Whether you are visiting for the first time or are a long-standing member of The Harriton Association, welcome! Built in 1704 and located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Harriton House is a distinguished example of early Pennsylvania architecture and a place to learn more about the life and legacy of one of America’s lesser-known founding fathers, Charles Thomson.
Come See Us
Whether you are visiting for the first time or are a long-standing member of The Harriton Association, welcome! We offer a window into the past representing more than 300 years of lived experience with guided tours of historic Harriton house, educational programs, and public events. We are honored by your visit and encourage you to explore the history preserved within these grounds.
Your Support Genuinely Helps
Whether you’re able to come see us regularly, or simply support our mission to preserve our local history and traditions, your engagement and support really go a long way. Thank you!
Slide 1 is from Thursday morning about 9:00 am, slide 2 is from about 7:00 pm not long after the storm passed through. While the historic house wasn`t damaged, two of the 200+ year old trees behind the house were uprooted leaving a sad, very noticeable gap in the green canopy framing Harriton House.
We`ve been a little quiet the last few days as we start the recovery process from the devastating storm that blew through Bryn Mawr last Thursday. There is much work to be done but there is also much to be grateful for.
We are hopeful that much of the storm damage will be covered by insurance. Recovery efforts will have to take temporary precedence over other preservation projects such as restoring windowsills and the basement doors on the facade of Harriton House. Rest assured that we have not forgotten about this important work. We hope to not have to postpone it for too long.
Care and maintenance of an important and beloved historic site can be challenging but it is always worth the effort.
If you have any questions or concerns about Harriton and the recovery process, please reach out to our Executive Director at director@harritonhouse.org
As always we are deeply appreciative of your support both emotional and financial.
#harriton_house #harriton_park #lowermeriontownship #brynmawr #charlesthomson #rowlandellis #Richardharrison #thisplacematters #historichousecrush #pennsylvaniahistory #historyhappenedhere
#montgomerycountypa
The storm front which ripped through the area around 5pm this afternoon did considerable damage at historic Harriton House and Park. There are innumerable branches, limbs and even entire trees down.
While 1704 Harriton House was not damaged, Kalbach House which sits behind the main house was hit by two immense trees. The deep red clapboard section of Kalbach House is the first building built on the property in about 1686. The siding covers this original log cabin that was added on to in two stone sections giving us the house we have today. Kalbach House is home to the "Bee Garage" which houses the honey spinning equipment we maintain for community use and to Pandora`s Garden early childhood nature classes. Luckily no one was using these facilities at the time.
The grounds of Harriton House will be closed until further notice as we assess the damage, clean up the mess, and survey the property for tree branches that may be hanging overhead. We also recommend avoiding the Harriton Preserve which may have also sustained damage that may take several days to assess.
Sadly a tree also took out several of the bee hives and crushed a section of the lower pasture fence. We`re hopeful the bees can be rescued tomorrow.
Please be cautious, we don`t want any further casualties from this storm.
On a brighter note, the new barn roof held up like a champ and all the animals were safe and sound. A reassuring rainbow filled the sky for a few moments giving us hope that everything will eventually be okay.
#harriton_house #stormdamage #lowermeriontownship #harriton_preserve #charlesthomson #rowlandellis #richardharrison
Do you want to spend some time this summer with this adorable kid? We`re looking for volunteers, 16 and older to help with goat walks with the kids, one on one. You`ll help with their training and supervise their grazing. The average "shift` is about an hour and you can volunteer Tuesday - Saturday between 10 am and 4 pm. It`s a great way to earn community service hours or commune with nature away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Jack and the boys would love to make new human friends.
Call Harriton House or email to: info @harritonhouse.org with the subject Goatscaping
#harriton_house #volunteering #goatlandscaping #brynmawr #helpus @harriton_house @a_goat_named_mow #lowermeriontownship
Has the hot weather these last few days have you thinking about cool treats? You`re not alone!
Cool off at the all-you-can-eat ice cream extravaganza at Harriton House on Father`s Day, Sunday, June 15th, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. With the purchase of at least one regularly priced ticket, your dad or your favorite father-figure eats for free!
You`ll enjoy premium farm fresh ice cream imported from Lancaster County. Why travel so far for ice cream you might wonder? One taste and you`ll understand why. Our source for ice cream uses milk from an exclusively Golden Guernsey herd of cows, the same breed which was kept here at the Harriton Dairy. Between 1909 and 1927, the Harriton Dairy sold milk produced on the estate to local customers.
Sure it`s a long way to go for ice cream but we love the connection to Harriton`s early 20th century history.
Reserve tickets at the link in our Linktree above or scan the QR code in this post. Both the link and code will take you to Harriton`s Eventbrite listing where you can purchase tickets. When you reserve tickets ahead of time, you`ll help save us from the embarrassment of running out of ice cream.
#fathersday #icecreamsocial #ayce #icecreamlover #icecream #familyfriendly #charlesthomson #whattodo #letsgo #historichousecrush
@a_goat_named_mow @eventbrite #cornhole #getoutdoors #phillyfun #fathersday2025 #mainlinepa #familyfriendly
Programs
Harriton House and Park offer exciting hands-on educational opportunities at all levels for children and adults. Students, educators, and life-long learners will enjoy programs in history, the environment, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). Go to our Education and Opportunities pages for details on workshops, summer experiences, and other programs. Start with a visit to our farm animals and our extensive park.
History
Visitors to the Harriton House Museum and Park find an authentic 18th-century house with furnishings of the period. See the desk that Charles Thomson used to write the minutes of the Continental Congress deliberations. View the rooms where local neighbors were regularly entertained, along with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Enjoy the surrounding park, part of the 700 acres of William Penn’s land grant.
The Property
Enjoy a walk and picnic in the park. Feed the goats, sheep, and chickens in the farmyard. Learn about the people who lived and worked here as the property evolved over 300 years: The original Welsh settler with a subsistence farm. The enslaved people on a tobacco plantation. A retired Founding Father experimenting with fruit trees. A woman botanist/explorer raising prize Guernsey dairy cows.