Mount Pleasant
Why it's listed
Mount Pleasant is a hilltop mansion overlooking the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, begun in late 1761 by John MacPherson, a Scottish sea captain who made a large fortune through privateering. Built of rubble masonry with stucco scored to imitate dressed stone, it has a hipped roof, a balustraded deck and two arched brick chimneys, with a central Palladian window and a Doric portico on its east and west facades. Its interior, especially the second-floor chambers with their scrolled ornament and arched cupboard doors, is regarded as one of the finest examples of late Georgian design in the American colonies. The house passed to General Benedict Arnold in 1779, and later to Baron von Steuben on a short lease. Acquired by the City of Philadelphia in 1868, it is now maintained as a house museum. The property is valued for its rare survival of a three-unit Georgian plan in the Middle Colonies and for its rich interior woodwork.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as probably the only surviving example in the Middle Colonies of a symmetrical late Georgian composition of three units, and as one of the finest late Georgian interiors in American Georgian design. Its interiors, including carved woodwork, Palladian windows and the second-floor chambers, are cited as notable. The house is also linked to Benedict Arnold, who lived there in 1779-80, and to Baron von Steuben, who leased it briefly.
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 66000685, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Fairmount Park, Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000685 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1761-1762 |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 9, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1925 and furnished as a house museum by the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the form states the property is in need of repair. |
| Acreage | 70 |
| Within district | Fairmount Park |
| Coordinates | 39.98352, -75.20052 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 66000685.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6922887
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.