Bedford Springs Hotel Historic District
Also known as: Bedford Springs Hotel
Why it's listed
Bedford Springs is a resort complex in a narrow valley of the Allegheny Mountains, about a mile and a half south of Bedford, Pennsylvania. Its main hotel buildings date from about 1806 to 1903 and include the Colonial Building, a three-story Greek Revival hotel built between 1829 and 1842 to a design by local architect Solomon Filler. Seven mineral springs, including Magnesia and Sweet Spring, lie on the surrounding hillsides. The resort was developed by Dr. John Anderson in 1806 and drew guests from Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Five presidents vacationed there, and James Buchanan used it as a summer White House from 1857 to 1861. In the 1900s the Pool Building added a mineral-water pool and hydrotherapy rooms. The district is considered significant for its well-preserved 19th century buildings and for its record of spa life and political gatherings in the antebellum period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is one of the nation's finest surviving examples of the nineteenth and early twentieth century mineral springs resort, with unusually well preserved 19th century buildings. Its association with President James Buchanan, who used the resort as a summer White House, and its role as a fashionable destination for prominent visitors are presented as central to its importance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84001413, listed December 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | US 220, Bedford Township, Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Bedford County |
| Listed | December 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001413 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c. 1806-1935 |
| Architect / builder | Solomon Filler (architect of the Colonial Building) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne/Eastlake, Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 17, 1991 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The hotel was sold at a sheriff's sale in 1935 and reopened the following season; it later served as a Naval radio training school during World War II. |
| Acreage | 300 |
| Coordinates | 39.99124, -78.51638 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84001413.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q4879202
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.