2015 Past Exhibits

House and Home

HouseJanuary 24, 2015 – March 15, 2015
Mercer Museum

What makes a house a home? Throughout American history, people have lived in all sorts of places, from military barracks and two‐story colonials to college dormitories and row houses. The exhibit embarks on a tour of houses both familiar and surprising, through past and present, to explore the varied history, and many cultural meanings of the American home through film clips, construction materials, domestic artifacts, and photographs

This exhibition has been made possible through NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It has been adapted and is being toured by Mid-America Arts Alliance. House & Home was organized by the National Building Museum, Washington, D.C., and curated by Sarah Leavitt. Additional support was provided by the Home Depot Foundation.

Exhibit generously sponsored by:

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Raphael Architects

AIA Bucks County – A Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

Eiseman Construction – Roofing and Exterior Renovation Contractors

Happ Contractors Inc

Tom Thomas


Re-Discovering Bucks County Fraktur: Recent Acquisitions

Fraktur BirdFebruary 14, 2015 – April 12. 2015
Mercer Museum

In 1997, the Mercer Museum presented a major exhibit featuring the Pennsylvania-German color drawings and decorated manuscripts known collectively as Fraktur. Though this folk art form was produced nearly everywhere German immigrants settled in America during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the museum’s exhibit focused on those created primarily in Bucks County. This winter, in conjunction with other exhibits at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Mercer will mount an exhibit featuring Fraktur pieces acquired by the museum since 1997. These embellished manuscripts were executed by schoolmasters, itinerant scriveners, ministers, and others skilled with pen and brush. On view will be decorated birth and baptismal certificates, student penmanship models and copybooks, rewards of merit, devotional texts, bookplates, and more.


“To Save Our Fellow Citizens”: Volunteer Firefighting, 1800–1875

Firefighting


April 25 – September 7, 2015 

Mercer Museum

For more than 100 years, firefighting was the responsibility of every neighborhood and citizen. The city’s fire companies fervently believed that fighting fire was a community responsibility, best performed by virtuous and heroic men. Paid fireman finally replaced volunteers in 1871, signaling a change in beliefs about public service.

The Mercer Museum’s engaging exhibition will include more than 175 historical firefighting artifacts including tools, colorful parade regalia, apparel, artwork, photographs, fire engines and fire equipment, and other unique items from the Museum’s permanent collection. The all-ages exhibit will also feature hands-on activities for children. The exhibit is included with museum admission.  Visit the Events Calendar to learn about Firefighting exhibit-related programs and craft activities.

Exhibit generously sponsored by:

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Bucks County Foundation small logo

 

 

Tilley Family & Tilley Fire Equipment Company, In Memory of Don Tilley’s Commitment to Volunteer Firefighting

William & Laurie Schutt

Susan E. Kane

Brian & Louise McLeod

Mission Appeal Donors-2014 Cocktails at the Castle Gala

Adopt-An Artifact Campaign Contributors


 

 

 

LEGO® Castle Adventure

High Res Lego KnightOctober 3, 2015 – January 18, 2016
Mercer Museum

Builders of all ages are invited to the Mercer Castle to construct their very own castles using one of the greatest building materials of all time−LEGO® bricks!  Produced by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in cooperation with LEGO Systems, Inc. LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group © 2015 the LEGO Group.  All rights reserved.

For more information on the exhibit, visit our LEGO Castle Adventure Events page.

For more information about special themed birthday parties inspired by the LEGO Castle Adventure exhibit visit our Children’s Birthday Parties page.

Sponsored locally by:  New univest logo    PENNCOLOR_LOGO_STACKED_®_4C (2)     Converted to JPEG
 
                                    THE MEEK FOUNDATION    DHealth-2C_Della Penna Pediatric Center.ai

ROLLO'S FACTS

In addition to installing his own Arts and Crafts tiles in Fonthill, Henry Mercer incorporated Persian, Chinese, Spanish and Dutch tiles.
Rollo's Fact 4

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