The West Mt. Airy Historic House Tour is returning for its third year on Oct. 18 from 12-4 p.m.

Presented through a partnership between Mt. Airy Learning Tree (MALT) and West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN), this self-guided tour showcases six unique residences. Docents will be on hand to discuss these 19th- and 20th-century homes and enrich the experience. Each year, new homes are added, making the tour fresh for participants.

Visitors will learn about a diverse array of architectural styles, from a Georgian Revival mansion and Colonial Revival homes to a modern European-style residence. Along the way, participants will discover oak staircases with wood carvings, original fireplace mantels, period wall sconces, and many more details that showcase the craftsmanship of a bygone era.

According to Adrienne Carpenter, chairperson of the WMAN Historic Preservation Initiative, preparation for the house tour is a yearlong process.

“If it’s Oct. 18, we start the very next day,” Carpenter said. “You have to engage people around their homes and around the purpose of why this is done. And in that engagement, not only are you asking that they open their homes, but you’re also learning about the home. You’re learning about the ownership, the owners, and what their expectations are, and so it’s a give-and-take.”

Janet Gala, executive director of MALT, said the planning is split between the two organizations in a “fabulous partnership.” WMAN finds the homes, conducts research into their history, and organizes the volunteers and docents, while MALT handles the promotion and advertising, takes care of registration, and offers support with the docents as well.

Advance tickets for the event are $35, while day-of tickets are $40. All proceeds benefit MALT and WMAN.

“It’s a way for attendees and members of our community — and even outside of our community that come to West Mt. Airy — to support our nonprofits,” Gala said. “It’s through these fundraising events that we raise money to support our programs throughout the year. So you get to see a beautiful home and learn about the architecture and the history… but you also know that those tickets that we sell are going to support our organization.”

Carpenter said the house tour is a wonderful way to show all that Mt. Airy has to be proud of and to emphasize the importance of preserving history.

“We’re so fortunate because some of our homes date around the late 1800s and we have some that are in the early 1900s,” Carpenter said. “So when you look back and think about what was happening during those periods and the type of architects, the type of industries, and the types of people that lived during that time, then we are the recipients. They’ve shared their legacy with us. It behooves us to take a stand and say, ‘historic preservation.’ We must secure support and make sure that we preserve the legacies that have been given to us.”

Registration for the house tour will occur at Commons & Commons LLP, 30 Pelham Rd., where participants will pick up their booklet, booties, and wristband before heading out to explore the homes. The tour is not made for walking, so a car or bike will be needed to get to each home.

Register online at mtairylearningtree.org or by calling 215-843-6333.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.