Philadelphia Revealed: unpacking the attic
July 18–December 1, 2024
An exhibition from the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Fisher Brooks and Frances M. Maguire Gallery
Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Hours: Thursday – Friday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM / Saturday – Sunday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday – Wednesday Closed
Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic is a large, interactive display of over 600 authentic objects, telling the story of Philadelphia’s city history collection. Inspiring pride in our great city, this major exhibition reflects 350 years of Philly history.
The exhibition highlights the strengths of the Atwater Kent Collection (former Philadelphia History Museum), including material representing the Atwater Kent Museum’s earliest acquisitions, eclectic collections it absorbed, national celebrations, development of the city and civic history, Philly sports, salvaged material and relics, manufacturing and retail, and art and music.
The Collection grew over 80 years to encompass an array of Philadelphia stories: objects reflect the city’s diverse residents and their contributions over three centuries. Along with 600+ artifacts, the exhibition includes hundreds more historical images as well as multimedia and hands-on elements.
Related Programming
Philadelphia Revealed is an exhibition, a podcast, and a platform for anyone to add their story to Philadelphia history. Through an interactive game, facilitated by First Person Arts, visitors can find and add their own stories to the archives. They can hear other Philadelphians’ stories through The Philadelphia Revealed Podcast, produced by WHYY. Hosted by Jamie Brunson of First Person Arts, each episode features a new storyteller highlighting an object from the exhibition and sharing their own story inspired by it. Public programs will enable further interaction. Philadelphia history is still being told; Philadelphia Revealed aims to find out what these objects mean to all of us.
Discover more about the objects and ephemera included in this exhibition – visit the online collections portal for the Atwater Kent Collection! Click HERE
The Philadelphia Revealed Podcast and additional programming—Reshaping Historical Narratives through the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University, in collaboration with WHYY and First Person Arts—has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
The Philadelphia Revealed Podcast and additional programming—Reshaping Historical Narratives through the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University, in collaboration with WHYY and First Person Arts—has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Philadelphia Revealed Podcast
Across 10 episodes, you’re going to learn Philadelphia history through 10 objects. You’ll get a tour of the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University, sometimes called Philadelphia’s Attic. It’s a collection that’s grown over decades, acquiring Philly’s material culture from individuals, families, institutions, sometimes literally from the trash. In every episode of this podcast you’ll learn about an object in the Atwater Kent collection and hear a story inspired by it from a First Person Arts storyteller. We think every Philadelphian will be able to see themselves in this collection and that learning about Philadelphia’s many histories can help us understand its present and future.
FREE ADMISSION DAYS! The following dates will be free to visit the exhibition. Thursday, September 26 & Friday, September 27; Sunday, October 6, and Sunday, November 24.
Featured Image: Industrial Philadelphia – The Workshop of the World, oil on canvas by Morris Berd (1914–2007), 1952 (Gift of Stern’s Department Stores; acquired Gimbels, 90.81.1).
PRESS RELEASE: June 20, 2024
https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2024/June/Atwater-Kent-Collection-Drexel-Philadelphia-Revealed
PRESS KIT: Philadelphia Revealed Press Kit
MEDIA / PRESS: Please email info@philadelphiahistory.org for access to a folder of graphics and related information.