Harriton House
PO Box 1364
500 Harriton Rd.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 525-0201
www.harritonhouse.org

Built in 1704 by Welsh Quaker Rowland Ellis, this handsome stone house is one of few that represent early American domestic architecture in the Philadelphia area. It was originally called Bryn Mawr, which means "high hill" in Welch. The name Harriton derives from the property's 1719 sale to tobacco planter Richard Harrison. Though a Quaker, Harriton brought tobacco culture and African slaves with him, creating the northernmost plantation operated on the slave economy prior to the Revolution.

In 1774 Charles Thomson married Harriton's daughter. and spent his retirement at Harriton from 1789 until 1824. His interests here were agriculture -- Thomson conducted experiments with new techniques and crops -- and bees. Thomson was an avid beekeeper.

He was also an ardent abolitionist, and managed his farm not with slaves but by letting it out on shares with his workers. Thomson was the first and only Secretary to the Continental Congress. Perhaps his greatest achievement, Thomson completed North America's first translation of the Bible from Greek to English.

Today Harriton House has been restored to the period of Charles Thomson's occupancy, furnished with 18th century American decorative arts, including objects owned and used by Thomson.

Originally a 700- acre estate, the House now occupies a beautiful 16½-acre park. Though there are no specific educational programs, a Tour is educational and an inspiration to anyone interested in history or architecture.