Arch Street Meeting House
Arch Street Meeting House
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Located in the heart of Old City, Philadelphia, Arch Street Meeting House is a museum, National Historic Landmark, and active Quaker place of worship. Constructed in 1804 on two acres of land deeded by William Penn as a burial ground to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Arch Street Meeting House has had an estimated 20,000 burials occur on its historic grounds! Step inside this active Quaker meeting house to learn more about the stories of the people, the building, and the grounds of Arch Street Meeting House.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
69 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
36
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
0
jpete02
Lansing, MI931 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Not the most exciting place to see but worth a stop because you can learn a great deal about the Quaker religion and the role it has played in US History. The meeting hall chamber dates from the early 1800’s and it is all original furnishings including the pews and cushions. The hall also has educational signage on how a Quaker service works and some historical dioramas on William Penn and his life. Worth a stop on the walk from the Christ Church graveyard to Betsy Ross’s house or Christ Church.
Written October 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Herstory_62
Philadelphia, PA487 contributions
Oct 2012 • Family
There are few better ways to absorb the founding Quaker tradition of this historic city than a visit to the Arch Street Meeting House in Old City. Stark yet elegant in its simplicity, the Meeting House - with its hard wooden benches & plain walls - conveys the mood of a Quaker Meeting. Better yet - try a unique experience & attend a Meeting on Sunday morning, when - without clergy, creed, ritual or music - participants are free to sit quietlly & commune directly with the Creator & each other.
Then learn more Philadelphia history with a stroll back in time, on old brick paths, among the headstones of the lovely shaded graveyard that surrounds the Meeting House.
Then learn more Philadelphia history with a stroll back in time, on old brick paths, among the headstones of the lovely shaded graveyard that surrounds the Meeting House.
Written January 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChocolateCzar
Philadelphia, PA416 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
Parking was easy as the meeting house has its own parking facility.
The building is a large brick building dating back to 1804 and though it has been updated and modified over the years, as required, it has remained as original as it can be.
We walked around to the front of the building to enter through exceptionally large double door that led us into a vestibule where a receptionist sits, a gift shop is located and a place to hang coats.
Moving forward, we entered a large reception area, elegant in its simplicity.
We met other members of our group and were attended to by members of the “friends”.
Coffee and desserts made for easy and comfortable conversation and mingling, a pleasant informal way to begin the evening.
We eventually entered the, well, for lack of better word, sanctuary where the service was to take place.
The room is stunningly beautiful due to its simplicity and “plainness”.
There were four or five rows of benches forming an ever decreasing square towards the center.
No podium was used, keeping with the defined equality of all the members.
These benches were older than the building, being well over 200 years old; the cushions still had life to them, and were filled with . . . you guessed it, horse hair.
The director gave us a brief explanation of Quakerism and then we participated in the service.
After the service, we were told about the history of the grounds and we moved into the West Room
. The West Room, despite heating and lighting changes, remains virtually the way it was meant to be.
This room could accommodate approx. 1000 people.
This as I understand it was where the females met with an East Room for the men.
The floor was bare wood which many years ago had been turned over due to wear.
Again the benches were situated so as to focus in the center.
Those nearest the walls were raised for the elderly so they could see and hear better.
A U shaped balcony was for the younger members and boys and girls were segregated to different stairways and areas.
The wood was unvarnished and showed age but not ware.
Being the middle of winter, it was chilly, and we were told that there was no air conditioning.
With such large, beautiful windows, I had to wonder how warm it would get during the heat waves Philadelphia is subject to.
Anyway, the visit and tour was wonderful.
We were made to feel comfortable and welcome.
The building is astonishingly beautiful a must see for anyone interested in architecture .
It is a jewel in the crown of Philadelphia and it was a pleasure to participate in one of its services.
My thanks to those that arranged and to the Friends who provided the tour.
The building is a large brick building dating back to 1804 and though it has been updated and modified over the years, as required, it has remained as original as it can be.
We walked around to the front of the building to enter through exceptionally large double door that led us into a vestibule where a receptionist sits, a gift shop is located and a place to hang coats.
Moving forward, we entered a large reception area, elegant in its simplicity.
We met other members of our group and were attended to by members of the “friends”.
Coffee and desserts made for easy and comfortable conversation and mingling, a pleasant informal way to begin the evening.
We eventually entered the, well, for lack of better word, sanctuary where the service was to take place.
The room is stunningly beautiful due to its simplicity and “plainness”.
There were four or five rows of benches forming an ever decreasing square towards the center.
No podium was used, keeping with the defined equality of all the members.
These benches were older than the building, being well over 200 years old; the cushions still had life to them, and were filled with . . . you guessed it, horse hair.
The director gave us a brief explanation of Quakerism and then we participated in the service.
After the service, we were told about the history of the grounds and we moved into the West Room
. The West Room, despite heating and lighting changes, remains virtually the way it was meant to be.
This room could accommodate approx. 1000 people.
This as I understand it was where the females met with an East Room for the men.
The floor was bare wood which many years ago had been turned over due to wear.
Again the benches were situated so as to focus in the center.
Those nearest the walls were raised for the elderly so they could see and hear better.
A U shaped balcony was for the younger members and boys and girls were segregated to different stairways and areas.
The wood was unvarnished and showed age but not ware.
Being the middle of winter, it was chilly, and we were told that there was no air conditioning.
With such large, beautiful windows, I had to wonder how warm it would get during the heat waves Philadelphia is subject to.
Anyway, the visit and tour was wonderful.
We were made to feel comfortable and welcome.
The building is astonishingly beautiful a must see for anyone interested in architecture .
It is a jewel in the crown of Philadelphia and it was a pleasure to participate in one of its services.
My thanks to those that arranged and to the Friends who provided the tour.
Written February 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QuickWhitTravel
Washington DC, DC3,776 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
This was an interesting place to visit. I didn't know anything about Quaker faith, but they were happy to explain it to me. You can see the oldest portion, too, which is cool. It's a big part of Pennsylvania history!
Written June 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JOJO
19 contributions
May 2021
Very interesting visit that was made more meaningful by a member of the Quaker community. I learned so much about the impact of this community on the early history of the colonies, slavery, and women’s rights. Very glad we went inside!
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenya K
3 contributions
May 2021 • Friends
Wonderful experience! So much history in one place. Everyone should visit and learn for themselves. Enjoy!
Written May 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy M
2 contributions
May 2021 • Friends
You can feel the history the moment you walk into the building. The world needs more Quakers. We should all live by the SPICES code.
Written May 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RGSOUNDF
Mercerville, NJ10,753 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
The still practicing Quaker prayer house is the oldest Friends (Quakers) Meeting House in Philadelphia and the largest in the world. It was built in 1804 and enlarged in 1811. It is not only enriching from the historical point of view but enables to a visitor a rare glimpse into the teachings of the Friends. The rather austere interior stripped of pompous trappings is very different, even from the most of Protestant churches. Some of the quotes by William Penn are quite actual even in our day and age.
There are two meeting halls; one to the right of the entrance is not being used anymore since the 1960s, the new one is on the left. Quite interesting the various dioramas installed in the new meeting hall, showing different milestone events in the life of William Penn, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania.
The staff is very friendly and would be happy to give you an itroductory tour about the roots of the Quakers and their faith.
There are two meeting halls; one to the right of the entrance is not being used anymore since the 1960s, the new one is on the left. Quite interesting the various dioramas installed in the new meeting hall, showing different milestone events in the life of William Penn, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania.
The staff is very friendly and would be happy to give you an itroductory tour about the roots of the Quakers and their faith.
Written August 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy B
Altus, AR42 contributions
Jun 2015 • Business
Although small, this was one of my favorite stops while in Philly. There was a Quaker as well as a park volunteer there to answer any and all questions. I learned a lot about a religion I thought I knew about. Very neat!
Written July 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda G
Delaware, Ohio, United States84 contributions
Sep 2014 • Family
Contrasting this with the catholic basilica shows the variety of ways people worship. A Quaker volunteer tells the background of the Society of Friends but goes on for quite a long while. We eventually had to leave before he was done, but he was very "friendly".
Written September 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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