Located in northwest Philadelphia and first settled in 1683, Germantown is one of America's most historic neighborhoods.  In 1688, four Germantown settlers drafted a protest against slavery considered to be the earliest antislavery document made public by whites in North America.  Later, the American Revolution brought one of the largest battles of the war to Germantown's streets in 1777, and in the early American republic, Germantown was the temporary home of President George Washington and his cabinet in 1793. Throughout its history, including the 19th and 20th centuries, events in Germantown have often touched on the most salient chapters of America's struggle for religious toleration, freedom and independence.

Germantown's extraordinary history, its engagement with larger historic themes that have helped shape America, and its changes over time make it a uniquely provocative and diverse focal point for history and preservation.  Its main thoroughfare Germantown Avenue, originally an Indian trail and later known as "The Great Road" is a National Historic Landmark.  Some fifteen historic attractions open to the public can be found along or within a few blocks of the Avenue.  Known collectively as Historic Germantown Freedom's Backyard, these sites provide knowledge and resources to help preserve Germantown's historic sites, interpret them to the public, and incorporate them into the life of the local community.  Together, they offer a framework linked around four key interpretive concepts: The enduring search for freedom; accepting difference in neighbors; an industrious people, creating commerce and culture; and, an urban village with a bounty of nature, architecture, and neighborhoods.

Germantown offers a wide range of history programming with opportunities for life-long learning, research and community engagement.  Annual community events include the season-opening Great Day of the Great Road festival in April and the Revolutionary Germantown Festival in October.

A complete description of Historic Germantown sites, programs and resources can be found at www.freedomsbackyard.com

Topic areas include:
About Historic Germantown
Historic Germantown Attractions
Freedom Stories
Historic Preservation
Research
School Programs
Tours
Germantown Speaks - Oral Histories of 20th century Germantown, a mult-generational project