Bartram’s Garden in Southwest Philadelphia has received a $100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to preserve its 18th century barn.
The barn, built in 1775, is the oldest barn in Philadelphia County. The grant will be used to fix the roofs and masonry of the barn as well as an adjacent stable. The two-story stone barn is believed to have been built by John Bartram Jr., son of the botanist John Bartram who founded the gardens in 1728.
Democratic State Rep. Joanna McClinton told PhillyVoice about the importance of preserving this historic landmark. “Not only does Bartram’s Garden provide a safe outdoor space for our neighbors to enjoy, but it also attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year to southwest Philly. It’s imperative we continue investing these types of dollars in protecting this historic landmark so our local economy and families near and far can benefit for generations to come,” McClinton said.
The grant was one of fifty-four Keystone Historic Preservation Grants award by the PHMC. This program aims to provide funding to projects that preserve, promote, and protect historic resources for both the benefit of the public and the revitalization of communities. In this round of grants, the commission awarded $2.3 million to projects in twenty-one counties.