Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Jacob Rittenhouse Home at RittenhouseTown

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

1. The Jacob Rittenhouse Home at RittenhouseTown Marker

Inscription.
An integral part of the original Rittenhouse Town landscape, the circa 1811 Jacob Rittenhouse Home is the largest and most imposing of all surviving structures and occupies a central location along the village road. It is a house that paper making built and as such is important to the interpretation of the village as the site of British North America’s first paper mill. Constructed at the end of the era of water driven paper mills, the home’s transitional architectural style incorporating vernacular German elements with Federal and Revival styles, echoes the moment of transition from water to steam.

Today the Jacob Rittenhouse Home is the focus of a major fundraising effort. Our goal is to restore the building in keeping with its 19th century origins and adaptively reuse it for income and educational space.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1811.

Location. 40° 1.77′ N, 75° 11.454′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Wissahickon Valley Park. Marker is on Rittenhousetown Lane, on the right when traveling north. Marker is accessible from the parking area for Rittenhouse Town off Lincoln Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 Lincoln Dr, Philadelphia PA 19144, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battle of Germantown (a few steps from this marker); Rittenhouse Town (within shouting distance of this marker); David Rittenhouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rittenhouse Homestead (about 300 feet away); Colonial Herb Garden (about 300 feet away); Rittenhousetown Historic District (about 400 feet away); Forbidden Drive (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ten Box Shelter (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . . Historic RittenhouseTown – A National Landmark District. (Submitted on October 6, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

2. The Jacob Rittenhouse Home at RittenhouseTown Marker

The Jacob Rittenhouse Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

3. The Jacob Rittenhouse Home

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 483 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.