Historic RittenhouseTown facts for kids
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Historic RittenhouseTown
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Rittenhouse homestead
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 Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | 206–210 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 84 acres (34 ha) |
| Built | 1690–1732 |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001878 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 27, 1992 |
| Designated NHLD | April 27, 1992 |
Historic RittenhouseTown is a special place that shows us what an early American industrial community looked like. It's famous for being the home of the first paper mill in what was then British North America. This mill was built way back in 1690 by William Rittenhouse and his son Nicholas. It was located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, along a stream called Paper Mill Run. Today, RittenhouseTown is part of Fairmount Park and includes six of its original buildings. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark District on April 27, 1992, which means it's a very important historical site.
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History of RittenhouseTown
Long ago, people in nearby Germantown would weave flax into linen fabric. When these linen clothes wore out, the old rags were brought to RittenhouseTown. Here, they were turned into new paper at the Rittenhouse mill. This paper was then sold to printers in Germantown, Philadelphia, and New York City.
The Rittenhouse paper mill operated for many years, until about the 1850s. After that, the Rittenhouse family started renting out their buildings for other types of manufacturing.
Between 1890 and 1917, the City of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park Commission acquired the land and buildings of RittenhouseTown. They did this through donations and purchases. Later, in 1984, a nonprofit group called Historic RittenhouseTown, Inc. was started. Their goal is to protect, fix up, and teach people about the history of RittenhouseTown. This organization has offices right in RittenhouseTown. They offer historical tours, workshops where you can learn to make paper, and special events for visitors.
What You Can See at RittenhouseTown
RittenhouseTown has six historic buildings that are cared for by Historic RittenhouseTown, Inc. These include:
- The Abraham Rittenhouse Home, built around 1720.
- The Rittenhouse Homestead, built in 1707.
- The Rittenhouse Bake House, built around 1730. This building is still used for cooking demonstrations today.
- The Enoch Rittenhouse Home, built in 1845.
- The Jacob Rittenhouse Home, built in 1810.
- Another unnamed Rittenhouse Home from the 18th century.
Most of the buildings in RittenhouseTown are made of stone and covered with stucco. They show us how buildings were constructed long ago, using colonial building methods. These six buildings are all that remain of what was once a much larger industrial area and worker village. More than 35 other buildings have been taken down over time. You can also find archaeological remains of some of the old mill buildings, which are parts of the structures found underground.
A barn built in the 20th century for the Fairmount Park Commission is now used for workshops and demonstrations on how paper is made.
Images for kids
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Outbuilding, 207A Lincoln Drive, Fairmount Park
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