National Historic Landmark

RittenhouseTown Historic District

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
April 26, 1992
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
92001878

About this property

Historic RittenhouseTown, sometimes referred to as Rittenhouse Historic District, encompasses the remains of an early industrial community which was the site of the first paper mill in British North America. The mill was built in 1690 by William Rittenhouse and his son Nicholas on the north bank of Paper Mill Run (Monoshone Creek) near (and now within) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The district, off Lincoln Drive near Wissahickon Avenue in Fairmount Park, includes six of up to forty-five original buildings. RittenhouseTown was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a National Historic Landmark District on April 27, 1992.

Location

206--210 Lincoln Dr.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
40.02889, -75.19201

Categories

INDUSTRYSCIENCE
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 RittenhouseTown Historic District

This page lists RittenhouseTown 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

Alden Park Manor
Industrial
0.3 mi
Oaks Cloister
Civil War
0.4 mi
Wissahickon Memorial Bridge
Industrial
0.4 mi
St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Germantown
Civil War
0.6 mi
Delmar Apartments
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown (approach actions)
1777Revolutionary War
1.3 mi
Battle of Germantown
1777Revolutionary War
1.7 mi
Battle of Germantown — Chew House
1777Revolutionary War
2.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was RittenhouseTown Historic District listed on the National Register?

RittenhouseTown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1992.

What type of historic resource is RittenhouseTown Historic District?

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

Is RittenhouseTown Historic District a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. RittenhouseTown 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 RittenhouseTown Historic District?

The period of significance for RittenhouseTown Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near RittenhouseTown 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 RittenhouseTown Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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