The Fight To Preserve a Historic Black Family's Home
At 2908 W. Diamond Street sits the home of the world-renowned Black painter Henry Ossawa Tanner, who rose to fame in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1976, the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but in the decades after it fell into disrepair, culminating in the City of Philadelphia designating it an “unsafe structure” in 2021. Host Trenae Nuri speaks with Christopher R. Rogers, co-coordinator of the Friends of the Henry O. Tanner House, about how that group is fighting to preserve this piece of Black history, and his tips for getting started in the process of protecting a historic site in Philly.
Keep up with efforts to preserve the Tanner House here.
Want some more Philly news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Philly.
We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Follow us @citycastphilly.
Have a question or just want to share some thoughts with the team? Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 215-259-8170.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Philly and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
A New Walk in Old City, 'Smart' Loading Zones in Center City & Must-See Fall Shows
Independence Day is officially behind us, but Philly is continuing to explore 250 years of American democracy with a new walking tour. Me...

No PPA, Luxury Living & Jobs: Philly's New Perfect Neighborhood?
Philly’s newest booming neighborhood has tons of jobs, amenity-filled luxury apartment buildings, plenty of green space – and no PPA rest...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Naked Neighbors, Unwelcome Pets, and Other City Life Dilemmas — Presented By City Cast Philly
As much as you love Philly, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly have compla...

ICE at PHL, Package Thieves on Your Stoop & a Major Film Fest This Weekend
Immigration advocates say Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity has increased at the Philadelphia International Airport. Meanwhile...

New SEPTA Bus Routes, Key Card Perks, and Pro Tips
SEPTA gets us around the city, to the airport, to the stadiums, and to the surrounding suburbs. And later this month, the transit agency...

Cyclospora in Philly, Policing in The Gayborhood & More Speed Cameras
The nationwide cyclospora outbreak has found its way to Philly. We’ve got what you need to know to stay safe. Meanwhile a public hearing...

Stop Complaining About Your Neighborhood: Make Change at These Organizations
What do you do when you want your voice heard on great ideas you have to support your neighborhood? Let's say you want to organize a bloc...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast Philly
Do you know how zoning laws affect Philly’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made it...

Is Philly Really the Most Walkable City?
For the fourth year in a row, Philadelphia has been crowned the nation's most walkable city. Yet for most locals, walking to work or even...

Your Guide to August 2026 in Philly
While some Philadelphians are still down the shore this summer, there’s plenty of fun events happening in the city in August. We recommen...

