- Bryn Mawr College is a popular spot for visitors to the area. The small all-women's college has about 1,700 students. The idyllic campus, which was built in the early 20th century, was one of the earliest examples of a Collegiate Gothic style of architecture, featuring the kind of grand, imposing buildings that have become commonplace on college campuses. The campus altogether features 40 buildings on 135 acres. Tours with student guides are available.
- Harriton House is a carefully renovated and maintained three-story stone house that dates back to 1704. The house -- an important example of early Pennsylvania architecture -- and surrounding park estate have been transformed into an educational resource that attracts tourists and school groups. Rowland Ellis, a Welsh Quaker, built the house shortly after purchasing the estate from William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Ellis named his estate Bryn Mawr, a name that later was given to the nearby town. Charles Thomson, the former secretary of the Continental Congress, was a former inhabitant.
- Shopping and dining options in Bryn Mawr are concentrated in a small downtown area, which is also known as the Bryn Mawr Business District. The area has a village downtown atmosphere with largely locally based shops, such as a hardware store, toy shop and flower shop, and restaurants, as well as a library and a seasonal farmer's market on Saturdays. The Bryn Mawr downtown is also part of the First Friday Main Line, a series of art events held on the first Friday of every month in Bryn Mawr and the nearby communities of Ardmore and Haverford.
- The Bryn Mawr Film Institute is more than a typical movie theater. The theater does show a range of independent and foreign films to audiences, but it also provides regular classes and special events. Educational opportunities include both long-term classes and one-day seminars. The theater shows new films, but it also screens repertory films and other presentations, including simulcast productions of live theater at other locations. The theater holds talks with filmmakers and scholars, special screenings targeting children and mothers and screenings of the work of local, emerging filmmakers.
next post