The Solitude Mansion

The Solitude Mansion is a two-and-a-half story Federal-style house built on elevated land overlooking the Schuylkill River within the Philadelphia Zoo grounds. The structure features a balanced facade and classical Roman design elements that were popular in American homes of the late 1700s.

The residence was constructed between 1784 and 1785 as a private home for John Penn, the grandson of Pennsylvania's founder William Penn. Penn departed in 1788 to return to England, after which the property changed hands and eventually became part of the zoo that now surrounds it.

The mansion reflects how wealthy families of the late 1700s lived and valued a peaceful retreat from the growing city. Walking through its rooms, visitors see how the Penn family organized their domestic life and what they considered essential to their comfort.

The mansion is accessible to the public through the Philadelphia Zoo and is maintained by the Friends of The Solitude preservation group. Visitors should check in advance whether guided tours or special access are available, as the house may not be open during all regular zoo hours.

This is the only surviving residential home of the Penn family that remains in the United States, and it stands within America's oldest continuously operating zoo. The fact that a historical residence has been preserved amid modern zoo operations makes this a truly unusual site for city history.