Richard Wall House Museum
If you would like to take a stroll through the past, the Richard Wall House Museum in Elkins Park offers a unique glimpse into Cheltenham Township's history. The museum is situated in the Township's 13.2-acre Wall Park, located at Church Road and Wall Park Drive, just 1/10 mile west of Old York Road in Elkins Park.
Dated 1682 and listed on state and national historic registers, the house museum features four floors of exhibits, a springhouse, a smoke house and a carriage house. The museum’s extraordinary displays include a Roaring 20s room, an extensive 19th century tool collection, fashion displays, a Colonial bedroom and kitchen, a military exhibit, and a nursery with a five-foot electrified dollhouse.
The Cheltenham Township Historical Commission, which oversees the operation of the house museum, also welcomes donations of historic items in good condition for the museum’s collection.
With an assigned a date in 1682, the Richard Wall House was built by one of the Township's founding fathers, Richard Wall. Wall was one of the original purchasers of the land that eventually formed Cheltenham Township, land that was sold by William Penn. The house is listed on State and National Registers of Historic Places and had the distinction of being the oldest Pennsylvania house in continuous residence until rehabilitation began. It is also one of the oldest Quaker Meeting Houses still standing in America.
Brochure
Museum Hours:
After closing due to COVID-19, the Wall House will reopen for tours September 26. Masks will be required.
The Richard Wall House Museum is open the fourth Sunday of each month
from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Group and individual visits can be arranged by
appointment.The Museum is open for tours during the week by appointment.
Tours are conducted by Historical
Commission volunteers and docents from Honors History classes at
Cheltenham High School. Special tours have
been customized for all school grades and adult interest groups. There
are first floor handicapped facilities as well as handicapped parking.
For the benefit of those who find touring difficult, a DVD is available.
The
DVD is also available for community lectures. A video depicting the
coming of the original Richard Wall family is shown in the orientation
center and may be purchased in the gift shop. The Cheltenham Township
Historical Commission conducts bus and walking tours, and periodic
lectures on historical themes which are free and open to the public.
Contact the Historical Commission
The
Wall Paper is the official
publication of the Cheltenham Township Historical Commission.