Explore the mansion next door today

Admit it.  You’ve always wanted to peek over the stone walls and peer behind the curtains of your neighbors big, fancy house.  This weekend you can do exactly that – without fear of arrest. 

On Sunday, September 18 the Germantown Historical Society and the Mt. Airy Learning Tree present At Home in the Old Germantown Township: Four Centuries of Home Design.  The self guided tour will allow you to visit and explore eight Germantown, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill homes built in the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The homes showcase the attention to architectural detail and integrity maintained by the owners, while incorporating elements of modern, 21st century living.

This is the second year for the tour.  Although it is a self guided tour experts will be on hand to introduce participants to the history of the homes.

Jonna Naylor, executive director of MALT, said this year’s selection of homes shows off an array of architectural concepts. “This area – the old German Township – has an incredible housing stock and that’s part of what makes this neighborhood so special.”

Highlights of the tour include wood sculptured furniture and, designs from Wharton Esherick and a visit to Druim Moir Castle, built by G.W. and W.D. Hewitt in 1886.

The tour will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and begins at the Mt. Airy Learning Tree (MALT) office, located at 6601 Greene Street.  Participants will pick up a map, event brochure, and wrist bands at MALT and tour the homes in any order and at their own pace up until 4:30pm when the event closes.

Tickets for the tour are $25 in advance, $30 day of the event

For more information, visit www.germantownhistory.org. To register for the event visit www.mtairylearningtree.org/concrete/