Nestled
along the scenic Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Laurel Hill has a prominent location on a high bluff overlooking the river.
One of the most visible houses that ring the river, the view of the river
from the back porch is not to be missed.
The original house consisted of a two-story Georgian brick structure
with a symmetrically placed entry and a gallery of windows on the first
and second floors. In the late 18th/early 19th century, a small single story
wing was added to the south-side of the home. The unique two-story octagonal
wing was added to the north side soon thereafter.
Read more about the fascinating history of Laurel Hill Mansion and those that lived there.
Portraits of former occupants hang in the house which is furnished in the
popular styles of in the late
18th century. The furniture includes an 18th century Philadelphia
Chippendale mahogany highboy, a valuable family heirloom presented to Laurel
Hill by the Rawle family 1993. This original piece, was given by the
Burge family upon the marriage of their daughter, Sarah, to William Rawle
in 1783. Decorative items include musical instruments such as an English
pianoforte from 1808 by Broadwood and a harp from the early 19th century.
There are events open to the public from April to December including a Spring
Tea, Summer Concerts and Yuletide Tours.
Visit our Events Page for more information.
The Gardens at Laurel Hill Mansion
Opportunities to volunteer include Love your Park day and community garden
days among others. Please contact us for more information.
To arrange a tour for your group, school or class please e-mail us at
education@laurelhillmansion.org or phone (215) 235-1776.
Click here to visit our history page to learn more about this fascinating house and the people who lived here.
Click here for articles about Laurel Hill Mansion
The stewards of Laurel Hill Mansion are Women For Greater Philadelphia.
Women
for Greater Philadelphia, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation of
volunteers.The goals of the corporation are to promote and enhance the historical,
philosophical, educational and cultural valve of Greater Philadelphia and
to maintain and preserve Laurel Hill Mansion.
Women for Greater Philadelphia, an organization of volunteers, was incorporated in 1973 under the name “Women for the Bicentennial” as a non-profit service organization. Its purpose at that time was to cooperate with the city in celebrating the nation’s 200th anniversary in 1976. The first project was the renovation and restoration of the handsome, but neglected, Laurel Hill Mansion under an agreement with the Fairmount Park commission. The mansion, which dates to 1767, has been welcoming the public ever since its opening in 1976. At the close of that year, the name was changed to Women for Greater Philadelphia. The goal of Women for Greater Philadelphia is to create an intergenerational education program that teaches people about Philadelphia’s rich history through preserving Laurel Hill Mansion and, simultaneously, preserving the cultural image of the Greater Philadelphia area. Membership in Women for Greater Philadelphia is open anyone that is interested in the goals of the organization upon payment of dues.
For more information visit www.womenforgreaterphiladelphia.org.