Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

08/24/2026

Garden Court Apartments was the crown jewel in builder Clarence Siegel’s vision for West Philadelphia. The six-story, block-long complex combines convenient city living with gracious landscaped courtyards, fountains, and outdoor seating areas.

Its red brick walls are enriched with cast stone ornamentation, projecting bays, and parapets that give the complex its distinctive English Gothic character.

After falling on hard times in the 1970s, Garden Court was transformed into a sought-after condominium complex in the 1980s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Garden Court Historic District in 1984, the property received an additional layer of protection when a preservation easement was donated to the Preservation Alliance in 1985.

08/20/2026

We can’t wait! Stop by our table to pick up a free copy of our new Washington Square West Historic District: A Guide for Property Owners!

We are counting down the days to our second-ever HISTORY ON THE STREET festival 🎉

Join HSP and NHD Philly alongside some of your favorite local orgs!

📅 Saturday, August 29 (rain or shine)
🕒 12 pm - 4 pm
📍 13th and Locust Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107
🎟️ Free Entry
🔗 https://hsp.org/calendar/history-street-back-school-edition

08/20/2026

The latest episode of WURD Radio's Freedmon Journeys explores the uncertain future of Old Main at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, where Martin Luther King Jr. studied.

Following the sudden closure of Crozer Chester Medical Center, preservationists are working to protect the stories and artifacts connected to King and the seminary. The episode examines why the Chester community is fighting to ensure this history isn’t lost.

Listen to the episode now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1p7ArF2xK4v5aIkDiP0uKY?si=14fdf94d18794a1d

Freedom Journeys: Sacred Places · Episode

08/20/2026

☀️. ANNOUNCING OUR LANDMARK VICTORY. Friends of the Tanner House (Friends of the Tanner House) has acquired the National Historic Landmark Henry Ossawa Tanner House at 2908 W. Diamond Street, securing one of Philadelphia’s most significant Black cultural landmarks for long-term nonprofit stewardship and future reuse as a community-rooted arts and heritage hub.

Read our full PRESS RELEASE at our website. LINK IN BIO. READ MORE: https://savethetannerhouse.org/press-1/0bjruc8axeh6f905r7flc6uuorekso

08/19/2026

If you care about protecting historic places, this webinar is a great opportunity to learn how to make your voice heard as proposed changes to Section 106 move forward. Join to get practical guidance and advocacy tools you can use to make the case for preservation.

Join us for the next Section 106 Under Threat webinar: Guidance for Advocates

Be prepared for action as the review process for the revised Section 106 regulations gets underway!

During this webinar, the National Trust and preservation partners will guide advocates through best approaches for persuasive case-making around this issue.

Speakers will walk through key talking points and advocacy approaches and share tools and resources to craft clear, concise, and personalized arguments.

Monday, August 24 at 2p ET.

Speakers:
Moderator: Rob Nieweg, Senior Vice President for Preservation Initiatives, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Kim Trent, Executive Director, National Preservation Partners Network
Chris Moore, Executive Director, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Chris Cody, Associate General Counsel, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Register now: https://ow.ly/M7fq50ZB65u

08/18/2026

What does historic designation mean for your property? Where do you start when you're planning repairs or improvements?

The Washington Square West Civic Association and Preservation Alliance are pleased to share "Washington Square West Historic District: A Guide for Property Owners."

The guide provides practical information to help property owners care for their properties and navigate the preservation review process.

Now available to read online: https://publuu.com/flip-book/413694/2531299

Free printed copies will also be available while supplies last. Look for us at upcoming neighborhood events, including History on the Street on August 29!

08/17/2026

Join us for the 2026 Architectural Dinner on Tuesday, September 29, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the historic Union Trust Building.

This year, we’re excited to honor Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Inga Saffron with the 2026 Mary Werner DeNadai Award for her lasting impact on historic preservation and Philadelphia’s built environment.

Join us for a celebratory evening. Tickets and sponsorships are available now: https://preservationalliance.com/events/2026-architectural-dinner/

08/14/2026

The Wolstenholme Twin was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places today!

Submitted by the Preservation Alliance and written by Oscar Beisert, the property at 580 Pelham Rd. and 333 W. Upsal St. is a distinctive Flemish Renaissance Revival residence designed by Boyd & Boyd and developed by Wendell & Smith.

As a landmark at the entrance to the Pelham development, the building tells an important story of West Mount Airy’s transformation from private estate to modern Philadelphia suburb.

We’re proud to help preserve this important piece of the neighborhood’s history.

08/13/2026

08/12/2026

We are saddened by the passing of Janet S. Klein, a towering figure in Pennsylvania’s preservation community and a longtime friend of the Preservation Alliance.

In 2014, the Preservation Alliance honored Janet with the James Biddle Award for Lifetime Achievement in Historic Preservation, recognizing a career spanning six decades and an extraordinary record of service to historic preservation in Philadelphia and across PA.

Janet served on the Philadelphia Historical Commission under three mayoral administrations and as chair of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for eight years. Her leadership, knowledge, and passion also strengthened multiple institutions, including the Preservation Alliance, Preservation Pennsylvania, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fairmount Park, the American Philosophical Society, the Rosenbach, the Philadelphia Zoo, and Temple University.

We are grateful for the remarkable legacy she leaves behind and for the many ways her work continues to shape the historic landscape of our city and state. We extend our deepest condolences to Janet’s family, friends, and the many colleagues and preservationists who had the privilege of working with her

Learn more: https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/janet-klein-obituary-philadelphia-penn-historic-preservation-temple-20260811.html