News & Events

Remember Paoli: The Paoli Massacre

“Remember Paoli!” was America’s first battle cry — born here in our own backyard after a terrifying evening in 1777. Join us as Jim Christ, President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund, brings to life the Paoli Massacre, a gripping piece of Revolutionary War history!

On the night of September 20, 1777, British General Charles Grey led roughly 2,000 men on a silent nighttime raid into the Great Valley, catching our country’s troops completely off guard. What followed was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, opening the door for the British occupation of Philadelphia.

Shockwaves from the Battle of Paoli rippled through our local community for generations, inspiring the second-oldest Revolutionary War Memorial in the nation, dedicated in 1817 and venerated annually at the Malvern Memorial Parade.

• Come find out why the battle’s known as the “Paoli Massacre.”
• Get ready for Jim to bust some myths — yes, including the one about American troops being caught asleep.
• Hear Jim trace how General “Mad Anthony” Wayne turned this brutal defeat into a stunning comeback, using hard-won lessons to score a decisive victory at the Battle of Stony Point, NY.

Jim Christ is President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund and has served on its Board since 2012. A dedicated history buff, he’s also Vice President of the American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia, Vice President of the Brandywine Valley Civil War Round Table, a board member and docent at the Christian C. Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford, a board member of the Paoli Memorial Association and the Chester County 250th Committee, and Treasurer of Historical Military Impressions, Inc., a nonprofit reenactment group performing across several states. When Jim’s not immersed in history, he directs Client Services for Shelby Financial Corporation, Exton. He and his wife live on the site of the Battle of the Clouds, another Revolutionary War battlefield in West Whiteland Township.

“Remember Paoli!” is local history with national significance — don’t miss this one!

When: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Schuylkill River Heritage Center (SRHC)
Foundry Building, 2 N. Main Street, Phoenixville
This presentation is free to SRHC members, $5 for non-members.

Lieutenant Richard St. George of the 52nd Regiment commissioned this painting by Xavier della Gatta in 1782 to commemorate the Battle of Paoli. (Credit: Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia)

Download a printable version of this event flyer.

William Penn: The Forgotten Founding Father

Long before our country was born, William Penn was already experimenting with the ideas that would define it.

He founded Pennsylvania envisioning a society built around individual liberty, religious freedom, representative government, and peaceful coexistence. With the insights of close friends John Locke and Algernon Sidney, Penn developed founding documents that gave Pennsylvania an unusually forward-looking framework for self-government.

Our founder’s vision extended beyond laws and constitutions. Penn’s Peace Treaty with the local Lenape tribe helped foster an exceptional period of peace and prosperity in early Pennsylvania. Voltaire described the Treaty with a memorable phrase: “Never sworn to — never broken.”

Eventually, the essential principles of Penn’s experiment — liberty, tolerance, and limit on government power — even helped influence and shape our United States Constitution.

Join Us in September to Learn More!

Inspired by Isaiah 11:6, Peaceable Kingdom (artist Edward Hicks, c. 1820) depicts William Penn on the far shore greeting Native Americans. This scene likely occurred in what is now Kensington, near the Delaware River.

In September, the Schuylkill River Heritage Center speaker series will host speaker Perry Hamilton for a presentation on William Penn: The Forgotten Founding Father. Perry’s talk focuses on William Penn’s extraordinary leadership as he developed his Holy Experiment, forged treaties with the Lenape, and crafted the documents that served Pennsylvania

When:
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 7:30 p.m.

Where:
Schuylkill River Heritage Center (SRHC)
Foundry Building
2 N. Main Street Phoenixville
The presentation is free to SRHC members, $5 for non-members.

Download a printable flier for this event.

2026 Chester County Town Tours & Village Walks

The Schuylkill River Heritage Center is honored and delighted to participate in the 2026 Chester County Town Tours & Village Walks, with the theme of 13 Tours for 13 Colonies. This series of free summer events — part of this year’s America250 celebration — shares our rich culture and heritage at historic sites throughout the County! This SRHC program is supported in part by the Chester County Community Foundation. Click here for program information and the full schedule of Town Tours and Village Walks.
As part of the series, the Schuylkill River Heritage Center presents:

Daniel A. Graham

on the topic of

Pennsylvania Ironmasters & The Revolution

Thursday, May 7, 5:30-7 PM

at the Foundry, 2 Main Street, Phoenixville
Attendance is free to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

In 1776, Chester County’s villages, farms, mills, and iron furnaces were the historic bedrock of our cultural and economic centers today.

Dan Graham explores the critical role of southeastern Pennsylvania iron furnaces in supplying George Washington’s troops with ammunition, cannons, and guns. He’ll focus on key manufacturers and people who played an invaluable role in our successful American Revolution!

Dan is a noted historian on early Pennsylvania iron making, and has written over 65 articles, papers, and several books about the state’s iron industry. See America250chesco.org for more information on the full slate of 2026 Chester County Town Tours and Village Walks!

Download a printable flyer for this event.

A Brief History of the Ferris Wheel and How It Sparked America’s Imagination

Tuesday, May 12, 7:30 PM

This event will be located at The Foundry, 2 Main Street, Phoenixville
SRHC members – free | Non-members – $5
Space is limited, registration encouraged at
https://givebutter.com/srhc-speaker-series-upjdpu

Early American Wheel image, not verifiable that this is actually the 1848 Syracuse Wheel, first 50’ wheel, made of oak and iron. Image credit: This drawing of the “first big wheel-type ride” appeared in the Aug. 23, 1990 edition of the Post-Standard (Syracuse)

Mr Ferris’s wheel at the Colombian Exposition, 1893. Image credit: University of Illinois (Urbana-Champagne) Archives

The Asbury Park Wheel, 1978. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by John Margolies

Download a printable flyer for this event

The History of Valley Forge as a National Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park is nationally significant as the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington. Few places evoke the spirit of patriotism and independence, represent individual and collective sacrifice, or demonstrate the resolve, tenacity and determination of the people of the United States to be free as well as Valley Forge.

Adam Gresek, Director of Visitor and Community Engagement at Valley Forge National Historical Park, will present this story.

Tuesday, April 14th at 7:30 PM

This event will be held at the Foundry, located at 2 Main St. in Phoenixville.
Admission is free for SRHC members. $5.00 for non-members.
No registration is required.
Download a printable flyer for this event.

Ryan Conroy presents “Phoenixville’s” Role during the American Revolution

Even though the name of Phoenixville didn’t exist yet, some of the town as we know it was already here. Houses, taverns, people and properties were starting to thrive in this new village, and during the Revolution, this village stood up and was very involved. In this lecture, you’ll learn about small skirmishes that occurred in the borough, camp sites and militia units, along with some famous generals who may have used our taverns for meetings and drinks. This year marking America 250, learn and experience how our community was involved and played a part in its America’s history. Please join us as knowledgeable and respected local historian Ryan Conroy shares this story.

Please Join us
Tuesday, March 10th 7:30 PM

This event will be held at the Foundry, located at 2 Main St. in Phoenixville.
Admission is free for SRHC members. $5.00 for non-members.
No registration is required.
Download a printable copy of this event flier.

Buy a brick and support the Phoenix Wheel!

Honor a friend or family member by purchasing an engraved brick to be placed at the Wheel site. Contributions will help support our efforts to construct this historic display.

Upper Merion’s Historic Story

Please Join Us

Neil Sardinas serves as an active and creative member of the Upper Merion Historical Society and longtime member of the Schuylkill River Heritage Center.Through images of places and signs that have been intsalled, he will share

Upper Merion’s Historic Story
Thursday, November 13th at 7:30 PM

This event will be held at the Foundry, located at 2 Main St. in Phoenixville.
Admission is free for SRHC members. $5.00 for non-members.
No registration is required.
Download a printable copy of the flier.

Join us for our 16th Heritage Celebration

October 17, 2025, 5:30-8:30 PM
351 W. Bridge Street
The Phoenix Wheel is Moving Forward

Please join us to celebrate its progress at this informal event that will take place in a tented and heated area at 351 W. Bridge Street – near the Borough Hall parking lot. This is adjacent to the place where the whell will finally have a permanent home when its restoration is completed.

$75 per person
Please RSVP by October 10, 2025, (610) 783-0645

Duportail – a Forgotten Hero

Please Join Us

James McKinley, longtime board member of the historic Duportail House, will tell the story of General Louis Lebègue Duportail. A forgotten hero of the American Revolution, Duportail worked closely with George Washington and made vital contributions as the army’s Chief Engineer.

Louis Lebègue Duportail – A Forgotten Hero

Tuesday, September 9th at 7:30 PM

This event will be held at the Foundry, located at 2 Main St. in Phoenixville.

Admission is free for SRHC Members. $5.00 for Non-Members.

No Registration is required.

Download a printable copy of the program flyer.