Grumblethorpe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grumblethorpe
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Grumblethorpe prior to its restoration in the 1960s, displaying its early 19th-century Georgian-style façade
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5267 Germantown Avenue, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Area | < 1-acre (4,000 m2) |
| Built | 1744 |
| Architectural style | American Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001155 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1972 |
Grumblethorpe is a historic house in Germantown, a part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For over 160 years, it was the home of the Wister family. Built in 1744 as a summer getaway, it later became their full-time home in 1793. Today, Grumblethorpe is a museum where you can learn about its past. It's also part of the Colonial Germantown Historic District.
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The Story of Grumblethorpe
Early Days: The 1700s
John Wister, a merchant from Philadelphia, built Grumblethorpe in 1744. At that time, Germantown was a quiet, country area outside the city. The Wister family first used it as a summer house.
However, in 1793, a serious yellow fever outbreak hit Philadelphia. The Wister family moved out of the city to Grumblethorpe. From then on, it became their main home all year round.
The house was built with stone and oak. People called it "John Wister's Big House." Its rooms have lower ceilings compared to other large historic homes nearby, like Cliveden or Stenton. The stones for the house came from the property itself. The wooden beams were cut from oak trees in Wister Woods, which the family also owned. The Wister family lived in the house for over 160 years.
Grumblethorpe had a very productive garden because the soil was rich. It was mainly a working farm. For almost 200 years, from the 1740s to the 1910s, it was important for farming in Philadelphia. The land grew many crops and raised animals from the 1740s to the 1870s. Its use as a farm slowly decreased as the property became smaller in the late 1800s.
Revolutionary War Events
In September 1777, Grumblethorpe played a part in the Battle of Germantown during the American Revolutionary War. The Wister family was staying in another home at the time. British General James Agnew used the house as his headquarters during the battle.
Sadly, General Agnew was wounded during the fight. He died in the front living room of Grumblethorpe. You can still see his bloodstains on the floor today.
Modern Times: The 1900s
In the 1960s, Grumblethorpe was carefully restored. Workers removed a newer front design from the early 1800s. They made the house look like it did when it was first built. It was also furnished with items from that time period. Today, Grumblethorpe serves as a museum. Its gardens are also being brought back to their original look.
Grumblethorpe was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's an important historical site. It is also a key part of the Colonial Germantown Historic District, which is a National Historic Landmark.
See also
