Gilpin Homestead
Also known as: Howe,General,Headquarters
Why it's listed
Built in stages beginning in 1754 on a site occupied by Gilpin dwellings since the late 1690s, this stuccoed Pennsylvania farmhouse in Birmingham Township, Delaware County, shows construction methods from two centuries in one building. The original brick portion contains a 1754 datestone, and its basement walls may predate that year. A middle section is presumed to date to around 1811, and a half-width eastern wing was added later, with a double garage attached in 1949. General William Howe used the house as his headquarters after the Battle of the Brandywine in September 1777, and Dr. Benjamin Rush came there to treat American wounded. Bloodstains from British wounded are said to remain beneath later hardwood flooring. The Gilpin family, Quakers, produced a scientist, a governor, inventors and a U.S. Attorney General, and the property is also noted for apple varieties grown on the farm.
Significance in brief: The house served as General William Howe's headquarters from September 11 to 16, 1777, after the Battle of the Brandywine, and Dr. Benjamin Rush was received there to treat American wounded. The nomination also argues it is architecturally significant for its wealth of eighteenth and nineteenth century construction and its modifications across generations, and as the homestead of the Quaker Gilpin family, whose members included scientists, officials and inventors.
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 71000700, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Harvey Rd., Chadds Ford |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000700 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1777 |
| Architectural style | Prototype of a Pennsylvania farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Within district | Brandywine Battlefield |
| Coordinates | 39.88389, -75.56358 (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 71000700.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5562576
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.