On May 11, the Camden County History Alliance invites the public to celebrate Camden County’s architectural heritage with the first Built in Camden County Day to be held at 12 historic sites around the county. Explore the architectural heritage of Camden County, spanning from 1726 to the early 20 century, with beautifully restored historic structures.
Built in Camden County Day will highlight colonial houses, 19 century row homes, train stations, a simple meeting house, an ornate church, and a majestic battleship. To step back into colonial times, tour the 1742 Indian King Tavern Museum in Haddonfield.
The 1756 Gabreil Daveis Tavern Museum House in Glendora or the 1726 pattern brick Pomona Hall in Camden.
Visitors can attend the 1816 Barclay Farmstead’s “Friendly Architecture” program to understand the basic elements of Federal design or participate in family-friendly activities. For more early 19th century architecture, enjoy a property tour and historic walk of the 1827 Newton Friends Meetinghouse, the oldest active religious structure in Camden or tour the Peter Mott House which served as a stop on the Underground Railroad
Railroad enthusiasts can enjoy “Down by the Station Day” in Haddon Heights, with trolley rides weather permitting, a walking tour at 2:15p.m., model train display, railroad books, free engineer’s caps, refreshments and more. Visit the oldest existing railroad station in New Jersey in Berlin, built in 1856, and learn about the restoration of the station and about Lang Mansion.
To enjoy the architectural features of Camden City, participate in the 1-hour walking tour of Cooper Street Historic District, including buildings, businesses, and people that built Camden; the tour will be hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities, weather permitting, register by emailing MikaelaMaria3@gmail.com. A discussion of architecture and the preservation of four Camden row homes that comprise today’s Walt Whitman House Historic Site will also be available by reservation, call (856) 964-5383.
For an awe-inspiring experience, tour the baroque-style century-old Lovatt-designed Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, featuring magnificent stained glass windows, Polish inspired elements, and many relics, including one of St. John Paul II. Take the opportunity to tour the monumental Battleship New Jersey and participate in a hands-on activity by building foil boats and seeing if a concrete boat will float.
The full schedule of events for Built in Camden County Day, along with the addresses of the sites, are available at www.CamdenCountyHistoryAlliance.com or on our facebook page at Camden County History Alliance.
