General Wayne Inn
Why it's listed
Built in 1704 by Edward Rees as a wayside inn on the roads out of Philadelphia, the stuccoed stone building has five bays and a double porch across its façade, with 12-over-12 sash windows and some original bull's-eye glass still preserved. A three-bay original section was later joined by a two-bay western extension, and a three-storey rear wing was added in 1750. The inn is significant for its Revolutionary War associations. In September 1777, after the Battle of Brandywine, General Anthony Wayne and his officers dined and lodged here, and George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette stayed the following night. The British used it as an outpost from December 1777 to February 1778. The inn took its present name after Wayne rested here in 1795 following his victory at Fallen Timbers. It also served as an election site and a local meeting place for decades.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the inn is significant for its association with the American Revolution, including a stop by General Anthony Wayne in 1795 that gave the inn its name and visits by Washington and troops in 1777. It also cites the inn's role as a local landmark that gave its name to the surrounding village and early township functions.
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 76001655, listed January 1, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 625 Montgomery Ave., Merion |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | January 1, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001655 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Transportation, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior restored after a 1964 fire; the ground level of the original section has been restored as a colonial tavern. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.00932, -75.25329 (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 76001655.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5532288
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.