Philadelphia Tribune - Index

Philadelphia Tribune - Summer Sojourner 2008 - Index

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
IN PHILADELPHIA
7th & Arch streets
(215) 574-0380
Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
Sun., noon to 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $8; Children under
12, students, senior citizens, and the
disabled, $6.
One of the oldest and finest African-
American museums in the country, the
African American Museum houses four
galleries.
ALL-WARS MEMORIAL TO COLORED
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
20th Street & the Benjamin Franklin
Parkway (across from the Franklin Institute
Science Museum)
Hours: Daily until sunset.
Admission: Free.
Fairmount Park, the largest urban
park in the nation, was once home to
this 18-foot column of 12 life-size military
figures commemorating the Black
Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in
America’s wars. In November 1994, it
was moved to its current location. The
All-Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers
and Sailors pays homage to three centuries
of African-American veterans. It
was erected by Swiss sculptor J. Otto
Schweizer.
AMERICAN WOMEN’S HERITAGE
SOCIETY AND MUSEUM
Belmont Mansion Historic House
2000 Belmont Dr.
(215) 878-8844
Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
Sat.-Sun., by appointment.
Admission: Adults $3; children under
high school age, $1.50. Tours available.
Washington, Franklin and Adams all
visited this 18th century home of Judge
William Peters. But this historic park
mansion was also home to Cornelius
Wells, known as “Old Cornelia,” a slave
washer-woman, who became famous for
selling her horseshoe shaped ginger
cakes and spruce beer. Belmont Mansion
is one of the more beautiful lookout
points in the city. It is available for conferences,
fundraising and cultural events.
Making Our Mark — Listings
ART SANCTUARY
1801 W. Diamond Street
(215) 232-4485
Enjoy book signings, poetry performances,
hip-hop performances, and family
workshops that occur at the Art
Sanctuary, located in the Church of the
Advocate.
BEREAN INSTITUTE
1901 W. Girard Ave.
(215) 763-4833
The institute was founded in 1899 by
the Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson, pastor of
Berean Presbyterian Church and founder
of Berean Savings Association. This
school educated Blacks by teaching
them valuable trades they could not
acquire anywhere else. The curriculum
was later expanded to meet the changing
needs of today’s students.
BESSIE SMITH’S GRAVESITE
Mount Lawn Cemetery
84th Street & Hook Road
Sharon Hill, Pa.
(610) 586-8220
Hours: Daily until sunset - 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. (office)
Admission: Free.
She was known as “Queen of the
Blues.” A singer from Tennessee, Bessie
Smith died from injuries sustained in an
automobile accident in Clarksdale, Miss.
after being refused medical treatment
because of her race. Her marriage to a
Philadelphia policeman provides her connection
to the city. Smith’s gravesite
remained unmarked for a long time until
the late singer Janis Joplin provided a
tombstone.
Bessie Smith’s
Gravesite
SOJOURNER SUMMER 2008
8
THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON
1314 N. Broad St.
(215) 763-0500
In 1999, it was named the #1 boxing
venue in the world. Legendary prize
fighters have gone toe-to-toe in the ring
at the Blue Horizon. Also a training
ground for young contenders, this historic
boxing venue collaborates with the
Amateur Boxing Association to bring to
the Philadelphia community the best in
competitive boxing matches and exhibitions.
BUSHFIRE THEATER
OF PERFORMING ARTS
52nd & Locust streets
(215) 747-9230
The oldest professional African-American
theater in Philadelphia, Bushfire provides
opportunities for African-American
professional and non-professional actors,
playwrights, directors and other theater
personnel. Training is provided for both
children and adults. It is the home of the
nation’s first Walk of Fame for African
Americans of stage, screen and television.
CHARLES L. BLOCKSON
AFRO-AMERICAN COLLECTION
Sullivan Hall
1330 W. Berks St.
(215) 204-6632
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free.
The Blockson Collection contains over
40,000 items of notable African Americans.
It includes books, letters, slave narratives,
photographs, sheet music and
original recordings. Charles Blockson is
a notable historian, who has authored
several books including “Philadelphia’s
Guide: African-American State Historical
Markers.”
CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY
Cheyney & Creek roads
Cheyney, Pa.
(610) 399-2000
Hours: Tours, by appointment, through
the admissions office.
Founded in 1837, Cheyney University
is the oldest historically Black col-