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Brooke Straiton Photography
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The Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle, operated by the Bucks County Historical Society (BCHS), are pleased to announce a new slate of virtual programs this spring that are designed to bring local history and the legacy of Henry Chapman Mercer and his renowned concrete castles in the heart of Bucks County, PA to audiences in their own homes.
Throughout the months of March and April, these virtual experiences will showcase the architectural beauty and historic significance of the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle, and invite online viewers to learn more about the buildings and the vision of the man who built them. By combining recorded film, historic photographs and live virtual interactions with museum guides, these virtual programs offer a new way to experience Smithsonian-affiliate museums in the digital age.
The virtual programs, all presented via Zoom, cover a variety of topics for audiences of all ages, including virtual tours of the Mercer Museum’s prized Central Court, Fonthill Castle’s enchanting and labyrinth-like interior, Henry Mercer’s legacy and personal story, family programs in a colonial-style log house, and guest speakers covering specialized local history topics.
BCHS Vice President of Community Services & Marketing Marjan Shirzad notes, “There has never been a more important time to utilize the power of technology to build community connections and transport art and culture from our museum halls into our visitors’ homes. These new virtual programs are designed to educate, inspire and delight. We are always looking for new ways to create meaningful cultural experiences, and are thrilled that virtual programming makes our castles more accessible than ever.”
Virtual Tour – Highlights of Central Court at the Mercer Museum
Various dates and times at mercermuseum.org/virtualprograms
$10 General Admission Virtual Connection per household/ Free Member Virtual Connection
Looking up from the heart of the Mercer Museum’s Central Court is an experience like no other. Artifacts hanging from rafters and objects at every turn create a most unique sensory experience. This 45-minute virtual experience features a 15-minute recorded tour of the Mercer Museum’s Central Court, followed by an array of historic and current-day photographs and a live virtual Q&A conversation with an experienced tour guide.
Virtual Tour – Highlights of Fonthill Castle
Various dates and times at mercermuseum.org/virtualprograms
$10 General Admission Virtual Connection per household/ Free Member Virtual Connection
Delight in the splendor of a virtual guided historic tour of Fonthill Castle in the heart of Doylestown, Bucks County, PA. These 45-minute virtual experiences feature a 30-minute recorded guided journey through Henry Chapman Mercer’s home, followed by a live virtual Q&A conversation with an experienced tour guide.
For more information on virtual programs, visit https://www.mercermuseum.org.