​Welcome to Pennsbury Manor

Welcome to PA History 2 G0, a series of videos produced by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. These short videos serve to indroduce you, the virtual visitor, to Pennsylania's state-owned historic sites and museums as we explore the varied stories that make up the commonwealth's rich history. 

Pennsbury Manor, established in 1683, was the personal country estate and residence of Pennsylvania's first proprietor and founding governor, William Penn. These videos offer an excellent introduction to Pennsbury Manor, allowing visitors to virtually explore many of the historic site's features, from the blacksmith shop to the manor house.  

📽️ As guests explore the site, they begin to get a glimpse of four distinct time periods in the site’s history by examining the structures, objects and activities of the people that lived and worked at Pennsbury Manor.

📽️ Today, Pennsbury Manor is home to two horses, a team of oxen, 8 sheep and five geese.

📽️ The Pennsbury Manor house that stands today was reconstructed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission between 1937 and 1939.

📽️ William Penn’s estate was almost 8,500 acres. Pennsbury Manor was located on a former Lenape settlement called Sepasink.

📽️ Blacksmiths were some of the most highly skilled laborers at Pennsbury.

📽️ The Crozier House, which is still standing today, is the oldest structure on the grounds at Pennsbury Manor.

📽️ Front courts in the 17th century often included gardens, topiaries and paths.

📽️ The kitchen garden was an important part of Pennsbury Manor as it supplied fruits, vegetables and medicines needed to help sustain the estate.

📽️ During Penn’s time the kitchen house would have been the center of life at Pennsbury Manor.