A Statement Regarding the "Institute of Terror"

Since PMPA posted its statement regarding the proposed Haunted Asylum at Pennhurst, it has become clear that some people do not understand our position. Our original statement attempted to cover what has been a long and complex process of negotiation with the owner of the Pennhurst property. That detracted from our intent. To be clear, PMPA is completely opposed to the operation of a haunted attraction at Pennhurst that portrays people with disabilities in a demeaning and degrading fashion....
Read More...

A Place of Triumph

The recently unveiled Pennhurst Historical Marker, Spring City

Pennhurst stands as a monument not just to the despair of social apathy but more importantly to the bright triumph of an engaged citizenry--and the eternal hope that great change is possible from the cumulative efforts of caring people.  For these reasons it must be preserved.

Pennhurst was the battleground in a monumental struggle to secure basic human rights for the last group of Americans to attain privileges assumed to be the natural freedoms of all persons. Pennhust's historic and beautiful campus is, like Valley Forge and Independence Mall to the east, hallowed ground in the struggle for dignity and self-determination, a western anchor to a freedom corridor, that, though stretching but a few miles, reaches all the way around the world.

Through preservation and adaptive re-use of the historic Pennhurst campus, the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance seeks to ensure that those achievements won at Pennhurst are neither lost nor forgotten.

We seek to reclaim this once painful place as a center of conscience, healing, and outreach. This process is essential in the creation and preservation of a society where, all people are valued and respected, and where all people have the knowledge, opportunity, and power to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Join us.

PMPA Awarded Design Grant: What Do You Want To See At Pennhurst?

Click above to view Re-Use Design and Feasibility Study Information Packet (Adobe Acrobat document, 22MB)

We are pleased to announce that, in partnership with the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadephia, the PM&PA has been awarded a design services grant through the American Institute of Architect's Community Design Collaborative (see http://cdesignc.org/).  Thanks to the kind cooperation of property owner Richard Chakejian, the grant will be used to conduct a conceptual design/feasibility study. With Mr. Chakejian's support, the CDC study will examine the possibilities for what, if undertaken, could very well may be the most groundbreaking adaptive re-use in Pennsylvania history.

The end product of the conceptual design/feasibility study will be a specific vision of the best way to create a mixed use, new urbanist high- tech/green community of conscience centered around a national memorial, museum, research center, and conference facility – all concerned with disability history. These facilities will be the first of their kind in the nation. 

The design charrette is a community development exercise that brings together experts in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, regional planning, architecture, land use and economic development. The team engages in an active dialogue with a task force of community leaders to produce a feasibility report that will be presented to the public in a large forum. 

Given Pennhurst's past importance and the tremendous potential impact the development of this large site will have on Pennsylvania in the future, we are hoping you will offer your thoughts about what you would like to see on the Pennhurst property.  Our case studies page, as well as http://www.pinelandfarms.o rg/visitors/history.htm, can provide some inspiration for your thoughts. Please share your ideas with us online, or email them to ncg1@cornell.edu.  This is your chance to influence Pennhurst's future.  The benefits of a good design plan cannot be underestimated in the cause to preserve and remember Pennhurst.

Principal drawing by Emily Scali

Official Statement Regarding Trespassing on the Pennhurst Property