Merion Station

This is the Barnes Foundation, which opened in downtown Philadelphia in 2012.

But for nearly 90 years before that, it was five miles away in Merion, Pennsylvania, in a quiet residential neighborhood outside the city, and the original setting reflected the mood inside.

It was intimate, quiet, and personal.

In many ways, the two spaces are remarkably similar.

That instinct would eventually shape almost every aspect of the Barnes Foundation.

For a little while, though, Barnes tried being conventionally rich.

He built a mansion in Merion, he joined a fox hunting club, he took riding lessons.

He did the things one did when one suddenly acquired a great deal of money in turn-of-the-century Philadelphia.

And then in 2002...

I had the opportunity to investigate the General Wayne Inn in Marion Station, Pennsylvania.

So I watched the Unsolved Mysteries episode, and then I had the opportunity to investigate the inn with my late mentor, Michael Lean Mair, who has since passed away.

And mind you, back then, paranormal investigation equipment was not like it is today.