The Mütter Museum - January 29, 2026

    January 29, 2026

    The Mütter Museum

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    Hagley Museum & Library - Beautiful estate covered in wisteria

    Hagley Museum & Library

    4.6(41 reviews)
    21.9 mi

    Wilmington, DE - we visited several du Pont estates during our stay in the beautiful Brandywine…read moreValley area, starting with the Hagley Museum, which is the place of the first du Pont family home, built by the French immigrant ancestor who started it all, Éleuthère Irénée du Pont. We toured the house (Eleutherian Mills) and garden, powder yard, saw a small antique car exhibit, a gunpowder demonstration, and strolled around the grounds, which are very walkable and well-shaded in parts, but there is also a shuttle that travels between the main areas (visitor center/museum, house, powder yards) which runs every 20 minutes. The property is impeccably maintained and gorgeous to walk around, bordered by the Brandywine River where we saw some kayakers row by (for paddlers & outdoor enthusiasts: you can do this as an activity in the area). Everything was SO well-organized, and the tour guides & staff could not have been more lovely or helpful. They helped us time-manage our tours (as we arrived late in the day and were in a bit of a rush) and were generous with answering questions and sharing information about the history of the place and of the du Pont family. ======= TIP: If you love museums and historic homes & gardens and plan to visit at least a couple, the best thing you can do is purchase a Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport ($49 for individuals, or $99 for family including 2 adults & 3 children 17yo and under), which grants you admission to 12 area attractions that you can visit once any time between May 24-October 31. (This year is almost over but you can still buy the 2025 pass or wait for 2026 to be released.) There were many enterprising du Pont descendants/cousins, and the multiple grand estates in this area were built/owned by different branches of the family: in addition to Hagley there is also Winterthur, Nemours, Mt. Cuba Center, and Longwood Gardens - all of which are included in the passport. I find these properties to be more impressive than the Newport RI mansions, and highly recommend visiting as many as you can!

    We did not have this museum on our radar until we learned about it when touring the nearby Nemour…read moreEstate. It helped that with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission! It was already 2pm when we arrived so we had limited time. We walked the road to see the machine shop demo and the powder rolling demo by Bob. Both were quite interesting especially the big bang finish of the powder rolling demo. Learned a lot! Given it was late and way too hot to walk up the hill we skipped the house tour which looked interesting. We opted for the AC in the visitor center and the very educational two floor exhibit on patent models. Nerdy. Overall a big thumbs up for this museum.

    Photos
    Hagley Museum & Library - Interesting weather vane on top of barn

    Interesting weather vane on top of barn

    Hagley Museum & Library - Gunpowder demonstration

    Gunpowder demonstration

    Hagley Museum & Library - Rembrandt Peale painting of George Washington. This painting is also in US Senate chambers

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    Rembrandt Peale painting of George Washington. This painting is also in US Senate chambers

    The Wharton Esherick Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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