Hand, Gen. Edward, House
Also known as: Rock Ford
Why it's listed
Rock Ford is a rectangular, two-story brick house built in 1793-94 on a 160-acre farm near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on the bank of the Conestoga River. Its five-bay north facade has a central door with a fanlight and triangular pediment, and a center hall divides the rooms into pairs. Edward Hand, a physician who became a Continental Army brigadier general, built the house and lived there until his death in 1802. Hand served under Washington in engagements from Long Island to Princeton, led frontier operations at Fort Pitt, and later sat in Congress and the Pennsylvania Assembly. The house is regarded as an excellent example of adapting the Georgian manor type to local tastes. Much of its woodwork, doors, shutters, stairs and furnishings are original, and the Junior League restored it in 1958-60 for public visits.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its association with Edward Hand, a Continental Army brigadier general and later a Pennsylvania and national politician, who lived there until his death in 1802. The nomination also presents it as a fine example of the Georgian manor residence adapted to a rural setting, with its interior and original fabric largely intact.
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 76001646, listed November 21, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 881 Rock Ford Rd., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | November 21, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001646 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1793-1802 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Open to visitors as a historic house museum; the porches were reconstructed. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.02009, -76.28761 (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 76001646.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7354426
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.