The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks is an 87 year old non-profit that is dedicated to maintaining and preserving its four historic house museums: the Powel House, Grumblethorpe Historic House and Garden, Hill-Physick House and Historic Waynesborough.

Historic Waynesborough

Built in 1724, Historic Waynesborough was home to “Mad” Anthony Wayne, famous general of the Revolutionary War.

When Captain Anthony Wayne arrived in Pennsylvania with his family in 1724, he was likely looking for a bit of peace in the land he purchased in Chester County after his valiant service to William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne.

His son Isaac would serve as an officer in the French and Indian War. But it was Isaac’s son Anthony who would earn the legendary moniker “Mad” Anthony Wayne as he served with General Washington and Lafayette, helping lead the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

The Valley Forge encampment was a mere five miles from his doorstep. By the end of the War for Independence, General Wayne became a bonafide national hero, and is today still credited as one of the greatest fighting generals in American History.

In all, seven generations of Waynes lived on site until 1965. Visitors to this beautiful Georgian manor will find a fascinating collection of 18th and 19th C. family items, including General Wayne’s personal map from the Paoli Massacre.