Tuesday – Sunday at 11am

• Admission: Adult (Ages 18-64): $15; Student (Ages 6-17) and Seniors (Ages 65+): $12; 5 & under: Free
• Minimum 2 tickets; Single ticket – call to book.
• Cairnwood Members – please call to receive your free tour(s) coupon code.
• Tours are available Tuesday – Sunday at 11:00am
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended; the estate and grounds are occasionally closed for private rentals on short notice
• Parts of the estate are not fully accessible due to 1895 construction; tours require a fair amount of walking and stairs. Call for more information or to request tour modifications.
• Call 215-947-2004 or contact us at info@cairnwood.org to schedule your tour

Tuesday, February 3, 7:30 PM

A Lesser Mortal: The Unexpected Life of Sarah B. Cochran by Kimberly Hess

Join us for an Illustrated Lecture and Meet & Greet with the Author—hosted by the Cairnwood Literary Guild Book Club

Location: Cairnwood Garden House
When: Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 PM
Admission: Free, $10 donation welcome
Space is Limited, Reservations Required
online Cairnwood.org or call 215-947-2004

In western Pennsylvania, Sarah B. Cochran was a late Gilded Age business competitor of Henry Clay Frick’s at a time when it was illegal for women to work in or around Pennsylvania’s coal mines and before women could vote or serve on all juries. However, from her forties through her seventies Cochran remained in business and engaged with the world through philanthropic activity that shifted power, championed others, and influenced causes. Despite being a suffragist, trustee of three colleges, and a fraternity house namesake, knowledge of her story and valuable contributions have been all but lost. Now that her Tiffany window commission, “Garden Landscape” is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and her first biography is out, that is changing.

Meet the Author:

Kimberly Hess earned a B.A. in Economics and International Relations at Smith College, an M.B.A. from Rutgers Business School, and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Drew University’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. During her corporate career she was also a trustee of the Alice Paul Center for Gender Justice and held volunteer leadership positions for nonprofits at the global and local levels. She has discussed her book on Pittsburgh’s NPR affiliate, for the National Women’s History Museum, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and other organizations.

Select dates in December at 11 AM

Enjoy the holidays with your family and friends at Cairnwood Estate. Guided Christmas in Cairnwood tours begin in the Garden House with an orientation video and include three floors decorated for the season by professional florists. Guests are greeted upon entering the Great Hall by our dazzling two-story Christmas tree—located in the same spot it once stood at the turn of the century. Tour participants discover the private side of the Pitcairn family and its integral role in founding the Bryn Athyn community while exploring this grand Beaux Arts country house and the vintage textile exhibition Made to Order: 3 Generations of Custom Sewn Fashions. A visit to the Estate during the holidays will be a special treat for the ones you love! Fundraising and outreach activities proudly hosted by Cairn Club, Inc.

• $25 per adult
• $20 per senior/students
• $15 for Cairnwood Estate members *present valid ID
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Limited availability ~ Reservations Required

Sunday, April 19th, 2025  from 11am to 1pm

All you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust! Join us for a Children’s Fairy Garden Party at Cairnwood. Your child will create an enchanted garden on the terrace, fashion a pixie wand, and sit down for a favorite fairy story in the library. Flutter around the Estate while exploring our Woodland Fairy Quest in the fountain garden and enjoy sparkling pixie-punch and bite size sweet nibbles.

• $25 per child (ages 3-10 years)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult (chaperone free of charge)
• 25% off for Cairnwood Estate members *present valid ID
• Doors open at 11 AM and close at 1 PM ~ complete at your own pace
• Duration: please allow 60 minutes
• Limited availability ~ Reservations Required

Please wear your favorite wings and fairy attire!

Fundraising and outreach activities proudly hosted by Cairn Club, Inc.

Sunday, May 10^th at 10 AM, 1 PM

Celebrate Mom while enjoying a traditional tea service. Afternoon Tea is a truly Victorian custom known worldwide, with origins in 19^th century England. Take in the gardens and grounds of Cairnwood and join us for tea inside a beautiful historic landmark. Your party of 2-6 people will be seated at your own private table. Book your reservation now for this special Mother’s Day event! Reservations include docent-supported self-guided touring of the 2^nd and 3^rd floors from 11am to 1pm (between tea seatings).

Tea menu includes premium teas by master blender Harney & Sons, soup du jour and seasonal salad, traditional tea sandwiches, family style petit fours, and scones with clotted cream and jams provided by Karen Spire Catering. Gluten free and vegetarian substitutions are available; please call to make dietary requests in advance.

• $70/person (tax & gratuity not included)
• Duration: 2 hours
• For groups of more than 6 people, please call 215.947.2004 to arrange a group reservation.
• NOTE: reservations are by table; if you would like to join an existing reservation, please call 215.947.2004
• Limited availability ~ Reservations Required

Fundraising and outreach activities proudly hosted by Cairn Club, Inc.

Thursday, June 18^th at 7:30 PM

Author William R. Huber will present an illustrated talk about his latest book, hot off the press in May 2025!

Scottish immigrants John and Robert Pitcairn—following their friend Andrew Carnegie—worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad transporting troops and supplies for the Union army during the Civil War. John co-founded the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company—eventually a key player in the U.S. glass industry—while Robert managed the Pittsburgh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad through the aftermath of the 1889 Johnstown flood.

The history of the Pitcairn brothers parallels the evolution of American industry and transportation during and after the Civil War. This book provides a historical perspective on the 1877 railroad strike and other events that shaped the transportation industry and American industrialization. It also examines the spiritual and philanthropic impact of the Pitcairn brothers: Robert at the Shadyside Presbyterian Church near Pittsburgh and John in the religious community of Bryn Athyn near Philadelphia. Today, the legacy of the Pitcairn brothers remains woven into the fabric of American industrialization, revealing the intricate connections among industry, transportation, and philanthropy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• $10/person
• $40 Reserved signed copy of the book
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Limited availability ~ Reservations Required

Fundraising and outreach activities proudly hosted by Cairn Club, Inc.

Tuesday, June 23^rd from 8PM to 10PM

The Bryn Athyn Historic District will glow a little brighter!

• Free Parking throughout the Bryn Athyn Historic District
• FREE general admission
• Additional activities for a fee

Cairnwood Estate

• FREE admission to the Garden House
• Orientation video
• Self-guided house tours: $5 per person
• Wine & beer available for purchase

Bryn Athyn Cathedral

• FREE admission
• Tour guides available & classical music

Glencairn Museum

• Self-guided tours: $5 per person
  • includes: exhibition, first floor and upper floor galleries
• Elevator rides to the tower: $5 per person

Note: Given the age and construction of the buildings, some areas are not fully accessible. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. No pets permitted.

Thursday, August 13^th at 7PM

The Summer Wine Tasting – an annual tradition – features live music, samplings of premium wines from around the world, and savory bites. Get your first pour and take in some history. Enjoy self-guided tours of the 2^nd & 3^rd floors of the Estate available from 7pm to 9pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an evening out with friends while soaking in the stunning views from the Cairnwood terrace!

Fundraising and outreach activities proudly hosted by Cairn Club, Inc

• $70 per person (21+ years of age)
• 25% off for Cairnwood and Cairn Club members *present valid ID
• Duration: 3 hours