City Cast Philly logo

Philly History

From The Archives: Cave of Kelpius

Posted on June 13, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Brittany Valentine

Brittany Valentine

A historic gem known as the Cave of Kelpius is hidden deep in the hills of Wissahickon Park.

In the late 1600s, a group of German monks and mystics, led by 26-year-old philosopher Johannes Kelpius, emigrated to Philadelphia and settled along the Wissahickon Creek.

The group believed that the world was going to end in 1664. Kelpius got this date based on an interpretation of a verse in the Book of Revelation. So they chose to live a humble life in this small cave while they waited. They used the cave for prayer, meditation, and other spiritual purposes.

When the end of the world did not come, Kelpius and the monks stayed in the area, making art and music, studying the skies, and serving the surrounding community when they could. The group mostly separated after Kelpius died in 1708.

Here are two different routes you can take on bike or foot to find what’s left of the cave today. Happy hunting!

Which part of Philly history should I cover next?

Share article

Hey Philly

Stay connected to City Cast Philly and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.
OR BROWSE PAST ISSUES

Philly History

See All
Philly HistoryJuly 13

Phillies' Home Run Derby History

Philly brings the heat to the annual MLB power-hitter competition.

Citizens Bank Park, which hosts the Philadelphia Phillies, is animated by fans in the stands and players on the field. A cloudy sky with blue peeking between the wispy white clouds makes for a perfect day of baseball.
Philly HistoryJune 29

Joe Frazier Is Philly's Real-Life Boxing King

Smokin’ Joe Frazier made history as a heavyweight champion

Smokin' Joe Frazier takes a swing at Muhammad Ali in a giant black and white photo on a black wall in. To the left and right other art pieces are on the walls and on a small television in the front left of the photo.
Philly HistoryJune 15

A Dive Into the Musical Impact of The Mann and Dell Music Centers

As the Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts celebrates a milestone on the cusp of the country's semiquincentennial, we look back...

Concertgoers sit outside at the Mann
Philly HistoryJune 8

How the Phillies Helped Found the Nation’s First Professional Soccer League

The short-lived team was an effort to fill baseball stadiums during the offseason.

A newspaper clip centered on an orange background
Philly HistoryJune 1

The First Successful Sit-In for LGBTQ+ Rights Was in Philadelphia

The act of civil disobedience against discrimination occurred before the more widely known Stonewall Riots, which are considered the cata...

A marker at the former 17th Street location of Dewey’s stands at 219 S. 17th St. (Siani Colón / City Cast Philly)
Philly HistoryMay 19

Who Is Ona ‘Oney’ Judge?

A new holiday honors one woman’s brave escape to freedom even as there are efforts to erase that history.

Names on a stone wall: Austin, Paris, Hercules, Christopher Sheels, Richmond, Giles, Oney Judge, Moll, Joe
Philly HistoryMay 7

How Philly’s Fairmount Park Came To Be

Starting with just a large hill that left William Penn in awe, Fairmount Park is now the largest landscaped urban park in the world.

Archival photo of Boathouse Row and Fairmount Water Works along the Schuylkill River
Philly HistoryMarch 17

How St. Patrick’s Day Started in Philly

Philadelphia’s annual parade celebrating Irish culture just happened on Sunday, a tradition dating back over 200 years.

Boathouse row lit with green lights along the Schuylkill River at night

The latest in Philly

Sponsored

Moving to Philadelphia? What to Check Before You Pick a Neighborhood, Book a Truck, and Sign a Lease

With this guide, you can move to Philadelphia, move from another place to Philadelphia, or just see if living in Philadelphia fits your d...

Wellknown Moving Company Logo
Philly, ExplainedSeptember 25

Play Our Philly Crossword Puzzle

This mini-crossword is filled with clues on Philly history and headlines.

City Cast Philly Crossword
Keep It LocalSeptember 24

Learn to Make Cool Things at NextFab

NextFab is a membership-based makerspace that helps people turn ideas into products. Here are three hobbies you can pick up at NextFab.

A person wearing safety gear and work gloves stands beside a metalworking workstation with a large ventilation hood and welding equipment at NextFab.
Food & DrinkSeptember 24

Your Guide to New Restaurants, Bars & Cafés in Philly

Philly’s culinary scene is constantly growing and changing. Here’s a recap of some of the restaurants, bars, cafés, and other delicious s...

(Courtesy of Michael Persico)
Keep It LocalSeptember 24

Become a Person With Hobbies This Fall

Whether you want to make something, move your body, learn a skill, or just get really good at something new, here are a few places around...

Inside the wood shop at Philadelphia Woodworks, with a woman working at one of the workshop tables in the background. A large table in the foreground is lined with dozens of clamps along its edges; walls are hung with organized rows of tools and clamps; there is a drill press in the corner.
Philly's BestSeptember 21

The Best Oktoberfest Activities in Philly

Sip on beer and see how long you can raise your glass at Philly’s Oktoberfests.

People in traditional German folkwear dance around a pole in front of a crowd.
Philly, ExplainedSeptember 18

Prove Your Weekly Philly Knowledge

How well do you know Philly's latest headlines and historical facts? Try your hand at this quiz to find out!

A golden statue of a woman with wings holding up a globe is in the foreground, with an Emmy Awards sign and foliage in the background.
Keep It LocalSeptember 17

Philly Spirits Worth Trying (and Bringing Home)

Philadelphia has a long tradition of distilling that has evolved from colonial rum and whiskey-making into a new generation of small prod...

Two blue glass bottles of Philadelphia Distilling Co.’s Bluecoat American Dry Gin are displayed on a bar counter inside the distillery alongside a glass of the gin with an orange peel.