Chemical Heritage Foundation - or a place I've walked by but had no idea what it was

Facts:

• The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) began in 1982 as the Center for the History of Chemistry.
• It was a pilot project of the University of Pennsylvania and the American Chemical Society.
• It was made a non-profit organization in 1987. And became the CHF in 1992.

• Today the Chemical Heritage Foundation has a library, museum, and a conference center. It also supports research, produces educational materials and offers fellowships.

 

Swiss Bakelite phone. Photo by Gregory Tobias from the collection Making Modernity.

  

Location:

• The Chemical Heritage Foundation is located at 315 Chestnut Street in what used to be the 1865 First National Bank. It was renovated and opened on October 3, 2008.  

Do:

• Visit the Museum - it's free! Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
• Use the restrooms in the Museum/Conference area - the floors are made of recycled cans!
• Check out the exhibition Making Modernity!

Bakelite and Lucite Handbag. Photo by Gregory Tobias from the collection Making Modernity.

Don't:

• Want to take a guided tour of the museum? (Because really - who has the attention span or the ability to deal with cantankerous old people?) Take a self-guided tour using your cell phone! 215.525.1682
• Miss First Fridays - the museum hosts events and guest speakers and is open until 8pm.

Mario Lanza Institue and Museum - or a place so small you've probably missed it

Facts:

Fancy!

• Mario Lanza was born in 1921 at 636 Christian Street.
• His birth name was Alfredo Arnold Cocozza.
• As a young boy he listened to opera records and trained with a local music teacher, Irene Williams.
• He was discovered by a famous conductor, drafted into the Army, and then later worked with MGM in Hollywood showcasing his amazing operatic tenor.
• His film, "The Great Caruso", was the top grossing film in the world in 1951.
• He left Hollywood to move to Italy and died in Rome in 1959 of a heart attack.
• The Mario Lanza museum is next to St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church. 

St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church

Do:

• Visit the museum at 712 Montrose Street on the first floor of Columbus House.
• Call before visiting - they might be closed. Their hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Visit their website.

Entrance to  the museum

Don't:

• Worry about admission. It's free, though donations are accepted.
• Know what to expect? The museum houses Mario Lanza memorabilia and has items for sale. 
• Miss his mural at the corner of Broad and Reed.
• Worry. I had no idea who he was either.