Fairmount Park in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Solitude
A Small Country Retreat
John Penn, the grandson of Pennsylvania founder William Penn, was 23 when he arrived in Philadelphia in late 1783 to manage the family property. He purchased 15 acres on the high west bank of the Schuylkill River – well outside the city – because of a turbulent political atmosphere which included distrust of the Penn family. It was here in 1774, that he began construction of The Solitude, his small county retreat.
The Solitude was one of the first neoclassical houses in America – and it began a trend. Serving as his own architect, John Penn borrowed ideas from popular buildings in England designed by Robert Adam, which included plaster ceiling ornaments and decorative wrought iron balustrades.
When John Penn returned to England in 1788, the house was still owned by the Penn family. In 1868, Fairmount Park bought The Solitude from the family’s estate for 59,000 pounds, over $6 million in today’s currency.
The Pennsylvania Legislature granted a charted to the Zoological Society of Pennsylvania in 1859, establishing America’s first zoo. In 1872, Fairmount Park offered to lease the land, including The Solitude, to the newly formed Zoological Society for one dollar a year.
The building served a variety of functions over the years, including an exhibition of snakes in its parlor. For many years prior to 2006, The Solitude housed the Zoo’s executive offices.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1774.
Location. 39° 58.35′ N, 75° 11.717′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Fairmount Park. Marker can be reached from North 34th Street. This wayside is on the grounds of the Philadelphia Zoo. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Philadelphia PA 19104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Walter Gray Family Gardens at The Solitude (within shouting distance of this marker); Caribbean flamingo (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Solitude (within shouting distance of this marker); Sebastopol goose (within shouting distance of this marker); Plastic-free Sea (within shouting distance of this marker); Trumpeter swan (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Domestic Goat Breeds (about 500 feet away); Arapawa goat / Alpaca (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Also see . . . The Solitude Mansion. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 2, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.