Annual Lantern Slide Salon

Predating the motion picture, lantern slides—transparent drawings or photographs transferred onto plates of glass—were used for entertainment and to illustrate educational programs. The Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon, held at the Wagner Free Institute of Science, revives our historic magic lantern projector to view unique and rarely-seen images. Past salon’s have featured glass lantern slides from the special collections of Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the American Philosophical Society, Founder’s Hall at Girard College, Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

The Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon takes place annually during Archives Month Philly, a volunteer-led effort during the month of October where, through events and programming, we learn more about the rich history of Philadelphia, toast the important work archives are doing, and to have a good time with interesting people. During Archives Month everyone is invited, from seasoned professional researchers, to those brand new to the world of archives.

Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon
Thursday 10/23/2025 6 - 7:30pm

Celebrate Archives Month Philly at the Wagner as we showcase glass lantern slides from our own collection as well as the special collections of neighboring Philadelphia cultural institutions.

PREVIOUS PROGRAMS

  • 2024 Annual Lantern Slide Salon

    Thursday, October 10, 2024
    6 - 7:30pm at the Wagner

    Sit back and enjoy as as representatives from seven different regional cultural institutions use lantern slides to travel over and around the Swiss Alps; explore Palestine through the eyes of Khalil Raad, “Palestine’s first Arab photographer”; view hand-colored images of Philadelphia gardens while learning about the pioneering women who created them; survey early twentieth century insects of the Western United States; and so much more!

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  • Franklin’s First Arrival in Philadelphia. From the collections of the American Philosophical Society.

    2023 Annual Lantern Slide Salon

    Thursday, October 19, 2023
    6 - 7:30pm at the Wagner

    Celebrate Archives Month Philly at the Wagner as we showcase glass lantern slides from our own collection as well as the special collections of: the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the American Philosophical Society, The Historical Society of Frankford, the Penn Museum, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

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  • 2022 Annual Lantern Slide Salon

    Wednesday October 12, 2022
    6 - 7:30

    Predating the motion picture, lantern slides were used for entertainment and to illustrate educational programs. The Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon will be held in the Wagner’s Victorian-era lecture hall using an historic lantern projector. Please join us for a rare treat as we revive an old technology in order to see culturally significant lantern slide collections from the libraries and archives of Philadelphia’s most distinguished institutions.

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  • Images from the Archives

    Wednesday October 20, 2021
    6:30 - 8pm

    Join us for an evening of illuminating images from three Philadelphia area archives and the stories they bring to light. The presentations will include “Two Women, One Garden: Selections from the Castaña Portfolio,” “Old Blockley: A Glimpse Into a Public Hospital at the Turn of the Century,” and “The Poetry and Science of Botanical Instruction at the Wagner Free Institute of Science.”

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