In response to recent national news regarding the removal of slavery-related plaques connected to President George Washington, Gather Place Museum provides a timely local perspective anchored in education, historical context, and public understanding.

Gather Place Museum, located in Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, operates out of the historic African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Yardley, established in 1877 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum’s 2026 programming is an America250PA Officially Recognized Program, marking 250 years of American resilience in the pursuit of liberty, justice, and equality. As a non-profit affiliate of both America250PA and Bucks250PA, Gather Place Museum delivers innovative public history programming as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

In an era when communities across the nation are debating or removing difficult aspects of America’s past, Gather Place Museum serves as a space for thoughtful engagement with African American history, women’s history, and local Bucks County history. Together, these efforts present a broader American narrative grounded in place, people, and lived experience.

America 250th Initiatives and Women’s Voices

A central component of Gather Place Museum’s America 250th initiatives, as an America250PA Officially Recognized Program, is a renewed focus on women’s voices—guided by Abigail Adams’s notable March 31, 1776 letter to her husband, John Adams, during his attendance at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. In her letter, Adams famously urged the nation’s founders to “remember the ladies.” As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Gather Place Museum is intentionally responding to that call by centering women’s experiences, leadership, and influence, both locally and nationally, ensuring their inclusion in the Semiquincentennial story.

Living History and Community Engagement

Founded by Bucks County historian and living-history interpreter Shirley Lee Corsey, Gather Place Museum brings history to life through first-person portrayals of figures such as Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Abigail Adams, Lucretia Mott, and America’s First Ladies. These portrayals engage a wide audience, from students to senior citizens, throughout the region.

In July 2025, Shirley Lee Corsey was highlighted on Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) in the statewide series Pennsylvania History & Culture: The African American Experience. This feature underscored her work and Gather Place Museum’s role as a trusted educational and cultural resource.

Semiquincentennial Programming and Support

Gather Place Museum has successfully introduced its America250PA-aligned Semiquincentennial programming, supported by a 2025 America250PA Semiquincentennial Grant. The programming includes a community open house—Gather Place Gallery 250—offered Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Additional support comes from a Bucks250PA mini-grant and the spring Women’s History initiative “America’s Women Trailblazers: Remember the Ladies,” funded by a Bucks County Tourism grant.

Community Programs and Upcoming Events

Rooted in living history, shared learning, and meaningful conversation, Gather Place Museum’s programs are designed to engage schools, museums, community groups, and faith-based organizations, welcoming participants of all ages—from youth to senior citizens. Through first-person historical interpretation, interactive dialogue, and the use of historic spaces, these programs invite learners to connect past and present in ways that are both educational and deeply personal.

Educators, cultural organizations, community leaders, and congregations are invited to explore Gather Place Museum’s current offerings, educational resources, and upcoming programs:

• 1st Quarter America 250th Programs & Events: https://gatherplacemuseum.org/1st-quarter-programs | GP Gallery 250th
• Black History Month Programs: https://gatherplacemuseum.org/black-history-month
• Women’s History – “Remember the Ladies” Programs: https://gatherplacemuseum.org/womens-history-programs

“History does not live only on plaques. It lives in people, places, and untold stories; unseen faces passed on with care. As conversations unfold nationally for America 250 and beyond, Gather Place Museum remains committed to ensuring that the full American story is remembered and shared,” said Shirley Lee Corsey, executive director at Gather Place Museum.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Gather Place Museum illustrates how history can be preserved, contextualized, and shared—rather than erased.

Read more about the Gather Place Museum here.