List of houses in Fairmount Park facts for kids
Imagine a huge park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, called Fairmount Park. It's home to many old, beautiful houses! Most of these are called mansions because they are quite large. Wealthy families from Philadelphia built these homes in the 1700s and 1800s. They used them as summer getaways.
Back then, the main part of Philadelphia was far away, near the Delaware River. The park area, along the Schuylkill River, was a perfect escape. People would go there to avoid sicknesses that were common in the city during summer. These mansions were built in different styles, like Federal, Georgian, and Greek Revival. The oldest, Belmont Mansion, was built in 1742. The newest, Rockland, was finished in 1810.
There are 19 historic houses still standing today. Sixteen of them were built right inside what is now Fairmount Park. Three others were moved here from different parts of Philadelphia. These include Cedar Grove Mansion from Frankford, Hatfield House from Nicetown, and Letitia Street House from Old City. All 19 houses were originally designed as private homes. Sadly, The Cliffs Mansion in the east part of the park is now a ruin. A fire caused by arson damaged it in 1986. Other historic houses were torn down because they were too old, damaged, or there wasn't enough money to fix them. This list only includes the houses that are still standing.
Some other historic buildings in the park look like houses but were never used as homes. The Ohio House was built for a big event called the Centennial Exposition. The Shofuso Japanese House was built in Japan as a museum exhibit. It was later moved to Fairmount Park. The Smith Memorial Playhouse was designed as an indoor play area for kids, and it's still used that way today!
This list doesn't include the historic boathouses along Boathouse Row. Those were built for sports clubs, not for people to live in. Houses in Wissahickon Valley Park are also not on this list. That park used to be part of the Fairmount Park system. But since 2010, all park areas are managed by a new group called Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Today, the Fairmount Park Conservancy works with the city to lease some of these historic houses. Groups or businesses can rent them. They must promise to fix up and take care of the buildings. They also have to keep the original look of the houses. The best part is that they must allow the public to visit! This helps keep these amazing old homes alive for everyone to enjoy.
Note: The date February 7, 1972, is when Fairmount Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This date is used for houses that don't have their own special listing. A "~" means the style or architect is unknown.
| Image | Name | Years Built (*around) |
Park Area |
Location | Nearby Neighborhood |
NRHP Date | Style | Architect | What it's used for now | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Belmont Mansion | 1742–45* | West Park, Central | 2000 Belmont Mansion Dr 39°59′27″N 75°12′47″W / 39.9909°N 75.2131°W |
Wynnefield | February 7, 1972 | Palladian | William Peters (owner) | Museum; events | |
 |
Boelson Cottage | 1678–84 | West Park, Central | 2110 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr 39°59′23″N 75°12′11″W / 39.9896°N 75.2030°W |
Wynnefield | February 7, 1972 | Dutch, Swedish | ~ | Offices | |
 |
Cedar Grove Mansion | 1748–50 | West Park, South | 1 Cedar Grove Dr 39°58′45″N 75°12′16″W / 39.9792°N 75.2044°W |
Parkside | February 7, 1972 | Federal | ~ | Tours available | |
 |
Chamounix Mansion | 1802, 1853* | West Park, North | 3250 Chamounix Dr 40°00′14″N 75°11′47″W / 40.0038°N 75.1963°W |
Wynnefield Heights | April 26, 1972 | Federal | ~ | Youth hostel | |
 |
The Cliffs Mansion | 1753 | East Park, South | 3400 Reservoir Dr 39°58′46″N 75°11′39″W / 39.9794°N 75.1941°W |
Brewerytown | March 16, 1972 | Georgian | ~ | In ruins | |
 |
Hatfield House | 1760*, 1838*, 1850* | East Park, South | 3201 W Girard Ave 39°58′33″N 75°11′18″W / 39.9759°N 75.18833°W |
Brewerytown | March 16, 1972 | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival | ~ | Access unknown | |
 |
Laurel Hill Mansion | 1767*, 1800*, 1846 | East Park, North | 7201 Edgeley Dr 39°59′29″N 75°11′42″W / 39.9914°N 75.19497°W |
Strawberry Mansion | March 24, 1972 | Georgian, Federal | ~ | Tours; events | |
 |
Lemon Hill Mansion | 1800* | East Park, South | 1 Lemon Hill Dr 39°58′15″N 75°11′14″W / 39.9707°N 75.1872°W |
Fairmount | February 7, 1972 | Federal | Henry Pratt (owner) | Tours available | |
 |
Letitia Street House | 1713* | West Park, South | 3401 Girard Ave 39°58′31″N 75°11′49″W / 39.9754°N 75.196946°W |
Parkside | February 7, 1972 | Georgian | ~ | Access unknown | |
 |
The Lilacs House | 1711*, 1832 | West Park, North | 3600 Greenland Dr 39°59′55″N 75°11′47″W / 39.9987°N 75.1965°W |
Wynnefield Heights | February 7, 1972 | ~ | ~ | Access unknown | |
 |
Mount Pleasant Mansion | 1761–65* | East Park, Central | 3800 Mount Pleasant Dr 39°59′00″N 75°11′59″W / 39.9834°N 75.1998°W |
Strawberry Mansion | October 15, 1966 | Georgian | Thomas Nevell, apprentice of Edmund Woolley | National Historic Landmark; tours | |
 |
Ohio House | 1876 | West Park, Central | 1700 Belmont Ave 39°59′06″N 75°12′58″W / 39.9850°N 75.2162°W |
Wynnefield | February 7, 1972 | Gothic Revival | ~ | Café | |
 |
Ormiston Mansion | 1798 | East Park, Central | 2000 Reservoir Dr 39°59′19″N 75°11′47″W / 39.9887°N 75.1963°W |
Strawberry Mansion | February 7, 1972 | Georgian | Edward Burd (owner) | Occasional tours/events | |
 |
Ridgeland Mansion | 1752–62* | West Park, North | 4100 Chamounix Dr 39°59′33″N 75°12′37″W / 39.9926°N 75.2102°W |
Wynnefield Heights | February 7, 1972 | Federal | ~ | Events | |
 |
Rockland Mansion | 1810* | East Park, Central | 3810 Mount Pleasant Dr 39°59′09″N 75°11′59″W / 39.9858°N 75.1998°W |
Strawberry Mansion | February 7, 1972 | Federal | ~ | Offices | |
 |
Sedgeley Porter's House | 1799–1802 | East Park, South | 3250 Sedgeley Dr 39°58′28″N 75°11′20″W / 39.9745°N 75.1889°W |
Fairmount | February 7, 1972 | Gothic Revival | Benjamin Henry Latrobe | Outward Bound | |
 |
Shofuso Japanese House | 1953 | West Park, South | 4301 Lansdowne Dr 39°58′53″N 75°12′46″W / 39.9814°N 75.2129°W |
Parkside | February 7, 1972 | Shoin-zukuri | Junzō Yoshimura | Tours available | |
 |
Smith Memorial Playhouse | 1897–99 | East Park, Central | 3500 Reservoir Dr 39°58′54″N 75°11′44″W / 39.9817°N 75.1956°W |
Strawberry Mansion | ~ | ~ | James H. Windrim | Indoor play area | |
 |
The Solitude Mansion | 1784–85 | West Park, South | 3400 W Girard Ave 39°58′21″N 75°11′44″W / 39.9726°N 75.1955°W |
Parkside | February 7, 1972 | Federal | John Penn (owner) | Located in the zoo | |
 |
Strawberry Mansion | 1783–89*, 1828* | East Park, North | 2450 Strawberry Mansion Dr 39°59′39″N 75°11′26″W / 39.9943°N 75.1906°W |
Strawberry Mansion | February 7, 1972 | Federal, Greek Revival | ~ | Tours; events | |
 |
Sweetbriar Mansion | 1797 | West Park, South | 3801 Lansdowne Dr 39°58′37″N 75°12′03″W / 39.9770°N 75.2009°W |
Parkside | February 7, 1972 | Federal | ~ | Currently closed | |
 |
Woodford Mansion | 1756–58, 1771–72*, 1790* | East Park, North | 3400 Woodford Dr 39°59′36″N 75°11′16″W / 39.9932°N 75.1877°W |
Strawberry Mansion | December 24, 1967 | Georgian, Palladian | ~ | National Historic Landmark; tours |
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Philadelphia – includes Mount Pleasant and Woodford Mansions
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Philadelphia – includes The Cliffs, Hatfield House, Laurel Hill, Mount Pleasant and Woodford Mansions
- Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
