Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Valley Green Inn
1850
In the mid-1800s, the valley was changing from an industrial center to a recreational area. A new turnpike gave people easy access to the valley's beauty. The Valley Green Hotel, built in 1850, gave them a place to eat, drink and rest.
The hotel hosted dances, sleigh parties and countless visitors. But time took its toll and the hotel went through several renovations.
The most significant took place in 1899 when the Colonial Dames restored the rundown building and added new elements like leaded glass windows. The building then became known as the Valley Green Inn.
Other inns have come and gone along the Wissahickon. Now only Valley Green, one of the most beloved places in the park, is still in operation.
The long, low building near the inn is a warming shed. Guests could keep their horses stabled here to protect them during bad weather. The Friends of Wissahickon restored the shed in 1999. Keeping true to the original, they used old-fashioned joinery with wooden pegs instead of nails.
Erected by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 40°
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Park Information (a few steps from this marker); Park Directory (within shouting distance of this marker); Violet Oakley (approx. ¾ mile away); Wissahickon Inn (approx. 0.8 miles away); Original cornerstone of the old Leverington Hotel (approx. 1.2 miles away); 21st Ward World War Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Transformation in the heart of Roxborough (approx. 1.3 miles away); Sadie T.M. Alexander (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 231 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
