BRYN ATHYN GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Silent Saints and Small Worlds: World Nativities on Glencairn’s First Floor
A focused presentation of dozens of three-dimensional Nativity scenes from around the globe — included with Glencairn Museum’s Christmas in the Castle guided tour and offered daily from 12:00–4:00 p.m. at a $5 admission.
Silent Saints and Small Worlds: World Nativities on Glencairn’s First Floor.
On the first floor of Glencairn Museum, the World Nativities exhibition gathers dozens of three-dimensional Nativity scenes collected from around the world. The display tracks how artists reimagine a single devotional subject to reflect local culture and craft, with many figures set into original dioramas created by Bryn Athyn artist Kathleen Glenn Pitcairn; the exhibition is presented as part of the museum’s Christmas in the Castle program.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Global Voices in Miniature
Dozens of three-dimensional Nativity scenes collected from around the globe show how artists adapt the Nativity to reflect spiritual, cultural and regional environments.
Kathleen Glenn Pitcairn’s Original Dioramas
Many of the Nativities are displayed within original settings crafted by Bryn Athyn artist Kathleen Glenn Pitcairn, adding bespoke, site-specific context to the figures.
Seen Within the Christmas in the Castle Tour
The World Nativities exhibition is presented as part of Glencairn Museum’s Christmas in the Castle guided tour, offering first-floor access to the collection during the program.
What the day feels like
What the visit feels like
The exhibition reads like a compact world tour in carved and cast form: room after room of Nativity scenes that compress distinct cultural perspectives into intimate, three-dimensional displays. The arrangement and bespoke settings emphasize variations in material, scale and iconography, and the show is curated around these comparative readings as part of the museum’s seasonal guided tour.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this visit suits
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The World Nativities exhibition is offered daily from 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Admission for the exhibition is $5 per person; access to the exhibition is included with the Christmas in the Castle guided tour.
Meet at Glencairn Museum; the exhibition and tour are operated by Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania.
No special equipment is required for gallery viewing; plan for an indoor, museum setting during the seasonal tour.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where do I meet for the tour and exhibition?
Meet at Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania.
When is the World Nativities exhibition open?
The exhibition is offered daily from 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Is there an admission fee?
Yes. Admission is $5 per person.
Is the World Nativities exhibition part of a guided tour?
Yes. Access to the World Nativities exhibition is included with the Christmas in the Castle guided tour.
What is displayed in the World Nativities exhibition?
Dozens of three-dimensional Nativity scenes collected from around the globe, many presented in original settings created by Kathleen Glenn Pitcairn.