Peale, Charles Willson, House
Also known as: Belfield
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Why it's listed
Belfield is a farmhouse and former country estate at 2100 Clarkson Avenue in Germantown, Philadelphia, built around the middle of the eighteenth century. The painter Charles Willson Peale bought the property in 1810, when it was a farm of about 104 acres, and lived there until 1820. He made changes to the house, and a nineteenth-century owner added a story. Peale developed a formal garden and a textile mill on the land, and the garden remnants, root cellars, fishpond and a portion of a greenhouse survive. Peale was the leading American painter of his day, known for miniatures and portraits, including several likenesses of George Washington painted at different stages of the general's life. He also painted portraits of Revolutionary figures and paid close attention to military uniforms, which gives his work historical value. Peale's varied activities, including his museum and his role in founding the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, add to the site's importance. The surviving farm buildings and grounds are now a private residence on roughly eight acres.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Belfield is significant for its association with Charles Willson Peale, regarded as the preeminent painter in America between 1774 and 1793, and for the farm he developed there after retiring to the country in 1810. The house, outbuildings and garden remnants are presented as integral to the landmark. Peale's wide range of activities, including his portraits of George Washington and his museum work, are cited as reasons for its importance.
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 66000687, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2100 Clarkson Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000687 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1810-1820 |
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 21, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Today the farmhouse and many outbuildings remain as a working farm of eight acres; the property is in private residential use. |
| Acreage | 8.4 |
| Coordinates | 40.03818, -75.15526 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 66000687.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4882369
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.