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What You'll Get
Historic mansions are monuments to the domestic lives of successful men and their need to never use the same bathroom twice. Start planning your own historic museum with today's Groupon: for $20, you get a yearly Mansion Friend membership to Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, located in Germantown (a $40 value).
Featured in the August 2010 issue of Victorian Homes, Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion allows visitors to prance back in time into its Victorian museum and garden. Once the opulent bungalow of a drug importer and textiles magnate, the authentically restored museum now celebrates two distinct time periods within the Victorian era. Peruse the intricately decorated first floor, which reflects the 1860s when Ebenezer Maxwell and kin practiced corset lacing, then climb up to the second floor, which is a nod to Philadelphia after the multicultural 1876 centennial celebration. Renowned landscape architect Reed Engle used his green thumbs to design the gardens, with two separate floral sections inspired by Frank Scott’s 1870 book, The Art of Beautifying Suburban Home Grounds of Small Extent, and Shaquille O’Neal’s 1992 novel, Shaq-noglia Garden.
With a Mansion Friend membership, you’ll receive free admission to the mansion, research privileges in the library, 10% off souvenirs in the gift shop, and discounts to paid workshops and events. Visitors should refer to the online newsletters and calendar to stay abreast of museum events.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Apr 1, 2012. Amount paid never expires. Limit 4 per person. Limit 1 per visit. Must activate membership by 4/1/12, membership expires 1 year from activation date. New members only. Not valid for resale. Not valid with other offers. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion
Step foot onto the lush landscaped grounds of the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, and you're instantly transported to the Victorian era—a time when ladies toted lacy parasols, gentlemen sported tall silk hats, and children played with coal-powered Game Boys. Beyond the stately mansion's immaculately manicured lawns and stone façade lie 17 restored rooms, replete with lavish Rococo and Renaissance revival furnishings, elaborate ceiling designs, and Victorian-era appliances such as cast-iron stoves and chandeliers.
This museum of Victorian architecture and culture hosts weekly tours, as well as the Victoriana Reimagined exhibit, which brings new works by three contemporary artists into the Victorian interiors of Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion. The mansion also stages theater performances throughout the year, featuring the works of Victorian-era greats including Charles Dickens, Bram Stoker, and Louisa May Alcott.