Marking Pennsylvania History

Breaking Away - From 1776

Having a lot of history is one thing; making the most of it is quite another.

While the Delaware Valleyıs default setting for history is 1776, there is much more to be experienced. We have the Quaker City. Thereıs the Workshop of the World and the Arsenal of Democracy. Depending on what streets one chooses, there are histories of innovation, literature, science and music. And much, much more. Itıs all here, but knowing how to act on the obvious has evaded us for some time.

Is Philadelphia a two-war town? Sure it is. But you wouldnıt know it to visit the understated Civil War Museum at 1805 Pine Street, where the head of General Meadeıs horse, ³Old Baldy² greets the occasional visitor. Where is the big story of Philadelphiaıs leading role in the Civil War told? Nowhere, really, but everywhere, actually.

The Civil War lives today in a score of research libraries, museums and historic sites throughout the region, from the Mutter Museum to the Library Company; from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to the Union League. It resides at the Academy of Music and the site of the Schuylkill Arsenal. Fact is, the Civil War one of those great historical chapters so deeply-woven into the fabric of the region that seeing it is more a matter of developing the proper vision to see it than building new destinations to interpret it. From the former railroad depot at Broad Street and Washington Avenues, where supplies went South and wounded came North, to the Robert W. Ryerss Library and Museum at Burholme Park, this was a Civil War town.

It has gotten to a point where we donıt know what we donıt know. Our identity as a historical center is set at 1776 ­ until we decide to get over it.

Has that time finally arrived?

- Kenneth FInkel, Executive Director of WHYY's Arts & Culture Service

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