About the Site

The building at 5820 Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia once housed the Germantown YWCA Organization and served as a crucial community resource for nearly a century. Subsequently abandoned, it has become the site of a contentious political battle between many different interests including local residents, neighboring agencies and businesses, real estate developers and political agents. This exhibit aims to tell the histories of the building, the Germantown YWCA organization, and the community surrounding it.

Sample Items

Explore the Site

A photo of the Germantown YWCA building and the Pastorius Monument taken from the viewpoint in Vernon Park.

History

Timeline of the building and information about the history of the YWCA

History Page
A front view picture of the YWCA in Germantown looking upwards from the entance.

Building

Explore the inside of the YWCA with an interactive floor plan.

Buildings Page
Maps

Map

Web map displays pins marking the locations of significant buildings

Map Page
A photo of the Germantown YWCA building during the fire incident. The building is surrounded by emergency vehicles as firefighters are actively working to extinguish the flames.

Exhibits

Stories and features about the Germantown YWCA Building

Exhibits Page