From PhillyVoice · · 1m 50s
Lynnewood Hall History
Mansion open after 84 years ties to Titanic and Philly art museum.
In brief
Mansion open after 84 years ties to Titanic and Philly art museum. Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room Philadelphia mansion, opened to public for the first time in 84 years after being restored by preservationists. Originally reported by PhillyVoice.
Lynnewood Hall history
Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room neoclassical mansion in Elkins Park, has been mostly closed to the public for 84 years.
Recent opening
From now through Oct. 4, Lynnewood Hall will host a 10-day flower show inspired by HBO's The Gilded Age.
Historical significance
The mansion was built for Peter A.B. Widener, a Philadelphia bricklayer who became a wealthy meat store owner and city treasurer.
Widener's wealth
Widener gained control of Philadelphia's streetcar systems and invested in U.S. Steel, American Tobacco, and Standard Oil.
Architectural design
Horace Trumbauer designed Lynnewood Hall in 1897, completing it in two years with master craftsmen and the best materials.
Gilded Age connection
The mansion features 110 rooms, an art gallery, swimming pool, and formal ballroom, reflecting the Gilded Age era.
Art collection
Peter and his son Joseph collected art from Degas, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Raphael, Titian, Monet, and Van Dyck.
Titanic tragedy
George Widener died on the Titanic in 1912 while traveling with his family to find a new chef for the Philadelphia Ritz-Carlton.
Modern history
The property was sold to the First Korean Church of New York in 1996 and remained unoccupied until 2023.
Preservation efforts
The Lynnewood Hall Preservation Alliance purchased the property in 2023 to restore it as an educational tool for preservationists.
Current status
Lynnewood Hall is now open to the public for the first time in 84 years with a flower show through Oct. 4.
Future plans
The Preservation Alliance has a 20-year plan to restore the mansion and use it for educational purposes.
In short
Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room Philadelphia mansion, opened to public for the first time in 84 years after being restored by preservationists.
