Historic RittenhouseTown

Historic RittenhouseTown is a museum complex featuring six original stone buildings with stucco finish, situated along Paper Mill Run within an 84-acre district. The site includes the Rittenhouse Homestead, the Abraham Rittenhouse Home, and the Rittenhouse Bake House.

William Rittenhouse and his son Nicholas established North America's first paper mill here in 1690 and operated it for over 160 years. The site marks a turning point in early American industrial development.

The site maintains a paper arts studio where visitors can learn traditional papermaking techniques through hands-on workshops and demonstrations. These methods connect directly to the original work that took place here centuries ago.

The museum grounds are located on Lincoln Drive within Fairmount Park and are accessible year-round with paths winding through the wooded property. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven and buildings sit at different elevations.

Archaeological remains of the original mill structures persist on the grounds, providing evidence of early American industrial development. These ruins reveal details about the production methods that craftspeople employed over 300 years ago.