Gather Place – Spring 2025 Events and Programs

• Lecture: Celebrating Notable First Ladies of the USA –
  “From Martha to Michelle! “
  A captivating presentation highlighting their amazing achievements and iconic outfits. This list of First Ladies of the United States of America starts with our first, First Lady - Martha Washington and continues with ten more, ending with our first African-American First Lady  - Michelle Obama. This lecture, narrated by our portrayal of "Michelle" explores their lasting influence on American history.  
• First-Person Presentation: Harriet Tubman - Live!
  Experience Harriet Tubman’s extraordinary journey from childhood slavery to freedom, her bravery during the Civil War, and her fight for suffrage – Women’s right to vote, justice and equality, all brought to life by Shirley Lee Corsey's first-person portrayal.  
• Lecture: The Suffrage Movement: Pioneers in the Fight for Equality
  This program focuses on abolitionists and suffragists like Lucretia Mott, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and others, with special attention to the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention and the fight for women’s rights.
• Lecture: Women Pioneers in Aviation, Space, Sports, & STEM
  Discover the groundbreaking contributions of women in aviation, space exploration, sports, and STEM. From Amelia Earhart to Bessie Coleman, this program celebrates the unsung heroines who changed the world.

All lectures close with audience 

Q&A participation!

  Community Engagement Event: Gather Place Museum Presents: America250PA Kick-off
    Announcing our Semiquincentennial Grant from America250PA! Learn how this funding supports Gather Place Museum programs and events planned for the year 2026, ’Celebrating 250 Years of American Resilience’ —highlighting Yardley and Bucks County’s contributions to justice and  equality. Discover how Gather Place Museum plans to serve as a hub of information and activities leading up to our nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations throughout the state of Pennsylvania! Join the fun - Discover how!

Community Engagement Event: Gather Place Museum’s Generational Voices™ – Preserving Yardley  Borough’s African American and Quaker Legacy
Join us for the launch of Generational Voices™, a project designed, developed, and produced for preserving Yardley’s African American and Quaker heritage. Featuring oral histories, walking tours, and a      docuseries, this event highlights key sites such as the AME Church of Yardley (est. 1877), The Old Library by Afton Lake (est. 1878), Yardley Borough’s overlooked and forgotten African American neighborhoods and its people, and historic landmarks tied to the Underground Railroad.

 Share your family and community stories! 

Walking Tours: Discover Yardley Borough’s Underground Railroad Landmarks and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor

 Take a guided walking tour of Yardley Borough’s Underground Railroad landmarks, including the historic Delaware Canal and Lock #5, located along the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Gather Place Museum, an official D&L Trail Friendly site, offers amenities in support of outdoor enthusiasts who pass by daily. This tour provides an opportunity to explore the region’s key role in the abolitionist movement and the courageous individuals, including Quakers and other abolitionists, who helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Discover the hidden history of Yardley and its significance as a critical stop on the Underground Railroad, where freedom seekers found refuge and hope. Learn about key locations tied to these efforts and explore how this area contributed to the larger fight for freedom and equality. 

Lecture: The Underground Railroad – Bucks County and Beyond!

Join us for a 45-minute lecture, followed by a Q&A,  Discover the pivotal role Bucks County played in the Underground Railroad, a network that helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom. With a special focus on local Quakers, this lecture delves into how local abolitionists, both black and white, worked together to support freedom seekers on their journey north. Learn about the courageous actions of these individuals and the Underground Railroad stations that dotted the county, especially those in Yardley Borough, where the proximity to the Delaware River made it a critical stop along the route to freedom. The lecture will also include a tribute to the African American Civil War veterans buried at Slate Cemetery in Lower Makefield Township, recognizing their sacrifices in the fight for freedom and equality.