Downtown Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

William Maclay Mansion

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, March 15, 2008

1. William Maclay Mansion Marker

Inscription. Situated across this street is the home of William Maclay (1737-1804); statesman, surveyor, lawyer, the Country's first U.S. Senator and son-in-law of John Harris Jr., the founder of Harrisburg. It was Maclay and Harris who laid out the plan of Harrisburg in 1785 with the northern boundary, ironically, at South street. North of this point was located Maclay's farm and land known as Maclaysburg situated between the River and the hill where the Old Capitol would be constructed in 1822. Maclay's distinction of being the first U.S. Senator came after the Articles of Confederation provided for the organization of the new Federal government when the ninth state ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Pennsylvania became the first state to elect its Senators through the State Legislature with Maclay being the first and Robert Morris, the second. Erected in 1792, Maclay's dwelling originally had the appearance of a simple stone farmhouse with high foundation and elevated first floor. In 1908, the home was purchased by William E. Bailey, a descendant of an early Harrisburg iron and steel industrialist family, who enlisted the expertise

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of City architect Miller Kast to transform the house into a Georgian Revival masterpiece. At that time, additions were made to the north, where a building housing the Harrisburg Academy once stood, and to the east. The mansion is now beautifully preserved by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, its current owner and occupant.
Top Photo
1900 view of the William Maclay Mansion (right) and the Harrisburg Academy (left).
Bottom Photo
1900 close-up view of the William Maclay mansion before alterations and additions.

Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1785.

Location. 40° 15.726′ N, 76° 53.295′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Downtown Harrisburg. It is at the intersection of North Front Street and Academy Street, on the right when traveling south on North Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address:

Photos on marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, March 15, 2008

2. Photos on marker.

407 N Front St, Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: J. Donald Cameron Mansion (here, next to this marker); J. Donald Cameron (a few steps from this marker); William Maclay (within shouting distance of this marker); The John Crain Kunkel and Katherine Smoot Kunkel Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Michael’s Lutheran Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Parish Church of St. Lawrence (Former) (within shouting distance of this marker); Genevieve Blatt (1913 - 1996) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Civic Club of Harrisburg (about

William Maclay Mansion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, March 15, 2008

3. William Maclay Mansion

Now the office of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. William Maclay

William Maclay Mansion eastern extension of 1908. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, April 18, 2010

4. William Maclay Mansion eastern extension of 1908.

William Maclay Mansion southern entrance from South Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, April 18, 2010

5. William Maclay Mansion southern entrance from South Street

Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,816 times since then and 220 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on April 18, 2010, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.