Pennsbury Manor — Attraction in Falls Township

Did your parents ever promise to take you to Disneyworld and then you actually go to the local carnival? WELCOME TO PENNSBURY MANOR, the wannabe Colonial Williamsburg on the Delaware.

Before you go, bear in mind that Penn lived on this location for less than five years in two blocks of time. And the very house you go to see and walk in Penn’s steps? IT’S A RECONSTRUCTION based on the best guesses of people who studied the ruins in the 1930s.

My goal in this review is not to dissuade you from visiting the place. Rather, bear in mind that it is a re-creation of Penn’s country residence. He had a much nicer residence in Philadelphia, and of course spent most of his life in England.

If you get a good docent - and we had one who looked and sounded much like Miss Marple, with encyclopedic knowledge of the site and of Penn himself - you’ll have a good day there. The views of the river are somewhat nondescript in late autumn, as the trees are no older than 75 years or so. The outbuildings along the path from the visitors center to the manor house itself are worth the time to visit. The kitchen and brewery building is larger than it looks from the entryway and in it you’ll hear some stark stories about Quakers and slaveholding.

The drive to the visitors center takes you past what seems like miles of landfill hills and valleys and your trip will be in stiff competition with semis taking the remains of our consumed goods to be buried. Stick with it.

There’s limited cell service and no Wifi. Parking is free. Lots of clean restrooms in the visitors center. Interpretive video in the auditorium will explain everything in less than 10 minutes. It dates from...

I missed the last tour by an hour but from what I did see it is a very nice park. Lots of history here. I try to imagine it being 1760 before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Will Penn riding his horse from here to old city down the King's Highway over the same exact bridge that is still there today on what we know as Frankford Ave just below Ashburner ave .. There probably wasn't much in between I wonder what that ride was like, it's no wonder he signed the treaty with the lenape people, if you are curious that treaty took place beneith a big old Elm (not there any more but they do have the spot the tree stood marked) at Penn Treaty Park. Also if your viewing his statue a top Philadelphia' s City Hall from the correct angle (the one that doesn't look like his taking a piss lol) he is actually pointing at Penn Treaty Park where he made peace with the native tribe.. Blows my mind how much important history is all around us every single day and most people have no clue. Do yourselves and children a favor and slow down look around and read signs when you see anything in this area that looks old it is and there is always a story to be told sometimes with great significance and if you can't find a sign look for somebody is usually always someone there that knows the story and would probably love to share it so that it never dies or is forgot. Without the knowledge of all this stuff we could lose it all I can only imagine how much has...

This place gave me happiness beyond belief ! When I was 9 I volunteered there, because my dad worked with maintenance there. I loved my weekends I spent there every weekend for 3 years and every Christmas. Helping to decorate and watch the volunteers recreate the life back then. My work was on the farm with Penn’s animals. Willy the head sheep, Hannibal and his mom the two steer, Angel and Tamberline the two gray/white horses. It gave me a future and hope for working with animals, people and history. I was taught so much and I took my kids back to visit time and time again, along with my niece and nephew. They loved it! I haven’t been there in a long time, but I’m going back and I’m also going to ask if I can volunteer with the farm animals again and see if my daughter can help too. You have to go here. It’s beautiful and shows you real true history of our great country and how it all fell into place through so much work, blood,sweat and tears. Men that would fight for their country and women that would keep them alive and their hope up during some of the worst times. You must teach your kids the true history and hard work that made this country what it is and what it...