Rock Ford Plantation

Rock Ford Plantation is a Georgian-style mansion in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with a two-and-a-half story facade featuring symmetrical proportions and four corner rooms arranged around a central hall. The house sits on approximately 33 acres and is furnished with period-appropriate objects that show how it looked when first occupied.

General Edward Hand, who served as Adjutant General under George Washington during the American Revolution, built this house in 1794. The construction reflected his wealth and connections to the nation's founding generation.

The John J. Snyder Jr. Gallery displays decorative arts made in Lancaster County between 1760 and 1820, including furniture, rifles, and silver pieces that reflect local craftsmanship. These objects show how wealthy families furnished their homes and the skill of regional makers during this period.

The house is open for guided tours where you can walk through the furnished rooms with an interpreter. It is best to check ahead about tour times and whether special seasonal tours are offered during your visit.

After 1810, the property operated as a tenant farm for about 150 years, which kept the original architecture largely unchanged. This extended period as a working farm preserved the house in a condition that reflects its initial design.