The grandest house in Fairmount Park
Historic Strawberry Mansion is celebrated as the largest of the Fairmount Park Historic Houses, and filled with antiques, fine art, and collectible treasures from the eighteenth and nineteenth century.
Formerly known as “Summerville,” the center section of Strawberry Mansion was built in the Federal style in 1789 by renowned abolitionist lawyer, judge, and state legislator William Lewis.
Summerville’s second prominent resident, Judge Joseph Hemphill, added the two expansive Greek Revival wings which create the exterior facade today.
During the period from 1846 to 1867, when farmers renting the mansion served strawberries and cream to the public, Historic Strawberry Mansion received its current name – which was later extended to the adjacent Philadelphia neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion.
The Early Years
Formerly known as “Summerville,” the center section of Strawberry Mansion was built in the Federal style around 1789 by renowned lawyer, judge and state legislator, William Lewis (1752-1819). During his lifetime, Lewis dominated the American legal field and took on countless high profile cases involving slavery, British debts, privateering, and most famously, the Aaron Burr treason case. He is credited for drafting the first law in the US abolishing slavery and was an advisor to both George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.
Summerville’s second prominent resident, Judge Joseph Hemphill (1770-1842), added the two expansive Greek Revival wings which create the exterior of the house as we recognize it today. Hemphill had a distinguished record, serving as Judge of Philadelphia's District Court, being elected six times to Congress and completing three terms in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives. Hemphill also invested in pottery manufacturing, producing with William Ellis Tucker “Tucker-Hemphill” porcelain.
The Park Years
Hemphill’s death 1842 led to the mansion being rented to many tenants, including the gardeners responsible for the new name “Strawberry Mansion.” In 1868, Strawberry Mansion became part of Fairmount Park and was used as a restaurant. During the Victorian period, Strawberry Mansion became an immensely popular institution that gave its name to the nearby neighborhood and adjacent bridge over the Schuylkill. The mansion continued to be a restaurant and popular picnic spot into the twentieth century.
During the preparations for the sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the United states in 1926, a group of civic-minded women formed the Committee of 1926 and took over the administration of the building as a historic house museum. Strawberry Mansion has extensive grounds and features a large collection of American and European decorative arts and antiques in its many rooms, including a rare Empire style ballroom with original furniture.
Visit
REGULAR SEASON (April-November) ADMISSION INFO:
Hours:
Thursday - Sunday from 10 am - 4 pm
Address:
2450 Strawberry Mansion Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Contact:
Phone: 215.228.8364
Admission (regular season):
Adults: $8
Seniors | Students: $5
Children under 12 free.
COVID-19 PROTOCOL:
Face masks are encouraged, but not required
If you or anyone in your household are exhibiting COVID-19 systems, please stay home.
Please maintain social distancing
Tours last about 45 minutes. If there is a booking in the next hour, the tour cannot exceed 45 minutes in order to provide time to clean and prepare the space
If you wish to schedule a visit for a group of 15 or more or tour the house outside scheduled tour times with a smaller group, please see our group page here.
We welcome K–12 and college school groups to visit Historic Strawberry Mansion. To schedule your visit, please call the house at 215.228.8364 or sign up here. School tour reservations should be made at least two weeks before your visit.
Website:
http://www.historicstrawberrymansion.org
Rentals:
See Historic Strawberry Mansion’s rentals page here.