Packer, Asa, Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1860 on a hillside above Mauch Chunk, now Jim Thorpe, the three-story brick mansion has a rectangular plan with rooms on either side of a central hall, bowed one-room extensions at each end, and a veranda across the front. Its exterior trim mixes ogee-arched window frames, Gothic gingerbread and an Italianate roof with elaborate wooden brackets, and an octagonal turret on the roof gives a view over the town. The house was the home of Asa Packer, who rose from carpentry and canal work to control the Lehigh Valley Railroad and became a multi-millionaire through anthracite coal. He later served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and in Congress and founded Lehigh University in 1866. Its seventeen rooms retain much original woodwork, furnishings and wallpaper, including carved woodwork on the first floor and furniture in Renaissance Revival style by George Henkels of Philadelphia. The mansion is valued for its link to Packer's wealth and public life and for its unusually intact interior.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant primarily as the home of Asa Packer, a prominent industrialist, philanthropist and public servant whose railroad and coal wealth is reflected in its furnishings. It is also presented as a fine example of Victorian-American architecture combining Gothic, Italianate and American elements, and as notable for its very good state of preservation.
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 74001765, listed December 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Packer Rd., Jim Thorpe |
|---|---|
| County | Carbon County |
| Listed | December 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001765 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1860 |
| Architectural style | Victorian-American; Gothic, Italianate and Renaissance Revival elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 4, 1985 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The interior is described as in excellent condition and the exterior as retaining its original appearance apart from repainting; the playhouse is now the caretaker's house and the ice house has recently been restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Old Mauch Chunk Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.86451, -75.73863 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 74001765.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4803148
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.