Carson College for Orphan Girls

Carson College for Orphan Girls is a historic educational complex in Flourtown comprising nine Tudor Revival buildings constructed between 1917 and 1932. The campus sits on a large wooded property with distinct residential and educational structures, including distinctive cottages that served specific purposes.

Robert and Isabel Carson, Philadelphia philanthropists, founded the institution in 1917 to provide education and housing for girls who had lost their parents. The project expanded rapidly, with nine buildings completed by the early 1930s to create a complete residential campus.

The design follows an English village style with low-scale buildings spread across the landscape. Visitors can see how the layout was meant to create a homelike setting for the girls who lived here.

The property sits between Mill and Wissahickon Roads in a rural part of Flourtown. Plan your visit during daylight hours to see the buildings and grounds properly.

Mother Goose Cottage, built in the early years of the campus, was specially designed as a residential space for the young residents. This building shows the careful attention paid to making the girls feel at home.