College Township in Centre County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Centre Furnace Mansion

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, September 1, 2014

1. Centre Furnace Mansion Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Welcome to Centre Furnace Mansion - birthplace of Penn State University and home of Centre County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 40° 48.381′ N, 77° 50.483′ W. Marker is in College Township, Pennsylvania, in Centre County. Marker can be reached from E. College Avenue. Marker is located at the side of the house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 E College Ave, State College PA 16801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Moses Thompson (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Centre Furnace (about 600 feet away); Harris Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Miller Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Atoms for Peace (approx. 0.7 miles away); Nelson Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Curry Hall (approx. ¾ mile away); Panofsky Hall (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College Township.

Regarding Centre Furnace Mansion. The Mansion, which served as the ironmaster’s residence for Centre Furnace, has been restored and furnished to

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, September 1, 2014

2. Centre Furnace Mansion Marker

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reflect the period of residency (1842-1891) of ironmaster Moses Thompson and his family. In 1855, Moses Thompson and business partner James Irvin donated 200 acres of land to initiate the Farmers’ High School – which later became The Pennsylvania State University.
Excerpt from http://www.centrehistory.org/visits/centre-furnace-mansion/ -
This National Register site includes the Centre Furnace Mansion, furnace stack, and surrounding eight acres, representing a small portion of the late 18th-century ironmaking village once located here. Its interpretation is based on historical documentation and archaeological research, and includes carefully landscaped grounds with walkways and period inspired gardens.

Also see . . . Centre Furnace Mansion. Centre County Historical Society website entry (Submitted on February 7, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Centre Furnace Mansion image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, September 1, 2014

3. Centre Furnace Mansion

Centre Furnace Mansion, Back View image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, September 1, 2014

4. Centre Furnace Mansion, Back View

Kitchen Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, September 1, 2014

5. Kitchen Garden

The kitchen garden is where 19th century cooks made sure favorite vegetables and herbs were in easy reach. This garden, in its simplicity, stands as a tribute to the hard work of our Victorian ancestors and today contributes to the beauty of the grounds.

Sycamore Tree Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, September 1, 2014

6. Sycamore Tree Marker

The National Arborist Association and the International Society of Arboriculture jointly recognize this significant tree in this bicentennial year as having lived here at the time of the signing of our Constitution.

Historic sycamore tree on mansion property image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, September 1, 2014

7. Historic sycamore tree on mansion property

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. This page has been viewed 289 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 11, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.