Founded in 1975 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society’s purpose is to preserve the local historical buildings, artifacts and folklore of the historic Wissahickon Valley.  In 1982, the Whitpain 1895 Public School was leased from Whitpain Township and became our headquarters located at the corner of Skippack Pike and School Road in Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA.  The two-story schoolhouse has a Library containing deeds, wills, photos, books, maps and genealogies, a 19^th Century School Room and a Museum of local artifacts, focusing on items, pictures and records from the early farms and our industrial past.  The schoolhouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2006 for its unique architecture and for its role in Whitpain Township education. 

In January 2015, the Historical Society of Whitpain merged with the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society.  Fortunately, in 1983, a group of concerned Whitpain citizens, who cared about local history, formed the Historical Society of Whitpain and began restoring the Franklinville School circa 1858, a one-room schoolhouse on Morris Road, in Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA.  The schoolhouse was acquired in 1997 and has been restored and furnished to resemble a 19^th century school.  The Franklinville School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2014.

We sponsor several programs during each school year, all of which are free and open to the public, please see our Events Calendar.  We publish a quarterly newsletter and various members publish articles on local history, all of which are available on our website.  Open Houses are held at our headquarters, the Whitpain 1895 Public School, and the Franklinville School please see our Events Calendar.  Private tours may also be scheduled.  Please note both of our schoolhouses are not handicap accessible.

Membership to the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society is open to the public and corporate sponsorship.  If you have an interest in preserving local history, please consider becoming a member.  If you would like to volunteer your time to support our efforts, please consider becoming a member or contact us directly.