Exhibits at HSP
Step into the past and explore the countless stories in our collection with curated exhibits at HSP.
Exhibits are open to both researchers and the public. They can be viewed free of charge anytime during library open hours.
Current Exhibit
"To Provide a Naval Armament:" U.S. Navy & Marine Corps History, 1775 – 1958
On view October 8, 2025 to January 9, 2026
In Collaboration with Homecoming 250 ​​​​​​​
Philadelphia gave birth to the U.S. Navy twice—first in 1775 and again in 1794. The later Navy reflected the young nation: ships designed by Quakers, built in shipyards along the East Coast with wood harvested by enslaved people, led by white officers, and crewed by a diverse mix of nationalities, ethnicities, and religions. The Marines of both eras laid the foundation for one of the world's elite fighting forces.​​
​While prominent Philadelphians appear in naval history, the story also lives in the letters and journals of sailors, surgeons, and shipyard workers. In partnership with Homecoming 250, "To Provide a Naval Armament:" U.S. Navy & Marine Corps History, 1775–1958 explores the Navy and Marine Corps through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s collections, tracing their evolution from the American Revolution to the early Cold War, all while remaining anchored in Philadelphia.
​Support for this exhibit comes from Hannah Lowell Henderson.
Previous Exhibits
Free, As One: Black Worldmaking in the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Papers
On view February 6, 2025 - May 23, 2025
In Collaboration with the 1838 Black Metropolis​​
Free, As One: Black Worldmaking in the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Papers highlights themes of Black self-determination and leadership from the 1770s onward in the abolition movement of the Mid-Atlantic region. Drawing from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society (PAS) collection and commemorating the 250th anniversary of its founding, this exhibit refocuses our attention on abolition as a global Black-led political movement championed by the PAS.
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​Using | Doing | Teaching Black History
See Program
Keynote: Nell Irvin Painter
​Support for this exhibit comes from The Haverford Trust Company and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Endowment Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation.
Voices of the Community: Local Black Preservation ​​
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​On view June 12, 2025 - September 26, 2025​
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Voices of the Community: Local Black Preservation explores the history, migration, and preservation of African American communities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Lawnside, New Jersey. Curated by community historians and activists, this exhibit uses archival documents such as personal papers, photographs, musical scores, and ephemera to highlight strategies Black individuals and communities utilize to preserve their heritage. The historical formation of organizations, creation of music, and building of communities have resulted in a cultural preservation movement based on principles of self-determination and collective action.
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Support for this exhibit comes from The Haverford Trust Company and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Endowment Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation.
2024 marked the 200th anniversary of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania! Since HSP’s founding in 1824, we have collected and preserved an astonishing array of documents that bring the people of the past into conversation with us today. As part of our anniversary celebration, HSP teamed up with partners to develop collaborative programming and joint exhibits based on the strategic themes of our collection.