National Historic Landmark

Espy House

Bedford, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Listed
November 19, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74001750

About this property

The David Espy House is a historic house at 123 East Pitt Street in Bedford, Pennsylvania. Built in 1770, it is significant as the residence used by President George Washington when he was leading the troops that put down the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1983. The house is now used for commercial purposes. The David Espy House is located in downtown Bedford, on the north side of East Pitt Street between North Juliana and North Richard Streets. It is a masonry structure 2+1⁄2 stories in height, with a gabled roof. The front facade is finished in roughly finished rectangular blocks laid in courses, while the sides have a mortared rubble finish. The front facade is three bays in width, with the traditional entrance (now serving the upstairs) in the leftmost bay. The right two bays on the ground floor have been united into a commercial picture window and recessed entry. A wood-frame ell extends to the rear of the stone front section. The ground floor has been adapted for commercial use; the upstairs is residential. The house was built in 1770–71 for David Espy, a local militia officer and prothonotary (court clerk). He was also a Freemason and served as Junior Warden when Bedford Lodge No. 48 A.Y.M. was warranted in 1790. In 1794, his stone house was probably the finest in the town, and was where President George Washington stayed while leading troops in the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion. Bedford was as far as Washington traveled with the troops; he turned their command over to Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee and returned to Washington, DC. List of National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania National Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford County, Pennsylvania Explore Pennsylvania, Historical Markers: Espy House

Location

123 Pitt St.
Bedford, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
40.01931, -78.50294

Categories

MILITARY
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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Nearby Historic Sites

Russell House
Civil War
0.2 mi
Barclay House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Bedford Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Coffee Pot, The
Industrial
0.8 mi
Chalybeate Springs Hotel
Industrial
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Espy House listed on the National Register?

Espy House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 19, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Espy House?

Espy House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Espy House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Espy House 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 Espy House?

The period of significance for Espy House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Espy House?

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