Ryerss Museum & Library is a historic site located in Burholme Park. It is owned and operated by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Since 2013, work has been underway to restore eight historic stained glass windows in the building’s cupola. This summer, another window was restored, thanks to a Special Projects grant from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), sponsored by its Philadelphia Chapter, and the ongoing fundraising efforts by the Friends of Ryerss.

The structure was named Burholme when it was built in 1859 as the summer home of Joseph Waln Ryerss. Ryerss was a railroad and shipping tycoon. The cupola is a tower-like structure that rises from the roof of the house. It was added during the 1880s at the request of Joseph’s son, Robert Waln Ryerss.

The cupola rises from the roof of the house. You can see the restored windows just below the curved roof at the top.

Situated at the top of the hill in what is now Burholme Park, the house and its cupola are a landmark and a beacon for the community. The cupola’s beautiful stained glass windows are visible during the day and are illuminated at night.

Sharon Doyle, Vice President of the Friends of Ryerss said, “We are so appreciative of the grant we’ve received from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This is an enormous help in moving forward with our cupola window project.”

Since 2013, the Friends of Ryerss have been fundraising to conserve and preserve the cupola windows. Over half of the windows in the cupola (5 out of 8) have now been preserved for future generations.

Ryerss Museum & Library is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free.

Find out more about Ryerss Museum & Library.
Visit the Ryerss website for more information about the museum and library.