Mummers Museum
Mummers Museum
This museum is dedicated to the famous Philadelphia New Year's Day tradition, the Mummer's Parade. Opening in 1976, it hosts a large collection of Mummer memorabilia and paraphernalia. Demonstrating the colorful existence, and tradition of Philadelphia Mummery. It was designed by the architectural firm of Ullen and Junker. Giving the museum the potential to be sophisticated and urbane.
Famous for it's sequin and feather costumes, along with their string bands, the Mummers spend the entire year getting ready for their New Year's Day Parade. If you missed the parade, then go to the museum where it all is kept. You can see the costumes, photos, as well as audio-visual displays of Mummerabilila. One can compose their own Mummer medley complete with banjos, saxophones, and xylophones.
Visitors can view highlights of past parades. The Early English settlers brought their custom of dressing in costumes and performing pantomimes. Mummer comes from the German word mumme, translated means "mask or disguise." On January 1, 1876, the first parade took place, it caught on and has been an event ever since. It is a day long parade, taking approximately 8 hours to pass a point. It has four divisions, Comic Clubs, Fancy Clubs, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades. The Mummers Museum is committed to preserving all of this for all to see for years to come.
Visitors can enjoy very unique exhibits featuring all of the elaborate costumes and the intricate handwork that goes into creating one. Learn to do the "Mummers Strut" to the tune of "O" Dem Golden Slippers," composed by James Bland in 1879, and is the unofficial Mummer's theme song.
The must see Broad Street Room will put you right into all the action of the parade. You can also view performances of past parades.
All along the tour of the museum, visitors can see the design sketches used by the various mummery clubs for creating their costumes. These wonderful, colorful sketches were donated by Robert Finnigan, a gentleman who has been developing mummery themes for a long time.
Other helpful information for the visitor:
Admission:
Adults $2.50, Children / Seniors $2.00, Group Guided Tour $1.50 per person. Tour with concert and lunch $16.00 per person. Tour with Art Class $25.00 per class plus $5.00 per person.
Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 9:30am - 5:00pm, Sunday 12 - 5. Closed Mondays and summer Sundays.
If you find yourself in the area one Tuesday evening during the summer months, stop by the museum for a free string band concert. It all starts at 8:00 p.m., so bring a blanket or lawn chair to join in the fun.
This museum is dedicated to the famous Philadelphia New Year's Day tradition, the Mummer's Parade. Opening in 1976, it hosts a large collection of Mummer memorabilia and paraphernalia. Demonstrating the colorful existence, and tradition of Philadelphia Mummery. It was designed by the architectural firm of Ullen and Junker. Giving the museum the potential to be sophisticated and urbane.
Famous for it's sequin and feather costumes, along with their string bands, the Mummers spend the entire year getting ready for their New Year's Day Parade. If you missed the parade, then go to the museum where it all is kept. You can see the costumes, photos, as well as audio-visual displays of Mummerabilila. One can compose their own Mummer medley complete with banjos, saxophones, and xylophones.
Visitors can view highlights of past parades. The Early English settlers brought their custom of dressing in costumes and performing pantomimes. Mummer comes from the German word mumme, translated means "mask or disguise." On January 1, 1876, the first parade took place, it caught on and has been an event ever since. It is a day long parade, taking approximately 8 hours to pass a point. It has four divisions, Comic Clubs, Fancy Clubs, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades. The Mummers Museum is committed to preserving all of this for all to see for years to come.
Visitors can enjoy very unique exhibits featuring all of the elaborate costumes and the intricate handwork that goes into creating one. Learn to do the "Mummers Strut" to the tune of "O" Dem Golden Slippers," composed by James Bland in 1879, and is the unofficial Mummer's theme song.
The must see Broad Street Room will put you right into all the action of the parade. You can also view performances of past parades.
All along the tour of the museum, visitors can see the design sketches used by the various mummery clubs for creating their costumes. These wonderful, colorful sketches were donated by Robert Finnigan, a gentleman who has been developing mummery themes for a long time.
Other helpful information for the visitor:
Admission:
Adults $2.50, Children / Seniors $2.00, Group Guided Tour $1.50 per person. Tour with concert and lunch $16.00 per person. Tour with Art Class $25.00 per class plus $5.00 per person.
Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 9:30am - 5:00pm, Sunday 12 - 5. Closed Mondays and summer Sundays.
If you find yourself in the area one Tuesday evening during the summer months, stop by the museum for a free string band concert. It all starts at 8:00 p.m., so bring a blanket or lawn chair to join in the fun.
