Besty Ross House: Photo by M. Kennedy for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
It’s no secret that Philadelphia is a history buff’s dream: We have the museums, the national landmarks, the footprints everywhere of America’s most storied characters (plus some of their gravesites), and the stunning historic hotels. (Hi! Come stay with us at Guild House, a historic boutique hotel in the heart of Philadelphia!).
There are, in other words, a lot of historical Philly attractions to take in, which might be why some of our most fascinating landmarks fly under the radar, comparatively speaking. Philadelphia’s many historic homes (and, ahem, boutique hotels!) offer intimate glimpses into American history and some of the people who were a part of it. Beyond that, they feature an array of breathtaking architecture and landscapes, remarkable stories, on-site museums and an all-around lovely way to spend a couple hours.
You can find a great number of incredible historic homes in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, but here, we’ve whittled our list to seven local favorites that offer fascinating glimpses into a range of historical periods and characters. Consider this a good starting point, your guide to touring some of Philly’s most interesting historic homes within an hour’s drive (or even a walk!) of our own boutique hotel here in the heart of Philadelphia. Be sure to check websites before you go for reservation instructions and tour options!
One of the big-name historic homes in this city is actually teeny-tiny—the Besty Ross House, a.k.a., the nearly 300-year-old birthplace of the American flag and the former home of its fascinating creator. (Shown in photo above.) The diminutive size is part of the charm of the place, which offers group tours and audio tours that take you through the parlor, bedroom, basement and more, as well as the courtyard that holds Ross’s grave. (Thanks to the house’s interactive historical programming, you can also meet “Betsy” and hear about her life.) The Betsy Ross House is also known for regular events, from movie nights to “tipsy history” events to special “behind-the-barrier” tours, and more. 239 Arch Street, Philadelphia
A six-acre island of preserved history in the middle of bustling Germantown, Cliveden’s story dates way back to 1763, when a lawyer and powerful political player named Benjamin Chew had the place built as an escape from the crowded city during the Yellow Fever epidemic. The Cliveden estate was smack dab in the middle of the Battle of Germantown in the Revolutionary War, and had cannonballs lodged in its walls until the 1970s, when the National Trust for Historic Preservation restored it. Today, you can tour the house, with some of its original furnishings and other bits and pieces left by the Chew family. There’s also an annual reenactment of the battle, thoughtful programming that explores and confronts the past, and information about the history of the family behind Cliveden, as well as those who worked there, including the enslaved people who lived at Cliveden and labored under the Chews. 6401 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia
Cliveden: Photo by R. Kennedy for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
Another historic Germantown gem, this restored Victorian mansion once belonged to a man named, yes, Ebenezer Maxwell, who was a wealthy cloth merchant, and then to the Hunter Stevenson family, another wealthy Victorian-era family. Today it’s known for hosting programming of all sorts, including Victorian theater performances (Sherlock Holmes, for example, and A Christmas Carol), but the grandiose 17-room Victorian manse, with its beautiful period furnishings and gardens, is also open for tours. 200 West Tulpehocken Street, Philadelphia
The circa-1865 stone farmhouse (and 68-acre estate) that belonged to the famed writer and humanitarian is a beautifully preserved National Historic Landmark. Visitors can choose from two guided tours: the first, a traditional biographic house tour, takes you through the home and Buck’s belongings (from artwork to clothing to, of course, books); the second, a tour and interactive dialog experience, “shares the story of Buck’s forward-thinking human rights advocacy for issues that remain relevant today.” You can also wander the grounds, which hold Buck’s gravesite, award-winning gardens, the Welcome Center and more. 520 Dublin Rd, Perkasie, PA
This beautiful circa-1765 Georgian home belonged to Samuel Powel, the mayor of Philly before, during and after the Revolutionary War. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were briefly neighbors to George and Martha Washington here in Philly, but they were even better known as top-tier hosts, welcoming guests like Ben Franklin, John Adams, the Marquis de Lafayette and more luminaries of the era. Elizabeth Powel was also known, as the Powel House history states, as “one of Washington’s closest confidants during his presidency, advising him on issues both personal and political.” And while many of the original architectural details of her home are today found at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the townhome is still known as one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the city, and visitors can tour the place (decorated with period furnishings) in one of the public history tours regularly offered. 244 South Third Street, Philadelphia
Powel House: Photo by M. Kennedy for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
Winterthur is more than just the former home and estate of Henry Francis du Pont, famed collector and horticulturist. It’s a full museum with some 90,000 historic and decorative objects, in collections that span from the mid 1600s to the mid-1800s. The grandiose home-turned-museum offers self-guided tours that cover the “premier entertaining rooms enjoyed by Henry Francis du Pont’s friends in the 1930s and ’40s,” plus other living spaces, the many galleries (which feature everything from famous paintings to furniture to ceramics and more, including special exhibitions), and the gardens and grounds, which you can also see via a 30-minute tram tour. 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE
This stately National Historic Landmark is the former country home of merchant William Coleman, who was a contemporary and good friend of Ben Franklin’s. Built in the 1750s (and known for housing George Clymer, Coleman’s nephew, who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution), the house today is owned by the city of Philadelphia, and features a collection of antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries. 3400 West Dauphin Street, East Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
Woodford Mansion: Photo by M. Fischetti for ©VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
