Ashland Things to Do

Houston Hall at the University of Pennsylvania is the countries first student union, which is still in order to this day. Besides being a student union quarters, Houston also provides facilities for the social and recreational... more

This beautiful cathedral is the centerpiece of one of the largest Catholic populations in North America. The foundation was dedicated June 29, 1846 and construction was finished in 1864. The Italian Renaissance style, with its... more

Stephen Girard led a fascinating life and left a unique legacy when he died. His will allocated millions of dollars to fund a boarding school for the poor and underprivileged. For over 150 years, Girard College has provided edu... more

Congregation Rodeph Shalom, founded in 1795, is the oldest Ashkenazic synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. The current building was constructed in 1928 and is the only synagogue in this country to retain its Byzantine-Moorish a... more

The Presbyterian Historical Society was founded in 1852 to preserve books, letters and other materials related to the history of the Presbyterian Church. The Society's current library contains over 200,000 volumes and 20,000,00... more

The outside of the building indicates that patrons are in for a unique experience—and (thankfully) the inside lives up to the expectation. This visual art and live performance gallery has long been a revered institution for tho... more

The society's collection is highlighted by the continuing exhibit, "Finding Philadelphia's Past." Over 500 antiques and personal items chronicle the city's history through 1900, including the wampum belt of Pennsylvania founder... more

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the first A.M.E. church in the world. It was founded by free American blacks in the 1700s. The current building was constructed in 1889 and occupies the same location as three... more

Considered to be the progenitor of American horticulture, Bartram's Garden is an 18th Century wonder on the banks of the Schuykill River. Established in 1731, the home of John and William Bartram, the first American botanists,... more

The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731, was the first circulating library in America. Today, it is an independent research library with more than a half a million books, graphics and other rar... more