(Not) the Atwater Kent returns!

[MarketStEl]

Earlier this week, I was walking down 7th Street and noticed signs on what is now called the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent announcing that the museum would formally reopen with a grand opening in June and that a new permanent exhibit would open sooner than that - February, if I recall what I saw correctly.

For now, the museum's website is mum about all this, referring only to a "Spring 2012" reopening.

The new permanent exhibit sounded promising. Maybe the museum staff will offer a few more clues about things to come from those now gone as the reopening approaches? I'd say it's about time they started spreading the word beyond the unit block of South 7th Street.

[BarryG]

Atwater Kent reopening in spring with sharper focus - Philly.com

[Matthias]

Will they put such artifacts as William Penn's wampum belt on display, or will they keep the real things in storage and limit visitors' experience to sleek placards and slow interactive machines?

[mixiboi]

Its two years behind schedule(Due to funding issues) but yeah, their Facebook page says its ALMOST time:

https://www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaHistoryMuseum


Now if only we could get a AD campaign to go with that new logo they (maybe) paid for.(I'd do it for free*)





(*Not really, but really....I love Philly almost more then getting paid)

[mixiboi]

IT opens WEDNESDAY!

Former Atwater Kent Museum Reopens As Philadelphia History Museum This Week « CBS Philly

Executive Director Charles Croce says the first gallery offers an overview of the city’s 300 year history, using an inventive combination of historic objects and first person narratives from contemporary Philadelphians.

“History is made every day. It’s continually being made. So you have artifacts from 1680, but people are making history today. And the video pieces are meant to add a modern voice to Philadelphia’s history, so it’s asking Philadelphians what’s important in their lives, in their history,” said Croce.

ITS FREE BY THE WAY.

[thoth]

Def going. I went before the reno work and still found it to be engaging, mostly because i love local history. I know many here share my interest, so I hope everyone turns out to support a city asset like the Atwater Kent.

[Pitt]

What a great surprise. Maybe I'll have to "work from home" on Friday and spend the afternoon at the museum. Saturday will be slammed.

[mixiboi]

Still free, starting today. Hours of operation will be 11 a.m to 4 p.m, Wednesday through Saturday.

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/33884

Beginning Wednesday, the museum will open two ground-floor galleries — the only ones yet completed — to the public. The free sneak-peak opening includes the orientation gallery with its quick overview of the 331-year history of Philadelphia, from slave shackles and the surveying equipment that determined the original parameters of the city, to posters of the Phillies' 1980 World Series win and political buttons for Mayor John Street.

It also includes video monitors with testimonials by current city residents, produced by Philadelphia Community Access Media or PhillyCAM, the new next-door neighbors.