Category: History

January 26, 2017

“Bartram Boxes Remix” exhibition at Fuller Craft Museum

January 21 – April 16, 2017 Now on exhibition at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA, Bartram’s Boxes Remix is a collaborative project between the Center for Art in Wood…

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December 14, 2016

America’s First Poinsettia: The Introduction at Bartram’s Garden

It is a little-known fact that the poinsettia was introduced to the gardening world from the Bartram Botanic Garden in 1829. This international symbol of winter cheer was first successfully…

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November 10, 2016

A “Step” into Bartram History

As you stroll around the 1731 John Bartram House, you may notice stone pavers by the east, south, and west entrances. These, like the actual doors, are original to the…

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October 20, 2016

Portrait of Ann Bartram Carr as a Teenager

Born in 1779 to John Bartram, Jr. and Eliza Howell, Ann Bartram—namesake of our new Ann Bartram Carr Garden—grew up immersed in a world of farming and botany, thanks to…

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October 5, 2016

Debunking a Myth about our 1775 Bartram Barn

The Bartram Barn was built in 1775, largely by John Bartram’s son, John Bartram, Jr., who was a farmer. We sometimes overhear visitors explaining the function of its narrow window slits,…

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September 1, 2016

THE GENUS COLLINSIA — AND THE PHILADELPHIA BOTANIST

The plant genus Collinsia is named after Zaccheus Collins (1764 – 1831) who was known to William Bartram and likely, his niece Ann Bartram Carr. We asked our curator Joel…

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July 12, 2016

Bartram History: A River Walk in 1884

Bartram’s Garden curator Joel Fry recently came across a written anecdote about our area from 1884. Arthur Bliss, a physician, wrote a book called Blockley Days: Memories and Impressions of…

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May 10, 2016

An Aquatint of the Bartram House from 1913

We have a print of the John Bartram House in our conference room and thought we’d find out more about it. Says Bartram’s Garden curator Joel Fry, “This is an…

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April 6, 2016

John Bartram’s Stone Carvings

Visitors with sharp eyes will find five ornamental “blocks” in several locations around the Garden. These artistic works come from a substantial stone carving by John Bartram. Three of those…

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I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Birds

Boating & Fishing

Flowers, Plants & Trees

Gardening

History

Kids' Activities

Sankofa Community Farm

Southwest Philadelphia

Water Quality

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Youth Internships

I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Stroll the Schuylkill River Trail or join us for biking!

Birds

Look up! More than 100 species of birds rely on this ecosystem.

Boating & Fishing

Enjoy all that the Tidal Schuylkill River has to offer.

Flowers, Plants & Trees

See what’s blooming, find a favorite tree, and stroll the gardens and natural lands.

Gardening

Bring the Garden home! Shop for plants or grow food, trees, and more.

History

Uncover the interconnected stories of this historic site.

Kids' Activities

Join us year-round to learn, make, share, and wonder.

Sankofa Community Farm

“Go back and get it!” Growing food sovereignty with an African Diaspora focus.

Southwest Philadelphia

Resources and opportunities especially for neighbors in Southwest Philly.

Water Quality

Find our latest data on the river’s bacteria levels and recent rainfall.

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Enjoy upcoming workshops, self-care, and events. Are you a Southwest artist? Let’s partner!

Youth Internships

Calling Southwest students: paid internships available with the river, the farm, and the trees.