Mount Pleasant
| Mount Pleasant | |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic house museum / Park grounds |
| Location | Fairmount Park (East) |
| Coordinates | 39.9860,-75.1900 |
| Area | Part of East Fairmount Park |
| Established | 1762 (house) |
| Operated by | Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| Features | Georgian mansion, Benedict Arnold connection, period architecture |
| Hours | Limited—check with Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| Transit | SEPTA bus; drive recommended |
| Website | Official Site |
Mount Pleasant is a Georgian mansion in East Fairmount Park, considered one of the finest examples of late colonial architecture in America. Built in 1762 for Scottish sea captain John Macpherson, the house is perhaps best known as the property purchased by Benedict Arnold as a wedding gift—though he never lived there due to his treason. John Adams called it "the most elegant seat in Pennsylvania."[1]
Mount Pleasant represents the height of colonial Philadelphia's architectural achievement.
History
[edit | edit source]Construction
[edit | edit source]Captain John Macpherson built Mount Pleasant in 1762:
- Scottish privateer captain
- Made fortune in shipping
- Built grand country estate
- Named it "Clunie" (later Mount Pleasant)
Architecture
[edit | edit source]The house exemplifies late Georgian style:
- Palladian influences
- Symmetrical design
- Elaborate exterior details
- High-style colonial craftsmanship
John Adams' Assessment
[edit | edit source]John Adams visited in 1775 and wrote:
- "The most elegant seat in Pennsylvania"
- Praised the architecture and grounds
- Documented in his diary
- Remains the house's most famous endorsement
Benedict Arnold
[edit | edit source]Benedict Arnold's connection:
- 1779: Purchased Mount Pleasant as wedding gift for Peggy Shippen
- Never actually lived in the house
- Arnold's treason discovered 1780
- Property seized by government
- Arnold fled to British
Later History
[edit | edit source]After Arnold:
- Various private owners
- City acquired for Fairmount Park
- Operated as house museum
- Managed by Philadelphia Museum of Art
Features
[edit | edit source]Architecture
[edit | edit source]Georgian Colonial masterpiece:
- Symmetrical five-bay facade
- Elaborate entrance
- Palladian window
- Stucco over stone
- Exceptional craftsmanship throughout
Exterior Details
[edit | edit source]Notable features:
- Belt courses and quoins
- Elaborate doorway with pediment
- Decorative chimneys
- Period proportions
Interior
[edit | edit source]- Georgian room layouts
- Period architectural details
- Some furnished spaces
- Architectural interpretation focus
Grounds
[edit | edit source]Estate setting:
- Fairmount Park surroundings
- Historic landscape
- Outbuildings (restored)
Visiting
[edit | edit source]Access
[edit | edit source]- Limited public hours
- Check Philadelphia Museum of Art for schedule
- May be open for special events
- Exterior always viewable from park
Getting There
[edit | edit source]Location: Mount Pleasant Drive, East Fairmount Park
By Public Transit:
- SEPTA Bus 32
- Driving recommended
By Car:
- Drive into Fairmount Park
- Follow signs to Mount Pleasant
Tips
[edit | edit source]- Check museum website before visiting
- The exterior is worth seeing even if closed
- Combine with other park mansions
- Architecture enthusiasts will appreciate details
Architectural Significance
[edit | edit source]Mount Pleasant matters because:
- Finest Georgian mansion in Philadelphia
- Exceptional decorative details
- Documented contemporary praise
- Preserved original character
- National Historic Landmark
Nearby
[edit | edit source]- Fairmount Park — Surrounding park
- Woodford Mansion — Nearby
- Strawberry Mansion — Nearby
- Laurel Hill Cemetery — Across river
- Ormiston — Nearby mansion
See Also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Mount Pleasant". Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved December 30, 2025