​Summer Tours To Showcase Oscar Hammerstein's Bucks County Home

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center will offer tours of the legendary lyricist’s Doylestown home on Fridays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. in July and August. Tickets are available by clicking here.

The center is a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of Oscar Hammerstein II’s Doylestown home and telling the story of his legacy as a librettist, lyricist, humanitarian, and mentor. Tours of Hammerstein’s historic Highland Farm have become increasingly popular among local residents and visitors alike.

The 45 minute tours include riveting stories about Hammerstein’s musical family, how his groundbreaking musicals forever changed the modern-day book-musical, and additional insight into his contributions to society through his many humanitarian acts.

The Hammerstein family resided at Highland Farm from 1940-1960. Hammerstein composed the lyrics to his best-loved musicals while in residence at the farm, including “The Sound of Music,” “Oklahoma!” “South Pacific” (inspired by Doylestown’s James Michener’s novel Tales of the South Pacific"), and others.

Oscar Hammerstein II at his typewriter on the porch of his Highland Farm home in Doylestown.

A friendly neighbor, Hammerstein was known to fly a flag when local children could come to use his swimming pool or play tennis. He also met and mentored a young Stephen Sondheim while living at Highland Farm.

Hammerstein’s role as a mentor and humanitarian will play a large role in the forthcoming theatre education center at the center. Plans include a youth theater company; classes in theater, dance, and music production; mentorship programs for young adults and emerging professionals; school programming; writer’s retreats; and outreach programs for all ages, both in-person and virtual.

Individuals and entities interested in helping to create Hammerstein Museum can visit the center’s donation page at HammersteinMuseum.org. Contributions of any amount can be made by check, credit card or appreciated securities. Naming opportunities are available for rooms and spaces in the house and barn.

For more information email hammersteinmuseum@gmail.com.