PhilaLandmarks’ 90th Anniversary Video

In 2021, PhilaLandmarks celebrated the 90th anniversary of our organization, which included celebrating and honoring our extraordinary Founder Francis Anne Wister. Francis Anne was a visionary player in the preservation movement who created PhilaLandmarks to preserve Philadelphia history and its historic houses, which began with her heroic saving (and organizing the purchase) of Powel House from being razed for a parking lot.

A commemorative video was created by our PhilaLandmarks staff for the 2021 annual meeting of the membership highlighting all four houses and their stories. Click on the image above to watch and enjoy. For more information about our founding, see our History page in the ABOUT section.

Wash Post: Misreading EWP’s Famous Question

In Zara Anishanslin’s 2019 Op-Ed in the Washington Post, she writes about House Speaker Pelosi’s mention of the often misquoted anecdote on Elizabeth Powel when the Speaker announced the impeachment inquiry of former President Trump. Pelosi’s version was that on the final day of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, as Americans gathered for news, a ‘woman’ asked Benjamin Franklin, ‘What do we have, a republic or a monarchy?’ Franklin replied, ‘A republic, if you can keep it.’

Zara points out that yes this is a recognizable national origin story with broad appeal, but that Pelosi and others miss the key element — who asked Franklin the question? It was Elizabeth Willing Powel, the most pivotal woman of the era whose dinners at Powel House were renowned centers for debate among the political elite.

As Zara concludes,“Erasing the women of the founding era makes it harder to see women as leaders today”

C-Span: Featured Talk on Elizabeth Powel

Our Executive Director Kayla Anthony co-hosted with Mount Vernon’s Samantha Snyder several high profile televised, live streaming and Zoom events over the last several years, which were co-sponsored by PhilaLandmarks and Mount Vernon.

The subject here for C-Span was Elizabeth Willing Powel (EWP) and her relationship to our founding and her role in helping to convince her great friend and confidant President George Washington to run for a second term.

Most historians today believe this seminal letter and Elizabeth’s brilliant, hard hitting arguments were in fact what made the difference in convincing the president of his duty here, which thus helped protect our young republic and ensure its legitimacy.

Powel House on NBC’s Open House

Open House is a weekly luxury real estate show on NBS and Peacock, highlighting the best in real estate and interior design across the nation. The program is hosted by Sara Gore.

Powel House was featured in 2017 on Open House as a beautiful example of historic, original Georgian architecture.

Our guide here is Jonathan Burton a longtime former Director of PhilaLandmarks. He takes us through-out the house, pointing out the key elements of Georgian architecture and the beauty and functions of each room, as well as the Powel family’s role in Philadelphia and American history. Click on the image above and enjoy Jonathan’s comprehensive tour.

Library Co. of Philadelphia Fireside Chat

In a joint programming effort with the Library Company of Philadelphia, we presented a Zoom panel discussion on Elizabeth Powel and the Founding of the Republic.

Our Director Kayla Anthony and Samantha Snyder of Mount Vernon, who will soon be publishing a new biography on Elizabeth Powel, discussed Elizabeth’s significant role in our founding and her enduring friendship with George Washington. This included a detailed discussion of the extraordinary 8-page letter she wrote to President Washington to convince him to serve a second term to ensure our republic’s future and legitimacy.

Powel China on PBS History Detectives

This segment examined an unusually racy set of French made china owned by the Powel House, which are painted with two classic romantic symbols, hearts and darts.

Family legend claims the Marquis de Lafayette, the French general, who helped free the American colonies, gave the set to Elizabeth Willing, the popular wife of the Patriot mayor and with whom he had a close friendship.

To find out the truth about the china and any possible connection to Lafayette, take a look at the transcription of the episode via the image above.

Hill-Physick House on Ghost Hunters

In 2016, Hill-Physick House and its ghostly friends were featured on the Sci-Fi channel’s Ghost Hunters, a paranormal and reality television series that ran for eleven years.

In this particular episode, the team of paranormal investigators go beneath the Hill-Physick House and attempt to contact "restless spirits" who might have been dissected by Dr. Physick for research.

You can watch the episode by clicking via the link on the image above.

A Taste of History

Episode: Remember Paoli

In a 2018 segment for this popular PBS Television program, Chef Walter Staib prepared a hearty meal that reflected the life and tastes of the larger than life General Anthony Wayne and honored those who died at the Battle of Paoli - an event that inspired America's first battle cry, "Remember Paoli!"

Among the dishes prepared: Braised Short Ribs, Pennsylvania Dutch Noodle Casserole, a Turkey, and a Turnip and Porkbelly Stew. These are all recipes that were often included in Historic Waynesborough dinners.

A Taste of History

Episode: Elizabeth Powel’s A Sinful Feast

Elizabeth Powel was the premiere hostess of the 18th century. She invited the political and social elite to her dinner parties and curated extraordinary and lavish feasts to serve to her guests, which her topnotch cooking staff prepared.

One of these dinners inspired John Adams to write a detailed letter to his wife Abigail Adams describing all the many gourmet courses guests were served and proclaiming the meal as "sinful."

In 2011, for the first time since Mrs. Powel's actual dinner, Chef Walter Staib recreated this "Sinful Feast," preparing it for our members and guests at Powel House, Elizabeth’s historic Philadelphia home.

Grumblethorpe Youth Volunteers Video

The Grumblethorpe Youth Volunteers (GYVs) is a site-based youth service program (for ages 12-18) available to schools throughout Philadelphia.

PhilaLandmarks launched the program in the summer of 2002. And since that time, many of our Philadelphia young people have found a valued home, new friends and enriching experiences that have enabled them to develop critical ‘life’ skills through the unique hands-on multi-faceted learning experience we provide at Grumblethorpe.

What does it mean to be a Grumblethorpe Youth Volunteer? Watch this video to hear about it in the words of our youth.

Local PBS Station WHYY’s You Oughta Know

In 2019, PhilaLandmarks’ Early Music Series was a featured segment on WHYY’s local PBS TV show You Oughta Know, a guide to people, places and events you might not know about in the Philadelphia region.

In the video above, our Executive Director Kayla Anthony welcomes the audience to Powel House and talks about how our PhilaLandmarks Early Music Series brings life and joy into our historic houses.

The exquisite interior of this famous Georgian House provided a beautiful intimate setting where audiences could see and experience the music and the instruments of the period up close. And after any of our in-person concerts, guests then can stay for a reception where they can meet the musicians and ask questions.

300 Years of Mayors

In 1989, the city of Philadelphia celebrated 300 years of the city’s mayors. Starting with our very own Mayor Samuel Powel who was mayor both before and after the Revolutionary War and was henceforth known as “The Patriot Mayor”.

All living mayors attended the historic event, along with their families and the families of heirs of past Philadelphia mayors.

The ceremony and reception were fittingly held at the Powel House and many Powel heirs/family members were in attendance for this gala event. The day and celebrations were covered extensively by the local press.

St Peter’s Church 250th Anniversary

After a dramatic reading at the pulpit of St. Peter’s Church by the notable actor Sam Waterston, all attendees gathered for a celebratory reception and dinner at the Powel House. A fitting place to host this event as Samuel and Elizabeth Powel provided support to and often worshipped here, as it was several blocks closer to their home than Christ Church, where they were married.

Pew 41 was rented by Samuel Powel who hosted George Washington here during his stay in Philadelphia during the Continental Congress.

While Samuel Powel served in the Christ Church vestry, had a pew there and is buried in the Christ Church burial ground, Elizabeth went solely to St. Peter’s in her later years, as it was closer to her house. Her box pew is now marked with a plaque.

Powel House featured on Drunk History

Drunk History is a cable TV program that takes on the retelling of famous stories in history, with of course a twist. In this episode, Baron von Steuben helps train the Continental Army, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson campaign against each other for president, and Benedict Arnold betrays George Washington's army.

Powel House is featured at the end of the segment, in the story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold and the betrayal of our country. Notable medium Chip Coffey visits Powel House to try to connect with the spirits of the House, one of which is rumored to be Peggy Shippen herself.

Premiere actors often play the lead roles, and are tasked with playing as if inebriated. In this episode, John Lithgow plays George Washington. Jerry O’Connell plays Thomas Jefferson. Actress Winona Ryder takes on the role of Peggy Shippen Arnold (Benedict Arnold’s wife), who was also Elizabeth Willing Powel’s relative.