Pennsbury Manor facts for kids
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Pennsbury Manor
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Pennsbury Manor in Tullytown, Pennsylvania in October 2012
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| Nearest city | Tullytown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Built | Original: 1683 Recreation: 1939 |
| Architect | Original: Unknown Recreation: R. Brognard Okie |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000154 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 28, 1969 |
Pennsbury Manor is a special historical place in Pennsylvania. It was once the country home of William Penn, who founded the state of Pennsylvania. He lived there from 1699 to 1701.
After Penn left, the house slowly fell apart. But in 1939, a new version of the manor was built on the same spot. Today, Pennsbury Manor is a museum. It helps us learn about William Penn and life in colonial times.
Contents
The Story of William Penn
William Penn (1644-1718) came from England. He was given a huge amount of land by King Charles II. This land became the Colony of Pennsylvania.
Penn had a big dream. He wanted to create a place where people could live freely. This was called his "Holy Experiment." He especially wanted a safe home for the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers. They were often treated unfairly in England.
In 1682, Penn arrived in the New World. He met with the local Lenape Native American tribes. He wanted to be fair and make peace with them. He got along well with the Lenape people.
Building Pennsbury Manor
Penn decided to build a summer home for his family. It was located about 25 miles north of Philadelphia. This spot was along the Delaware River.
Construction of the manor began soon after Penn arrived in 1682. It was finished around 1686. The estate had a main house. It also had other buildings like a stable, a boathouse, and places for baking and brewing. Penn wanted it to be like a fancy country estate in England.
Penn spent most of his time in Philadelphia. This city was becoming the capital of his new colony. So, the manor house was often empty. In 1701, Penn had to go back to England. He faced money problems and never returned to Pennsylvania.
Over time, the manor house fell into ruin. By 1736, one of Penn's sons said the house was "very near falling." The roof and windows were broken, and the wood was rotten.
Bringing Pennsbury Back to Life
In the 1920s and 1930s, people became very interested in saving colonial American history. Many old buildings were being rebuilt or restored. This was a time when America was celebrating its past.
In 1932, a company called Warner Company donated land to Pennsylvania. This land was where Pennsbury Manor once stood. The state decided to rebuild the manor. The goal was to create a house museum. It would teach people about William Penn.
Historians and archaeologists worked together. They found the old foundations of Penn's house. They also used old drawings and letters from Penn. These clues helped them figure out what the original house looked like.
The new Pennsbury Manor was designed by architect R. Brognard Okie. It was built between 1938 and 1940. Okie designed a beautiful red-brick house. It looks like homes from that time period.
Today, Pennsbury Manor is managed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. It is open to the public. You can visit and see what life was like in colonial Pennsylvania.
Returning to the Lenape Homelands
The land where Pennsbury Manor stands was originally home to the Lenape tribe. For many years, Lenape ancestors and their sacred objects were kept in museums. This included the Pennsylvania State Museum.
On April 11, 2022, something very important happened. About 200 Lenape ancestors and their funerary objects were brought back. They were laid to rest on their homelands at Pennsbury Manor.
It took about 15 years of hard work. Lenape tribal leaders and Pennsbury Manor staff worked together. They brought back ancestors from different places across the country. All five tribes of the Delaware Nation agreed to take care of the new cemetery. This event was a big step in honoring the Lenape people and their history.
