National Register of Historic Places

Ship Inn

Exton, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Listed
August 1, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84003301

About this property

The Ship Inn is a historic inn and tavern in West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Built in 1796, it is a two-story, six-bay, Georgian-style stone building with brick chimneys. The main block measures fifty feet by thirty-seven feet, with a rear kitchen wing measuring twenty-nine feet by twenty feet. It remained in operation as an inn until 1854. During the twentieth century, a restaurant opened in the building. Since 2022, the building has operated as a brewery and restaurant known as VK Brewing Co. & Eatery.

Location

100 N. Ship Rd.
Exton, Chester County, Pennsylvania
40.02979, -75.61037

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Ship Inn

This page lists Ship Inn. 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Ship Inn report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Lochiel Farm
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Lewis, Evan, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Exton Hotel
Early Republic
0.4 mi
Williams Deluxe Cabins
Industrial
0.4 mi
Fox Chase Inn
Colonial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Paoli
1777Revolutionary War
5.8 mi
Battle of Iron Works Hill (Brandywine follow-up)
1777Revolutionary War
6.2 mi
Battle of Paoli Massacre
1777Revolutionary War
6.4 mi
Battle of Paoli Massacre (1777)
1777Revolutionary War
7.5 mi
Battle of Paoli (Paoli Massacre)
1777Revolutionary War
10.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ship Inn listed on the National Register?

Ship Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Ship Inn?

Ship Inn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ship Inn?

The period of significance for Ship Inn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ship Inn?

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 Ship Inn will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Chester County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Chester County.

Explore ChesterCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Ship Inn will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report