As part of Cliveden’s Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities exhibition, programming will continue this summer in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Philadelphia’s Walnut Lane Bridge. Highlighting a newly discovered collection of lantern slides, the exhibition runs until December 31st and features original blueprints, contemporary newspaper accounts, rare photographs and modern works of art showcasing the bridge’s enduring beauty.

In an effort to highlight one of the project’s community partners, a visual account of the bridge’s recent history will take place at the Woodmere Art Museum on June 19 at 7PM. Join Woodmere Curator and Building Bridges advisor Douglas Paschall for the “Lantern Slide Salon,” where he will take you on a journey in bridge and park history from the early 19th century to present day. Based on historical “magic lantern” presentations, the Lantern Slide Salon will offer a visual story of the bridge, its natural surroundings and a history of the lantern slide, which is a Philadelphia invention. Cost of admission to the event is $5 and is free for Bridge Club Members.

Programming for the Walnut Lane Bridge’s 100th anniversary has also been developed for children. From July 14 – July 18, Cliveden will be hosting the Building Bridges Summer Camp, a day camp for children of 8 to 12 years who are interested in nature, architecture and wildlife. The camp runs from 9:30AM to 3:30PM daily and cost for the week long camp is $100. Campers will travel to Adventure Aquarium, Awbury Arboretum, Historic RittenhouseTown, Walnut Lane Bridge and the Wissahickon Environmental Center for hands-on activities such as: bridge building, nature studies, self reflection and other outdoor lessons.

Please visit www.walnutlanebridge.org for more information about these events or call 215-848-1777 to learn more. Limited space available for each event, RSVP preferred. Exhibition is free to the public and is open daily from 12PM – 4PM.

In connection with the Walnut Lane Bridge’s 100th anniversary, Cliveden (a historic-site in Germantown) will be offering a Building Bridges Summer Camp. At the camp children will learn about Walnut Lane Bridge and its natural surroundings in the Wissahickon Valley. The five-day camp includes daily field trips to local sites including:

- Historic RittenhouseTown

- Awbury Arboretum

- Wissahickon Environmental Center

- Adventure Aquarium in Camden

Campers will take part in hands-on activities and games where they will: build their own bridge, study marine life in the Wissahickon Creek, identify poisonous and invasive plants, learn how to use a map and compass and other self-exploration activities. We will conclude the week with a trip the Adventure Aquarium, where will will take a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium. Perfect camp for children interested in nature, architecture or animals!

SPECIFICS:

- Camp runs from July 14 – July 18.

- Campers must be dropped off at 9:30AM and picked up at 3:30PM at Cliveden (6401 Germantown Avenue) daily. *Call for extended hours or early arrival.

- The cost of registration is $100. A $50 deposit is required at the time of registration.

- The balance is due by July 7. Parents receive a $25 discount for each additional child registered.

- Campers must bring their own packed lunch daily. Light refreshments will be served.

- Ages 8 - 12

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

- Campers can expect to walk to many places in the neighborhood. Dress accordingly and prepare for inclement weather. Also prepare for daily walking and hiking adventures.

- Many of the activities will be conducted in areas which are not handicap accessible.

- Please inform us of any medical condition or allergies your child may have.

CONTACT INFO:

Please email rfink@cliveden.org or call 215-848-1777 for more information and to have a brochure sent to you.

www.cliveden.org

Building Bridges Program to Feature Wissahickon History at Cliveden
May 8, 2008. 7PM

Philadelphia, PA – Cliveden of the National Trust presents “Journey in the Wissahickon,” a presentation given by Dr. David Contosta and Dr. Carol L. Franklin. The talk is part of an ongoing series of monthly programs being held in conjunction with Cliveden’s Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities exhibit, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Walnut Lane Bridge.

The presentation will take place on May 8, at 7PM in Cliveden’s Carriage House. The program is open to the general public at a cost of $5.00 per ticket. Members of the Walnut Lane Bridge Club receive free admission to the talk.

The illustrated presentation will focus on the bridges of the Wissahickon, improvements made in Fairmount Park during the 20th century, and the role of the park in the lives of community members. For Contosta and Franklin, the discussion will be a preview of a book they co-authored coming out this fall which details the history of the Wissahickon.

Dr. Contosta is a Professor of History at Chestnut Hill College. He is the preeminent historian for Wissahickon history and is the author of 15 books and over 100 articles, reviews, and scholarly papers. Dr. Franklin is a nationally recognized expert in sustainable design and has been a professor of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania for over 30 years.

For further exhibition information, visit the Walnut Lane Bridge Blog at www.waluntlanebridge.org or call Cliveden at 215-848-1777. Cliveden is located at 6401 Germantown Avenue and is open for tours April to December, Thursday – Sunday, 12PM – 4PM. Regular tour admission rates apply for Cliveden house tours.

Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities
May 1 – December 31, 2008

Philadelphia, PA – Cliveden of the National Trust presents Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities, an exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the construction the Walnut Lane Bridge. The exhibition, open from May 1st to December 31, 2008, will present monthly programming documenting the arduous effort to construct and preserve the bridge.

Finished in 1908, the Walnut Lane Bridge was the longest concrete arch bridge in the world at the time. Connecting the Roxborough and Germantown communities in Northwest Philadelphia, many drivers pass across the bridge too quickly too even notice its beauty. The view from underneath the bridge, however, has inspired many artists and writers, such as Christopher Morley and Troy Sayers.

Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities will feature highlights from a newly discovered collection of lantern slides which document the construction of the bridge from 1906 -1908. Designed by area artist Keith Ragone, the exhibit will feature drawings from the City of Philadelphia Department of Bridges, contemporary newspaper accounts, and rare photographs from descendants of bridge construction workers. In addition, modern photographs and works of art will be on display, including original work by Sayers which highlights the bridge’s enduring beauty.

The exhibition is free to the general public. Visitors are encouraged to join the Walnut Lane Bridge Club, which will allow them to get into all of the year’s bridge programs at a single, one-time $10 fee. Bridge Club funds will be used to support ongoing efforts to clean up around the bridge and preserve its history

An exclusive exhibition preview and reception event will take place at Cliveden on Sunday, April 27th at 3:00PM. The preview event is available to the general public as a cost of $25, RSVP only.

For further exhibition information, visit the Walnut Lane Bridge Blog at www.waluntlanebridge.org or call Cliveden at 215-848-1777.

Cliveden is located at 6401 Germantown Avenue and is open for tours April to December, Thursday – Sunday, 12PM – 4PM. Regular tour admission rates apply for Cliveden house tours.