Today, the Glen Foerd house and grounds are a perfect example of Victorian dignity and grace, culture and grandeur. The treasured collection is that of the compleat gentleman having returned from the grand tour of Europe with souvenirs to fill the country seat. The collection includes paintings, prints, oriental rugs, antique furniture, rare books, and other objets d’art. The estate is imbued with the international opulence of the Edwardian era and the conspicuous consumption of early twentieth century industrial wealth.
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The entire property consists of a mansion, carriage house, gate house (the oldest building on the property, predating Macalester), cottage, garden house, water tower (which had a tank on top from which Macalester rented water to his neighbors), entry/exit gates, tennis courts, brick pit and steps, lily pond, gazebo, river wall and steps, and the remains of a boathouse which is integrated into the river wall. Architectural features of the house include an art gallery, parquet floors, ornamental plaster ceilings, rathskeller, and a Haskell player pipe organ on the first floor landing of the grand staircase which opens three floors to an elaborate leaded stained glass dome.
Glen Foerd on the Delaware is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places, and as the last surviving riverfront estate open to the
public in Philadelphia, it is being preserved for current and future
generations.
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Upon entering the gates of the estate, one enters a turn of the century scene of beauty and tranquillity. Set amid eighteen acres of rare trees and flowering shrubs, the grounds include a formal rose garden, vineyard, and riverfront oaks that now date back over 300 years. While touring the mansion, one will absorb the interesting history of the house and Philadelphia’s turn-of-the-century wealth and industry. |
| When walking the trails that overlook the wide expanse of river, one will encounter L’il Ugly, the faithful Macalester dog, still mounting guard at the top of the stairs. |
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