Colonial Germantown Historic District
National Historic Landmark

Colonial Germantown Historic District

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
66000678

About this property

The Colonial Germantown Historic District is a designated National Historic Landmark District in the Germantown and Mount Airy neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along both sides of Germantown Avenue. This road followed a Native American path from the Delaware River just north of Old City Philadelphia, through Germantown, about 6 miles northwest of Center City Philadelphia, and on to Pottstown. Settlement in the Germantown area began, at the invitation of William Penn, in 1683 by Nederlanders and Germans under the leadership of Francis Daniel Pastorius fleeing religious persecution. August 16, 1683, Pastorius arrives in Philadelphia October 25, 1683, Lots are drawn for land among Pastorius's followers and settlement begins 1688, first American anti-slavery protest published 1690, first paper-mill built in America is built near Germantown 1705, possibly the first portrait painted in oil in America painted by Christopher Witt in Germantown 1708, first Mennonite Meetinghouse in America built in Germantown 1719, first Dunkards in America arrive in Germantown 1743, first Bible printed in America in any European language (in this case German), printed by Christoph Sauer February 1764, the Paxton Boys enter Germantown but disperse after meeting with a delegation headed by Benjamin Franklin 1770, first American book on pedagogy written by Christopher Dock and published in Germantown 1793, during the Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic, President Washington and his cabinet move to Germantown 1794, Washington spends two months in Germantown to avoid the heat in Philadelphia July 20, 1825, General Lafayette visits Germantown June 6, 1832, railroad from Philadelphia to Germantown opens

Location

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
40.03538, -75.17204

Categories

INDUSTRYEUROPEANARCHITECTURERELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Colonial Germantown Historic District

This page lists Colonial Germantown Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Deshler-Morris House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Germantown Fireproof Storage Warehouse
Industrial
0.2 mi
First Baptist Church of Germantown
Industrial
0.2 mi
Old Germantown Academy And Headmasters' Houses
Listed
0.2 mi
Ivy Lodge
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown (approach actions)
1777Revolutionary War
0.4 mi
Battle of Germantown
1777Revolutionary War
0.9 mi
Battle of Germantown — Chew House
1777Revolutionary War
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Colonial Germantown Historic District listed on the National Register?

Colonial Germantown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Colonial Germantown Historic District?

Colonial Germantown Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Colonial Germantown Historic District a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Colonial Germantown Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Colonial Germantown Historic District?

The period of significance for Colonial Germantown Historic District is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1683.

Can I research the history near Colonial Germantown Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Colonial Germantown Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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