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ROLLO'S FACTS. Fonthill has over 200 windows all of varying sizes! There are 44 rooms in Fonthill including 10 bathrooms, 5 bedrooms and 18 fireplaces. The Research Library of the Mercer Museum houses over 20,000 books, 2500 feet of county archives, over 12,000 images and more!
- Fonthill Castle Photos
Fonthill Castle Photos. Caption this image Fonthill’s Saloon...
- Mercer Museum Videos
Mercer Museum 84 South pine street Doylestown, PA 18901...
- Fonthill Castle Videos
Photos. Admission Fees for Mercer Museum Admission Fees for...
- Fonthill Castle Photos
- Fonthill Is Inspired by The Grand Manors and Castles of Europe
- The Castle’s Construction Was An Experiment
- The Massive House Is Filled with Handmade and Historic Tiles
- Consider Time of Day and Weather For Your Tour
- Arrive Early For Your Visit
- No Two Tours Are The Same
- Christmas Is An Ideal Time to Visit
- Fonthill Is Just One of Three Institutions Mercer Built in Doylestown
Wealthy and curious, Mercer traveled the world for personal enjoyment and in his work as a collector, museum curator, and archaeologist. From England to Italy and beyond, his travels inspired the floor plan and details of Fonthill. A video in the visitor’s center explains how Mercer drew inspiration from castles along the Rhine River, and the tour ...
The most distinguishing aspect of Fonthill is that it is made entirely of hand-poured, reinforced concrete. From the vaulted ceilings to the polished floors, Mercer designed and oversaw it all himself in an experiment he wasn’t sure would work. He even told people that an architect who cared about his reputation would never make such risky choices....
With 44 rooms, 32 stairwells, 18 fireplaces, and 21 chimneys, this home was built to stand out. Many of those spaces are covered in tiles that Mercer designed and made himself or collected from around the world. Mercer’s distinctive tiles are handmade from clay using the skills he learned from a Pennsylvania-German master potter. They show scenes f...
A 110-year-old home made of solid concrete presents an unusual visiting environment. While it has 200 windows, other lighting is minimal. Coupled with some low ceilings, a visit on an overcast day could mean a relatively low amount of light inside. Additionally, the first floor has air conditioning, but other spaces only have a fan, so it can get w...
The welcome center, which was once the property’s garage, is just a few steps from the parking area. It’s best to arrive about 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start of your tour to leave time to check in. There is also a short video to watch that provides an overview about Mercer and the castle. Several displays showcase documents and photos of ...
Both of our guides at Fonthill were knowledgeable and shared similar types of information about the castle and Mercer. However, guides have some latitude in what they focus on as they move through the property because there are so many different things to highlight. Our first guide was fascinated by Mercer and his career, and she added lots of info...
Fonthill is beautiful in every season, but the holidays are particularly special. At Christmas, the mansion features 15 themed Christmas trees and lots of decorations. They combine to make the space cozy and festive. During the holidays, there are daytime and evening tours, so you can appreciate the castle in different ways. We opted to take the la...
In addition to the castle, two other buildings complete what is known as the Mercer Mile. Among the most popular Doylestown attractions, the Moravian Pottery & Tile Worksand the Mercer Museum are well worth a visit. Adjacent to Fonthill, the Tile Works still produces the Moravian tiles seen throughout the house. You can take a tour to see artisans ...
Oct 21, 2009 · Discover Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, Pennsylvania: Eccentric concrete mansion and museum designed and built by hand from the inside out.
May 4, 2024 · Mercer MUSEUM. LEARN MORE. Built to house Henry Mercer's extensive collection of objects representing everyday life in the pre-industrial age. Visit after visit, you're sure to find something new.
Step back in time in the Mercer Museum, a castle housing more than 40,000 early American artifacts including a Conestoga wagon, horse-drawn carriages and an antique fire engine suspended overhead in the Central Court area.
- 84 S Pine St, Doylestown, 18901, PA
- (215) 345-0210
The Mercer Museum in Doylestown is a six-story concrete castle housing over 17,000 pre-Industrial tools and artifacts, offering a comprehensive portrait of early American life. Visiting the museum is like stepping back in time to explore the rich history of pre-Industrial America.
Includes photographs (photographs 67 & 68). - Significance: A pioneering example of the use of reinforced concrete. An eclectic interpretation of Medieval styles, the building was designed for the Bucks County Historical Society by antiquarian and inventor, Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930).
