Free Admission At 4 Bucks County Museums This Saturday

Four popular attractions in Bucks County will offer free admission this Saturday, July 16.

The Mercer Museum, Fonthill Castle, the James A. Michener Art Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works will offer the day of free admission in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Mercer Museum.

All of the museums are located in Doylestown.

Doylestown Museums’ Free Day will take place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Free parking will be available at Fonthill Park and free shuttle service, courtesy of Bucks County Transport, will take visitors between Fonthill Park and the Doylestown Cultural District.

Here is more information about the attractions, according to free admission day organizers:

The Mercer Museum is a six-story concrete castle opened a century ago by collector and tile-maker, Henry Mercer, that features his amazing collection of pre-Industrial tools of early America. "Visitors can take self-guided tours of the Mercer Museum to see objects like an antique fire engine, horse drawn carriages and more, hanging from different surfaces of the museum, or densely packed in rooms and alcoves. Visitors can also view an eclectic mix of artifacts and memorabilia in the Mercer’s latest exhibition, Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag. The exhibit looks at the inventive graphic interpretations of the American Flag as seen in artifacts including Civil War Era flags, Native American moccasins, campaign buttons and children’s toys," organizers say.

The James A. Michener Art Museum is home to a world-class collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings and changing exhibitions ranging from international touring shows to regionally focused exhibitions. On July 16, the museum will debut a new exhibit, Unguarded, Untold, Iconic: Afghanistan through the Lens of Steve McCurry, a visually arresting collection of photographs by Steve McCurry, the famed photographer whose iconic image Afghan Girl captivated the world in 1985. "Offering thought-provoking perspectives on Afghan culture, food, religion, and history, the exhibition will include that photograph as well as dozens of others captured by McCurry," organizers explain. The Michener’s Terrace café with indoor and outdoor seating, will also be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with food and drink available for purchase.

At Fonthill Park, you can visit two National Historic Landmarks built by Henry Mercer: Fonthill Castle and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. Mercer’s concrete castle home, Fonthill, will be open for ground-floor tours. Guests can see Mercer’s handcrafted tiles embedded in the walls, floors and ceilings of the Saloon, Morning Room and Library. Docents will be there to answer questions from visitors.

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is a working history museum producing handmade decorative tiles and mosaics. On Saturday, it will offer viewings of its orientation video and self guided tours that let visitors see ceramicists still making tiles in a manner similar to that employed by Henry Mercer.

Parking is free at Fonthill Park for the Doylestown Museums’ Free Day. The shuttle buses will pick up visitors at Fonthill Park, Pine Street and the Front Entrance at the Mercer Museum.

The Doylestown Museums’ Free Day is sponsored by the Bucks County Foundation.