Lynnewood Hall Photo Workshop
Lynnewood Hall is a 110,000 square foot, 110-room Neoclassical Revival Gilded Age estate that has been left to the elements for decades. Designed by Horace Trumbauer, construction finished in 1900. It was the home of Peter Widener, whose fortune was made from a variety of business endeavors including supplying mutton to the Union Army during the Civil War, building streetcar lines, and being a founding member of U.S. Steel and the American Tobacco Company. Widener is regarded as one of the 100 richest Americans. He passed away at Lynnewood in 1915, and the estate had several different owners in the following decades, including a theological seminary who purchased it in 1952. It was purchased by First Korean Church in 1996, after which the building was mostly vacant and barely maintained.
The nonprofit Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation purchased the building in 2023, with the hopes of restoring the grounds and hall and making them accessible to the public. The majority of the funds from this workshop go towards their efforts to save the property. Over the course of 2024, $51,541 was contributed towards the preservation efforts. Lynnewood has not been legally accessible for photography for decades, and this is an exclusive first look at a magnificent building. As one person who signed up for the workshop described it, it’s bit of a unicorn – a place that many, many people have wondered about for years. You’re about to see what’s inside – and I can tell you from my own firsthand experience, it's amazing.
Whether you want to spend the whole time asking questions and learning camera settings or prefer to go off on your own to explore, you're free to go at your own pace during the alloted time. The event is indoors and will be held regardless of weather conditions except in the case of a weather emergency that would endanger the safety of attendees. Attendance is capped at about 20 per session. There is a portapot onside if you need to use the bathroom.
When you sign up you will receive a confirmation email within a week with an info packet on where to stay/things to do in the area. Be sure to check your spam folders and add my email address - admin@abandonedamerica.org - to your Safe Senders list. I sometimes get flagged as spam, unfortunately.
You will need to sign a comprehensive waiver to enter the property releasing both the property owners and myself from any and all liability. This must be done prior to the event. You can't enter the location without it. I strongly encourage you to complete this as soon as it is sent to you in the first confirmation email.
If you have more questions or are thinking about signing up, please read the Workshop FAQ Page and check the sadditional info sections below! Send me a note at admin@abandonedamerica.org if you need to know anything else about how workshops run. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring a dSLR or mirrorless camera and tripod to the workshop - all are welcome but point & shoot cameras may be inadequate to photograph the space.
By signing up, you are stating that you have read and agree to the info sections below, including Safety Risks and Refund Policy and Terms, and that you are aware that no exceptions can be made.
Please note if you can't select a date to the right of the image (and the option below it says "Out of Stock"), the workshop is sold out. These events sell out quickly. Sign up for my mailing list and join the Facebook workshops group for alerts on future dates!
Address: Elkins Park, PA
Parking: Onsite lot