Marshall, Humphry, House
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Why it's listed
Built of carefully laid stone in 1773 at Marshallton in Chester County, Pennsylvania, the house was designed and constructed by Humphry Marshall, a botanist who had worked for several years as a stone mason before turning to other pursuits. It included a greenhouse for plants and an observatory that projected from the second story, reflecting Marshall's interest in astronomy. He also farmed, milled and planted a botanical garden on the surrounding land. Marshall traded widely in seeds and plants and introduced many North American species to Europe; a London firm ordered 1,300 plants from him in 1787 alone. His book Arbustrum Americanum was well received in the United States and abroad, and his essay Observations on Botany is considered perhaps the first American writing promoting conservation and scientific farming. He also helped found the Chester County Almshouse and the Westtown Boarding School.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house reflects Marshall's craftsmanship as a mason and his scientific interests in astronomy and botany. It cites his role in introducing North American plant species to Europe, his botanical writings, and his civic work in founding the Chester County Almshouse and Westtown Boarding School.
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 71000695, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Strasburg Rd. (PA 62) at jct. of Northbrook Rd., Marshallton |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000695 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1773 |
| Architect / builder | Humphry Marshall (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Science, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1949 by Mr. Weir, with later alterations; restoration of chimneys supervised in 1967 |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | Marshallton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95065, -75.68132 (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 71000695.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5941761
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.