Fordhook Farm

Fordhook Farm is a historic district with 12 buildings across about 60 acres, including a main fieldstone house, barn, spring house, and two greenhouses. The structures reflect the different types of buildings needed to support farming operations and plant experimentation.

Washington Atlee Burpee purchased the property in 1888 and converted it into a center for seed production and plant testing. The site operated as a laboratory for developing new plant varieties until operations ceased in 1981.

The buildings reflect Colonial and Queen Anne styles that show how farm construction evolved over centuries. Walking through the site, you can see how different structures served changing agricultural needs across generations.

The site is located on New Britain Road in Doylestown Township with clear pathways connecting the different historic buildings. The relatively flat terrain and marked routes make it straightforward to visit and explore all the structures on foot.

The site hosted some of the first organized seed trials in America, before government experiment stations began similar work. This pioneering effort led to the development of over 100 plant varieties that fundamentally changed what was available to home gardeners.