Planet Wister
OBSERVATION GAME (Germantown)
Find the stone that marks the year that the Wister School was built. What year?
What direction must you face to read it?
What material(s) is the school made of?
Is the architectural style of the school old or modern?
Look around the neighborhood in every direction. What kinds of buildings do you see in this part of the neighborhood? Circle all that you see.
CIRCUS TENTS WAREHOUSES RESTAURANTS
SHOPS HOUSES TRAIN STATIONS
FACTORIES CHURCHES ZOOS
Walk northwest on Wakefield Street until you get to the corner. Can anyone find a large building with a DOME in the distance? What kind of building is this?
Turn South on Penn Street. What kinds of buildings do you see on this street? On the roofs of the houses, look for these:
®
They are called FINIALS. How many can you count on this street?
Walk to the house on the northwest side of the street with the stone wall.
#45 Penn Street
How many different MATERIALS can you see on the façade of this house? (Including the yard around the house)
List them here:
What are all of the colors that you see on this house?
How many windows can you count on the facade?
How many windowpanes can you count on the facade?
What plant is climbing on the side of this house?
What is the tall, green, leafy plant towering over the stone wall?
Let’s keep walking south on Penn Street…
Can you find this roof ®
Go the corner of Penn Street and Germantown Avenue…
What kinds of buildings do you see in this part of the neighborhood? Circle all that you see.
CIRCUS TENTS WAREHOUSES RESTAURANTS
SHOPS HOUSES TRAIN STATIONS
FACTORIES CHURCHES ZOOS
Walk northwest on Germantown Avenue. Look for the signs that say:
CUNNINGHAM PIANOS and PIANO CITY
These are called Ghost Signs
Find the MURAL at the corner of Coulter and Germantown Avenue. What is the mural made of?
What does the mural say?
WHAT IS THIS STORE, ANYWAY?
Walk northwest on Germantown Avenue until you come to St. Luke’s Church. What kind of church is this? Go in the courtyard and find the beautiful pink tree. What kind of tree is this?
HOPE YOU HAD FUN BEING AN OBSERVER!!!!!!!!!!
from the Neighborhood Mapping Project of The Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia, PA