The Highlands (Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Highlands
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7001 Sheaff Lane, Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 44 acres (180,000 m2) |
| Built | 1794 |
| Architect | Col. Timothy Matlack |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001653 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
The Highlands is a really old and beautiful building located near Fort Washington in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It's a special place in the United States that has a lot of history. Today, it's a museum and a lovely spot to visit, with amazing gardens.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Building The Highlands
The Highlands was built a long, long time ago, between 1794 and 1796. A wealthy merchant and politician from Philadelphia named Anthony Morris (who lived from 1766 to 1860) had it built. The design for this grand house came from another important Philadelphia politician, Timothy Matlack (1730-1829).
The house is quite large, with two and a half stories, and it's made from strong stone. It was built in the late Georgian style, which was popular back then. This style often features balanced designs and grand entrances. The front of The Highlands has two tall, decorative columns called pilasters that reach up two stories.
Anthony Morris was a very busy person. He was the speaker of the Pennsylvania senate, which is like being a leader in the state government. He even signed a bill that sent troops to stop the Whiskey Rebellion. This was a time when some people were upset about a tax on whiskey. Morris also helped run the Bank of North America and was a trustee at the University of Pennsylvania. From 1810 to 1814, he worked as an unofficial helper for President James Madison in Spain.
Who Lived Here?
Anthony Morris sold The Highlands in 1808 to Daniel Hittner (1765-1841). Daniel Hittner owned the estate for five years and added more than 300 acres of land to it.
In 1813, a wine merchant named George Sheaff (1779-1851) bought the property. The Sheaff family owned The Highlands for a very long time, until 1917. After George Sheaff passed away, most of the land was sold off. Only about 59 acres were left with his grandson, John.
After the last Sheaff family member passed away in 1917, Miss Caroline Sinkler bought the estate. Then, in 1941, her niece Emily Sinkler Roosevelt became the owner. Emily Roosevelt and her husband decided to give the property to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1957. This meant it became a public treasure.
Since 2021, Whitemarsh Township has been the owner of The Highlands.
The Highlands Today
Today, The Highlands is a beautiful 44-acre site. It still has its amazing late 18th-century Georgian mansion and lovely formal gardens. It's now run as a museum and historic site by the Highlands Historical Society. This group is a non-profit organization that helps people learn about history.
You can even rent The Highlands for special events like weddings and parties!
Fun Events at The Highlands
The Highlands Historical Society also hosts many fun events throughout the year. These events help raise money to keep the site beautiful and teach people about its history.
One popular event is the annual Highlands Craft Show. It started in 1982 to help raise money to fix up the 2-acre formal garden. Now, the craft show is a great place where talented artists from all over the United States come to show and sell their handmade items inside the mansion. You can find things like fabric art, pottery, handbags, and handmade jewelry.
Other exciting events include a pumpkin and jack-o-lantern display around Halloween. There's also the Highlands Hunt Breakfast in early November. This event features a pretend fox hunt with a group of hounds and about 20 local horseback riders. They ride through nearby properties and then return to the mansion to relax and enjoy breakfast with friends and family.
Owners of The Highlands
- 1796 to 1808: Anthony Morris
- 1808 to 1813: Daniel Hittner
- 1813 to 1917: George Sheaff and heirs
- 1917 to 1941: Miss Caroline Sinkler
- 1941 to 1957: Emily Sinkler Roosevelt and her husband Nicholas
- 1957 to 2021: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- 2021 to present: Whitemarsh Township, PA
Gallery
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Alley in the garden
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Bust of a faun in the garden
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Armillary sphere in the garden
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Barn from the southeast
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Barn from the northwest
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Springhouse
