Gather Place Museum proudly announces that its initiative, “Celebrating 250 Years of American Resilience in Pursuit of Liberty, Justice, and Equality,” has been designated an America250PA Officially Recognized Program! Published on this statewide website: America250PA | Start Here, America Did!

Supported by an America250PA Semiquincentennial Grant and a Bucks County Tourism Grant, this initiative launched in Spring 2025—and the results speak for themselves. In just months, Gather Place has powerfully honored and illuminated Yardley Borough, Bucks County, and Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in our nation’s founding, while carrying that story forward into our ongoing pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice.

“Gather Place Museum is OPEN and READY! It’s the Bucks County destination for the full American story—African American history, women’s history, and the local and national chapters that forged our nation’s character. For far too long, the mostly untold stories of people of color were told by others instead of by those who lived them,” said Shirley Lee Corsey, executive director of Gather Place Museum. “That’s why we are especially thrilled that Gather Place’s representation — our marketing, programming, and development — is led by the very people whose histories we share. We have successfully become voices that were silenced, and legacies brought to life. Gather Place Museum: We bring history to life! Thank you, America250PA, for recognizing the power and purpose of this work.”

A Cultural Home for Untold Stories

Headquartered in the historic African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Yardley (est. 1877), Gather Place Museum serves as a cultural hub illuminating local and national histories of African Americans, Quakers, women, and everyday citizens who shaped America’s moral and civic fabric.

Through exhibitions, first-person portrayals, lectures, guided museum walk-throughs, and community events, Gather Place celebrates 250 years of courage and resilience—ensuring stories once overlooked continue to inspire our shared journey toward unity and justice.

Recognition from America250PA

In a congratulatory letter to Gather Place Executive Director Shirley Lee Corsey, Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA, praised the museum’s leadership, writing:

“Gather Place Museum is doing the essential work of bringing overlooked voices to the center of our shared story. Their programs embody the inclusive spirit Pennsylvania is championing for America’s 250th. We are honored to recognize Celebrating 250 Years of American Resilience in Pursuit of Liberty, Justice, and Equality as an official part of our Semiquincentennial celebration here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Gather Place Museum is honored to be part of this statewide effort and looks forward to engaging residents and visitors across the Commonwealth.

Also Announcing “Gather Place ~ 250th Gallery” Grand Opening and 2026 Semiquincentennial Events Launch. January 9–10, 2026 | Open House 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

This two-day grand opening will unveil Gather Place newly curated exhibitions and special presentations connecting Yardley Borough and Bucks County to the broader American story, inviting the public to gather in reflection and celebration of 250 years of resilience.

2026 Calendar of Events — Now Booking 2026 Calendar of Events
Gather Place Museum invites schools, libraries, museums, faith communities, and civic or heritage groups to book our 2026 America250PA-aligned programs. Offerings range from powerful first-person portrayals and primary-sourced lectures to hands-on workshops, guided museum experiences, and local history tours. Programs are available on-site at Gather Place or can be hosted at partner locations. In-house seating is limited, so early reservations are strongly recommended. View the full 2026 schedule at 2026 Calendar of Events:

First Quarter 2026 Jan–March: (stay tuned for next quarter dates)

• Jan 8, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 pm — Harriet Tubman: Her Life, Her Legacy — first-person portrayal of Tubman’s journey and Underground Railroad work.
• Jan 17, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Hannah Penn — first-person program on Pennsylvania’s First Lady of The Commonwealth and her leadership from abroad.
• Jan 24, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Susanna Warder — first-person story of enslavement at Pennsbury Manor and local history.
• Jan 31, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Welcome to Yardleyville (est. 1682) — illustrated talk on Yardley’s founding, AME Church, and African American roots.
• Feb 6, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Frederick Douglass — lecture on Douglass’s life and abolitionist leadership.
• Feb 21, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Rosa Parks — lecture on Parks and the Civil Rights Movement.
• Feb 28, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — — Harriet Tubman: Her Life, Her Legacy — first-person portrayal of Tubman’s journey and Underground Railroad work.
• Mar 7, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Lucretia Mott — first-person portrayal on Mott’s abolition and women’s suffrage work.
• Mar 14, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — America’s First Ladies: From Martha to Michelle — lecture tracing 12 influential First Ladies of The United States of America and their impact on our nation.
• Mar 18, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 pm (Online) — AboutHarriet Tubman (Online Lecture) — virtual presentation on Tubman’s lifelong story and legacy.
• Mar 21, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Ida B. Wells-Barnett — presentation on her journalism, anti-lynching activism, and suffrage leadership.
• Mar 28, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 pm — Abigail Adams: Remember the Ladies — first-person presentation on her writings and early pioneer women’s rights advocacy.

Gather Place Museum “250th” Programs Already Launched & Loved in Bucks County and Beyond!

Gather Place’s officially recognized programs are already underway and receiving strong community response. November 2025 highlights included fully booked, audience-praised programs across Bucks County and online:

• Meet Lucretia Mott (Nov. 1) – Gather Place First-person portrayal hosted by Bucks County Free Library.
• Harriet Tubman—Her Life, Her Legacy (Nov. 5, online lecture) — Gather Place research-rich lecture tracing Tubman’s transformation into “Moses.” Provided to Princeton Adult School students.
• From Martha to Michelle: 12 Influential First Ladies (Nov. 15) — Interactive lecture provided at Gather Place headquarters with a virtual fashion promenade and Q&A, to a warm & wonderful group The Women of Shir*Ami, from Newtown, Pa.
• Yardleyville History Walk-Through & Guided Tour (Nov. 18) — Provided at Gather Place Museum, this immersive local history experience spotlighting this historic town’s Quaker roots, African American heritage, and Underground Railroad connections.

These successes underscore Gather Place’s growing regional reach and Bucks County’s enthusiasm for inclusive Semiquincentennial storytelling.

Open and operating since 2022, Gather Place Museum is a Bucks County cultural hub and learning center illuminating the histories of African Americans, Quakers, women, and everyday citizens who shaped our nation’s meaning. We’re headquartered in the historic African Methodist Episcopal Church of Yardley (est. 1877), listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Through exhibitions, first-person portrayals, lectures, guided museum walk-throughs, community events, and local history tours, we celebrate 250 years of courage and resilience — ensuring stories once overlooked continue to inspire our shared journey toward unity and justice.

Designed for classrooms, libraries, museums, faith and community groups, and residents of all ages.

To learn more, visit the Gather Place Museum.