Welcome to the Historical Society of Bensalem Township

New Building  

The Historical Society of Bensalem Township was founded and incorporated in 1977 as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. One of the first objectives of the Society was to publish a written history which was accomplished with the 1984 release of the book “Traveling Through Bensalem 1692-1984.” A follow-up second book, “Bensalem II,” was a pictorial edition which was released in 2000. Our third book, “The Journey Continues,” is a companion to the first book. The latest book expands upon historical events going back as far as Bensalem’s founding with newly discovered information and includes coverage of the more recent past from 1984 to the present. All three books are available for purchase.
Over the years the Historical Society has been involved in many special events in the Bensalem area. We participate in the Bensalem concerts and have been instrumental in the preservation of the Johnson-Williamson Cemetery.

The Society has acquired 26 wedding gowns, dating from 1910 through 2004, which are part of a program that we can put on for area clubs, schools, and organizations upon request. In addition, we have created several unique multimedia programs which are available for presentation. Please contact us for more information on these programs.

The Historical Society of Bensalem has acquired many interesting and valuable items including old cemetery records, a variety of ancient maps, more than 50 land deeds, local genealogies, photographs and slides of local people and places, Bensalem High School yearbooks, dinnerware from the Trappe Hotel, various books and ledgers, Growden Mansion history, and an extensive postcard collection. We are always looking for photographs and other Bensalem-related artifacts and memories to add to our collections; please contact us if you have items to share or donate.

Our Museum and Learning Center are open Wednesdays from 10AM - Noon and Saturdays from 10AM – Noon, and additional hours by appointment. Please check the Calendar for further information and special programs and events.

Stop by The Historical Society of Bensalem Township to:
  See our state-of-the-art Learning Center.
  Be amazed by the amount of historical Bensalem Township information and artifacts we have available for your study and research needs.
 
  • Start or continue your genealogy studies by using our extensive files.
  • Look up old property deeds.
  • Find historic sites located in Bensalem.
  Find out how you can get involved with preserving the wonderful history of Bensalem by joining the Historical Society. Membership is open to everyone. Annual membership is $15 for Individuals, $20 for Family, and $75 for Businesses.
NEW: For your convenience, we are now accepting PayPal for membership dues.

General meetings are held the first Thursday of each month except for December, January, February and March. No meetings are held in July and August.

To see what's currently going on, download our May-June 2024 newsletter here. Past newsletters are available on the "links" page. And please visit our Photo Gallery to see the range of our activities and special events.

History Lives in Bensalem Township And We Would Like You To Meet It! ™