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, remarkable for being moved stone-by-stone from its original Frankford location in 1927 to preserve it from industrial encroachment. The house spans five generations of the Morris-Wistar family from 1748 to 1888, with original furnishings and family belongings intact—a rare preservation of both architecture and contents.[1]
Cedar Grove offers an unusually complete picture of how one Philadelphia Quaker family lived across 150 years.
History
[edit | edit source]Original Construction
[edit | edit source]Built in Frankford around 1748:
- Elizabeth Coates Paschall built the original house
- Quaker family residence
- Expanded over generations
- Each generation added to the house
Five Generations
[edit | edit source]The house remained in one family line:
- 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
The Move
[edit | edit source]Industrial development threatened the house:
- Frankford became industrial area
- 1927: House moved to Fairmount Park
- Dismantled and reassembled stone by stone
- Contents moved intact
- Preserved family history
Significance
[edit | edit source]Cedar Grove is exceptional because:
- Original furnishings remained with house
- Five generations' belongings preserved
- Documents family life evolution
- Quaker heritage intact
Features
[edit | edit source]Architecture
[edit | edit source]The house shows architectural evolution:
- 1748 original Quaker farmhouse
- Federal-era additions
- Multiple building campaigns visible
- Local stone construction
Original Furnishings
[edit | edit source]Family belongings intact:
- Furniture from all five generations
- Textiles and needlework
- Ceramics and glass
- Family portraits
- Everyday objects
Quaker Life
[edit | edit source]The house reflects Quaker values:
- Simplicity in design
- Quality craftsmanship
- Practical elegance
- Family continuity
Gardens
[edit | edit source]Historic garden recreated:
- Based on period documentation
- 18th and 19th-century plants
- Formal layout elements
Visiting
[edit | edit source]Tours
[edit | edit source]- Limited public hours
- Check Philadelphia Museum of Art website
- Special events occasionally
- Group tours by appointment
Getting There
[edit | edit source]Location: Lansdowne Drive, West Fairmount Park
By Public Transit:
- SEPTA Bus 38
- Driving recommended
By Car:
- Enter Fairmount Park
- Parking near house
Tips
[edit | edit source]- Call ahead—hours are limited
- The furnished interior is the highlight
- Combine with other park mansions
- Interesting for genealogy/family history enthusiasts
Nearby
[edit | edit source]- Fairmount Park — Surrounding park
- Sweetbriar Mansion — Nearby
- Memorial Hall — Nearby
- Philadelphia Zoo — Nearby
See Also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Cedar Grove". Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved December 30, 2025