//
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Henry Chapman Mercer was very involved in the American Arts & Crafts Movement and is famous for producing ceramic tiles engraved with scenes of Bucks County nature and seasons. Today, tiles are still produced at the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works and can be purchased by visitors. Mercer's tiles can be seen throughout Doylestown, in the homes of locals, inlaid in the sidewalks and in the Mercer and Fonthill Museums. The Tile Works courtyard hosts a variety of seasonal activities including Pumpkinfest each Halloween, where local artists compete for the best carved pumpkin.
The Moravian Pottery & Tile Works (MPTW) is a history museum which is located in Doylestown Township, Pennsylvania. It is owned by the County of Bucks, and operated by TileWorks of Bucks County, a 501c3 non-profit organization.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
East Court Street & Route 313. Built between 1908 and 1912 as the home of Henry Chapman Mercer, as well as a gallery for his tiles and prints. Like the Mercer Museum, Fonthill is also a concrete castle and represents a mixture of Medieval, Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles. After Mercer's death in 1930, the housekeeper Laura Swain continued to give tours of the historic house and museum until she passed away in 1975. Today, Fonthill Museum attracts over 30,000 visitors a year and is a popular place for wedding photos and receptions. Every summer, Fonthill hosts the "Old Fashioned Fourth of July" where locals can participate in old-time games and celebration. Fonthill was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1985 and achieved accreditation by the American Association of Museums in 2005.
The stone building was constructed in 1884 as the Bucks County prison, but reopened its doors in 1988 as the James A. Michener Art Museum. The museum was named for James Michener, Doylestown's own Pulitzer-prize winning writer and patron of the arts. Today, the gallery houses an astounding collection of work from many Pennsylvania Impressionist artists. Attached to the museum is the Patricia D. Pfundt outdoor Sculpture Garden. Permanent exhibits include the Lenfest Exhibition of Pennsylvania Impressionism, The Garber Mural, James A. Michener: A Living Legacy, the Nakashima Reading Room, the Visual Heritage of Bucks County and an interactive exhibit on Bucks County writers and composers like Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Built in 1916 by the archaeologist, anthropologist, artist and scholar, Henry Chapman Mercer. The six-story concrete castle houses a personal collection of over 30,000 items that Mercer believed should be preserved before the Industrial Revolution took over. The huge central atrium of the castle houses a whale boat, Conestoga wagon and stage coach, amongst other large pieces. Working your way through the narrow hallways of the museum, you can find ancient gadgets, woodworking instruments, early examples of electricity and even a "Vampire Killing Kit." In one of the hidden stairwells, there are footprints from Mercer's dog Rollo, who must have escaped before the wet concrete could fully dry. This is truly an eccentric place to visit. There are nooks, crannies, niches and rooms with all kinds of tools and implements used in the early history of the colonization. It's a great place to go on a hot day, the concrete keeps the building quite cool. There is a gift shop with postcards, Mercer tiles, crafts, books and other souvenirs. The Mercer Museum was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1985 and achieved accreditation by the American Association of Museums in 2005.
The historic County Theater has been in the center of Doylestown since 1938. Showing mostly independent and old-time films, the non-profit theater has a wide membership in the Bucks County area. During the summer, the County features "Hollywood Summer Nights" and plays such classics as The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, It's a Wonderful Life and North by Northwest.
Peace Valley Park is a park on the outside of Doylestown that is run by the Bucks County Parks and Recreation department. Centered around Lake Galena, this 1500-acre park has so much to offer such as playgrounds, picnicking, hiking, boating, fishing, bike paths, and walking paths. Peace Valley Park also has a nature center and environmental area. The park also offers numerous special programs such as water and boating programs and youth camps.