Cairnwood

Cairnwood is a Beaux Arts mansion in Bryn Athyn built with Roman brick and limestone details throughout its structure. The residence contains numerous rooms across multiple levels and is accompanied by separate outbuildings including stables and garden structures.

The mansion was designed in 1895 by the architectural firm Carrère and Hastings for John Pitcairn Jr., president of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. Its creation during this period reflects the wealth and building ambitions of American industrial leaders in the late 1800s.

The Academy of the New Church manages this property, which reflects how wealthy industrial families of the late 1800s expressed their beliefs and status through their homes. Visitors can see how religious conviction shaped the design choices throughout the spaces.

The estate sits on spacious grounds with multiple buildings and gardens for visitors to explore. Plan to spend time examining both the main house and the various outbuildings to appreciate the full scope of the property.

A remarkable feature of the house is the chapel built into a turret on the third floor. This integration of religious space into the home itself demonstrates how the family merged daily life with their spiritual convictions.