Maxwell, Ebenezer, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1859 at 200 West Tulpehocken Street in Philadelphia, the Maxwell Mansion is a three-story house of serpentine stone with an attached four-story tower and two wings on its west end. Its slate Mansard roof has copper flashing, and the west wing roofs are laid in a diamond pattern. Four massive chimneys rise from the roofline, and the facade has Tudor Gothic dormers, round windows, and a massive stone arch over the entrance, which is set in the first story of the tower. Ebenezer Maxwell, a merchant, built the house, and it was later owned by Augusta Stephenson and her heirs. The property is valued as one of the finest surviving examples of the suburban mansion or country villa, a type that peaked in the Philadelphia area before the Civil War. Architectural historians regard it as a fine example of Victorian Gothic design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a very fine example of the suburban mansion or country villa that reached its height in the Philadelphia area before the Civil War. It is described as an outstanding example of 19th century architecture on the East Coast and a fine example of Victorian Gothic. Its restoration as a mid-19th century museum is cited as valuable for preserving the era's architecture and culture.
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 71000728, listed February 24, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 200 W. Tulpehocken St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | February 24, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000728 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1859 |
| Architectural style | Tudor Gothic (Victorian Gothic) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in good condition, with plumbing, electricity and water recently added, a new roof and exterior painting, and restoration begun. It is leased to the Germantown Historical Society for restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Fairmount Park |
| Coordinates | 40.03828, -75.18365 (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 71000728.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5331707
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.