Cedar Grove
| Cedar Grove | |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic house museum |
| Location | Fairmount Park (West) |
| Coordinates | 39.9870,-75.2000 |
| Area | Part of West Fairmount Park |
| Established | Original house c. 1748; moved to park 1927 |
| Operated by | Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| Features | Colonial/Federal mansion, period furnishings, family history |
| Hours | Limited—check Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| Transit | SEPTA bus; drive recommended |
| Website | Official Site |
Cedar Grove is a historic house museum in West Fairmount Park that was moved stone-by-stone from its original Frankford location in 1927 to save it from industrial encroachment. What makes it truly special is that the house contains original furnishings and family belongings spanning five generations of the Morris-Wistar family from 1748 to 1888, a remarkably rare preservation of both the architecture itself and everything inside it.[1]
You won't find many places like this. Cedar Grove gives you an unusually complete picture of how one Philadelphia Quaker family actually lived across 150 years.
History
Original Construction
The original house was built in Frankford around 1748. Elizabeth Coates Paschall constructed it, and it became a Quaker family residence that expanded over generations as each owner left their mark on the structure.
Five Generations
The house stayed in one family line for its entire existence:
- 1748-1760s: Elizabeth Coates Paschall
- 1760s-1795: Sarah Wistar Morris
- 1795-1840: Isaac Wistar Morris
- 1840-1888: Lydia Thompson Morris and siblings
- 1888: Last family member died; house and contents preserved
Each transition brought changes and additions that you can still see today.
The Move
By the 1920s, Frankford had become an industrial area. The threat was real and immediate. So in 1927, a bold decision was made: take apart the entire house and move it to Fairmount Park. The work was painstaking. They dismantled everything and reassembled it stone by stone, moving all the contents intact to preserve the family history that'd accumulated there over nearly two centuries.
Significance
What sets Cedar Grove apart? Start with the obvious: the original furnishings stayed with the house. You've got belongings from all five generations preserved together, documenting how family life evolved in one household. The Quaker heritage is intact throughout, making it more than just a building—it's a record of how people actually lived.
Features
Architecture
The house shows clear architectural evolution. You can see the 1748 original Quaker farmhouse core, then the Federal-era additions layered on top. Multiple building campaigns are visible if you know what to look for. The entire structure's built from local stone, which itself tells part of the story.
Original Furnishings
Family belongings are still here:
Furniture spans all five generations. Textiles and needlework demonstrate the domestic arts. Ceramics and glass fill the shelves just as they did centuries ago. Family portraits hang on the walls. Even everyday objects remain, the small things people actually used that often vanish from history.
Quaker Life
The house itself reflects Quaker values in concrete ways. You see simplicity in design choices. Quality craftsmanship is evident everywhere. There's a practical elegance throughout. The space embodies family continuity, the idea of passing things down and maintaining tradition.
Gardens
A historic garden's been recreated based on period documentation. It includes 18th and 19th-century plants arranged in formal layout elements that match what historians found in records.
Visiting
Tours
Hours are limited, so plan ahead. Check the Philadelphia Museum of Art website before you go. They run special events occasionally. Group tours can be arranged by appointment if you've got a bigger crowd.
Getting There
Location: Lansdowne Drive, West Fairmount Park
By Public Transit:
SEPTA Bus 38 gets you there. Honestly, driving is recommended if you can manage it.
By Car:
Enter Fairmount Park and look for parking near the house.
Tips
Call ahead because hours are limited and they don't always align with what you'd expect. The furnished interior is really the highlight of the whole visit. Consider combining Cedar Grove with other park mansions in one trip. If you're interested in genealogy or family history, this place is worth the journey.
Nearby
- Fairmount Park — The surrounding park
- Sweetbriar Mansion — Just a short distance away
- Memorial Hall — Also in the park
- Philadelphia Zoo — In the same area
See Also
References
- ↑ "Cedar Grove". Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved December 30, 2025