Marshallton Inn
Also known as: The General Wayne Inn
Why it's listed
Built about 1790 as a stone house and later converted to a tavern, the Marshallton Inn stands in the village of Marshallton in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The original eastern section measured 28 by 19 feet and contained seven rooms across three levels. By 1814 Abraham Martin had built the western half of the stone section, following a similar plan. Additions followed in the mid-19th century and about 1880, including a kitchen on the south side. The inn is regarded as an excellent example of Early Federal architecture in Quaker-settled Chester County, and much of its original fabric survives. It is also associated with the long-running public house tradition of the region, serving travelers along the former wagon and stage routes between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Its survival after the railroads diverted trade gives it its importance in local commercial and social history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the inn is one of the oldest continuously operated public houses in Chester County, serving guests in the Marshallton area since the early 1820s. It is described as an excellent example of Early Federal architecture in Quaker-settled Chester County, with much of its original fabric remaining. The inn is also presented as a link to early 19th-century Pennsylvania history.
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 77001152, listed July 29, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Strasburg Rd., Marshallton |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | July 29, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001152 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1790-1880 |
| Architect / builder | John Woodward (architect/master builder); Abraham Martin (architect/master builder) |
| Architectural style | Early Federal; Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operating as an inn; the Inn was purchased and restored in 1964. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Marshallton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95031, -75.67816 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 77001152.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6773864
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.