Last updated: 2/28/2012
SEDGELEY & LEMON HILL DRIVES
Philadelphia, PA 19130
c/o 149 Splitrail Lane
Blue Bell, PA 19422
Sunday, Wednesday - Saturday
10 AM - 4 PM
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Joyce Jones
phone: 215-232-4337
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Carol F. Mccabe Esq.
phone:
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Historic Federal Style House Museum. Collection period 1800 = 1834 Philadelphia. Built 1800.
Visit Lemon Hill, located in the heart of East Fairmount Park, and escape from the modern concrete and glass city into the idyllic “villa life” enjoyed by Philadelphia’s early nineteenth century gentry. Lemon Hill mansion was built in 1800 as a summer retreat by Henry Pratt, a prosperous Philadelphia merchant. Surrounded by extensive gardens, the mansion was one of more than a dozen similar summer homes in the Philadelphia area.
Lemon Hill, one of the nation's finest examples of Federal-style architecture, was built between 1799 and 1800 by Henry Pratt. Situated on a spectacular site overlooking the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, it is a fitting testament to Philadelphia's apogee as a cultural and political center in the post-revolutionary era.
Pratt, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, purchased the land at a sheriff’s sale in 1799. Included in the sale were 43 acres of ground, a large and elegant greenhouse, hot houses and "pleasure" gardens, for which he paid $14,654 in new American currency. Construction of Lemon Hill was completed in 1800. Pratt named his showplace after the median lemon, a variety of citrus grown in the greenhouse. He transformed Lemon Hill into one of the finest country estates of the colonial era. He opened the greenhouse and surrounding pleasure gardens to the public by "ticket of admission." The gardens were written up in numerous gardening publications and attracted visitors from all over the world. Lemon Hill's famous gardens fell into disarray after Pratt's death in 1838. Nevertheless, visitors continued to flock to Lemon Hill in the mid-1850s when it served as a recreational site for participants in German singing festivals, known as "Sangerfests." Beer was served to the public and lager beer signs could be seen hanging on the mansion. Lemon Hill became part of Fairmount Park in 1855.
During the Victorian era, Lemon Hill was leased to various concessionaires, who ran a restaurant, candy shop and ice cream parlor on the premises. The mansion and surrounding grounds were in such disrepair by the beginning of the twentieth century that it was hardly recognizable as a mansion in the Federal-style.
A major restoration of Lemon Hill was undertaken in 1926 by Fiske and Marie Kimball, who lived at the mansion from 1926 to 1955. Since 1957, when the Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II, were entrusted with custodianship of Lemon Hill, it has been the mission of the Dames to preserve this national treasure, both for its intrinsic beauty, as well as for its great historic value. It is largely due to their efforts that Lemon Hill retains its original appearance of two hundred years ago. The architectural beauty of Lemon Hill has withstood the test of time and remains as impressive today as it was in 1799. For most of its two-hundred year history, Lemon Hill has been in the public domain, providing continuous inspiration and recreation to its visitors. For over two centuries, Lemon Hill has been a favorite spot, beginning with the luxurious pleasure gardens cultivated by Henry Pratt, which drew crowds from around the world, and culminating today with the thousands of visitors who tour the mansion as part of the historic house tours of Fairmount Park. Lemon Hill truly represents two-hundred years of splendor in the Park!
1800 - 1834 Phila. Furniture, Decorative Arts works on paper.
Volunteer Board
Lemon Hill is owned by the City of Philadelphia, managed by the Fairmount Park Commission and operated as an historic house museum by the Colonial Dames of America (CDA) and the Friends of Lemon Hill.
Access: Students, Scholars
Appointment required: Yes
The shop is open during regular hours and features reasonably priced gift items such as books, reproduction artifacts (e.g. children's toys, historical documents), handmade products and souvenirs.
Park House Guides are available for groups of 15 or more people. Reservations are required. Call 215-684-7863.
Rental includes use of the main floor, including the Oval Room, dining room, library, foyer and the two porches. The indoor guest limit is 70 persons.
Lemon Hill has been the scene of many successful outdoor parties. Picture your guests under a festive tent set up in front of the graceful twin staircases that lead up to the elegant mansion’s front door. The south side of the mansion, overlooking the Schuylkill River, can accomodate a tent for up to 250 people.
Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Restaurant
Group Tours
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