The Science History Institute will explore Philadelphia\u2019s industrial roots during its March First Friday on March 6, unveiling a new exhibition titled \u201cPhiladelphia: Workshop of the World.\u201d<\/p>\n
The free event runs from 5-7 p.m. at 315 Chestnut St. and looks back at the era when factories lined the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers and powered the city\u2019s growth, helping Philadelphia truly live up to its nickname as the \u201cworkshop of the world.\u201d From the 1800s through the 1920s, ships, yarn, paints and other goods were produced here in massive quantities.<\/p>\n
The exhibition is part of the Institute\u2019s \u201cA Closer Read\u201d series and features works originally published by pioneering companies that helped make the city an industrial powerhouse. Visitors can browse the display, take part in hands-on collection activities and get a closer look at materials that trace Philadelphia\u2019s manufacturing legacy.<\/p>\n
A curator\u2019s talk by Caroline Meehan, a librarian at the Institute\u2019s Othmer Library of Chemical History, will begin at 6 p.m. on the mezzanine level and will be followed by a light reception. The Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Industrial Archaeology also will be on-site to share information about its work preserving historic factories, bridges and other industrial sites across the region.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the main event, the Institute will offer a behind-the-scenes tour of the Othmer Library from 4-4:45 p.m. Space is limited for the tour. Registration is requested for the evening\u2019s programming.<\/p>\n
First Fridays at the Science History Institute are free and open to the public.\u00a0<\/p>\n