Recent Magellan Circle Programs
2010 - 2011

Franklin Institute Roof Terrace

September 15, 2010. Open the Season AT THE TOP - on the Franklin Institute’s Roof Terrace overlooking the Parkway

After an elegant reception, we enjoyed a private screening of National Geographic’s new film The Wildest Dream which captures one of history’s great feats of mountaineering. It tells the gripping story of George Mallory and the modern climbers who follow his path, seeking to solve the enduring mystery of his last ascent of Mt. Everest in 1924.

November 6, 2010. Into the Masonic Temple Archives

Behind the scenes at the Masonic Temple with a private tour and unveiling of its historic archives by the Curator of the Masonic Library and Museum, which included letters signed by George Washington. Spectacular spaces such as the Egyptian Room. Continental Breakfast were included!

November 17, 2010. French wine Tasting and Buffet

We discussed French culture and wines with Mary Lee and Sid Nolan before their film program, Wine Regions of France, and enjoyed selections of the wines of France while savoring a themed buffet dinner at the Academy of Natural Sciences before the evening performance.

February 2, 2011. Magellan Dinner - Travels in Syria, Lebanon & Jordan

We shared sights and insights with photographer Tom Tauber, and saw dramatic images of Petra, Damascus, Crusader castles, Roman ruins, mosques, souks, and street scenes. Then we enjoyed a themed dinner at Fez Restaurant in Society Hill, with its fabric covered walls, carpeted floors, and aromas of exotic spices as Lebanese chefs prepared a delicious dinner.

April 13, 2011. Chinese Feast

We joined Himalayan Region explorers and photographers Ryan Pyle and Brandon Zatt prior to their evening presentation Report from the Remote Corners of China. We dined with them at the Asia on the Parkway restaurant two blocks from the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Rosenbach Museum and Library

May 3, 2011. Behind the Scenes at the Rosenbach Museum and Library

We joined the Rosenbach’s Director for a tour through the elegant rooms in its 19th century Delancey Place townhouses. We saw a display of the rare travel collection as well as their fine art and decorative arts collections. Of special interest to us was Tourists and Their Travels which featured how people traveled in 19th-century America and covered the experiences of gold rush emigrants, settlers, soldiers, Indians, and European tourists. We saw what they left behind: maps, advertisements, broadsides, letters home, guidebooks, and scrap books, and learned where they went and what they saw. A wine reception followed.

We joined fellow members in trendy Northern Liberties as Tom Tauber shared magnificent images and personal impressions of Bolivia. Then, at elegant Bar Ferdinand, we enjoyed a five course Spanish tapas-style feast (program and reception free - dinner charge.)

March 2010. Special Buffet Dinner - Cruising the Eastern Mediterranean

Theme dinner with filmmakers MARY LEE and SID NOLAN at The Academy of Natural Sciences.

April 2010. Into the Photo Archives - The Franklin Institute

Presentation and Wine Reception

The world as original Geographical Society members saw it! Vintage glass lantern slides of travels in the early 1900's took us on a “Grand Tour”. The Franklin Institute invited us to view highlights of their extensive collection and enjoy a wine reception.

May 2010. Special Buffet Dinner - Perilous Passages. Theme dinner with adventurer KARIN MULLER at The Academy of Natural Sciences

October 2008 (Prior to the Argentina Connoisseur Program). Behind The Scenes Tour - The Racquet Club. We toured this historic club including squash courts, majestic third floor indoor pool, hotel rooms and other facilities.

October 2008. Magellan Dinner. Report From The Field - India. Special slide presentation reviewing the Society’s November 2007 trip to India featuring Rajasthan palace hotels and the Pushkar Camel Fair. A festive dinner followed at the acclaimed Lovash Restaurant, 236 South Street. Dinner Charge.

January & April, 2009. Receptions before two Travelogue Films at The Academy of Natural Sciences. Attendees met the speakers and other members, and enjoyed wine and a light dinner.

May 2009. Athenaeum of Philadelphia Behind The Scenes Tour. Wine and Cheese Reception. A visit to the Athenaeum’s notable Italianate Revival Style building, private library, richly embellished reading rooms, and changing exhibition gallery. We saw treasures from their Travel Collection archives and toured this jewel in Philadelphia’s historic crown.

June 2009. Picnic at historic Laurel Hill Cemetery. Wine and a picnic near the Elisha Kent Kane mausoleum, built into a cave overlooking the Schuylkill River. The Society’s most coveted gold medal is named for this famous Polar Explorer. Laurel Hill (also called the “Underground Museum”) is a National Historic Landmark.

December 2007. Explorers Dinner at The Franklin Inn Club. Attendees explored the world (and skies!) with Dr. Jay Pasachoff, author and authority on solar eclipses. Pasachoff, a veteran of 44 solar eclipses, described recent and upcoming expeditions on seven continents. Locations included Zambia, the Greek islands, French Guiana, Siberia (2008), and China (2009). Pasachoff’s work is supported by the National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation, and NASA. Dinner charge.

January 2008. President’s Cocktail Reception. Attendees learned about “The Role of the Geographical Society in Turn-of-the-Century Exploration” and other achievements. Reception was held at the Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia.

March 2008. Attendees traveled to a special place, exotic Vietnam. Slide presentation at the Racquet Club exclusively for Magellan Circle members and their guests.

Spring 2008. Attendees experienced a behind-the-scenes visit to the American Philosophical Society, to see treasures of American exploration, plus historic Geographical Society memorabilia.

current magellan circle programs