Wright's Ferry Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1738 of native limestone, Wright's Ferry Mansion is a two-and-a-half-story house on a long axis one room deep, overlooking the Susquehanna River at Columbia in Lancaster County. Its features blend English and Germanic traditions: a squirrel-tail oven, a pent eave encircling the house, side-lapped white oak shingles, and massive horizontally divided oak doors, alongside an entry hall with a brick floor and a blackcherry staircase with vase and ring turnings. The paneled parlor is thought to possibly have been made in Philadelphia. Susanna Wright, a Quaker who had bought land in the settlement in 1726, built the house, and her ferry became known as the gateway to the West. Her correspondence with Benjamin Franklin and other Philadelphia figures, along with her poetry and library, are cited as reasons the house is important. Later accretions were removed during restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally and historically significant for its high degree of original integrity and for mixing English and Germanic building elements that reflect English Quaker settlement in a Germanic area. It also connects the house to Susanna Wright's role in the settlement, her ferry, her correspondence with Philadelphia figures, and her library.
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 79002253, listed November 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 38 S. 2nd St., Columbia |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | November 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002253 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1738 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Literature, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored by the Louise Steinman von Hess Foundation, with later additions removed; the document describes the property as altered in its condition check and as restored to its original appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Columbia Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.02965, -76.50297 (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 79002253.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8038149
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.