Front Gates: Introduction

Welcome to Glen Foerd on the Delaware! Glen Foerd is a historic riverfront estate and public park offering experiences that foster creativity, innovation, and an appreciation of the natural world.

The establishment of the Glen Foerd estate in 1850 seeded the development of the Torresdale neighborhood where we are today. Within a few short decades after the house was built, this site transi­tioned from a remote retreat for wealthy Philadelphians to a showcase of industrial wealth, complete with a farm, an art collection, and an abundance of architectural and horticultural treasures.

This self-guided tour will take you around the grounds of Glen Foerd, and finish inside the mansion. Please note that the mansion is currently closed due to COVID-19, but our grounds remain open to the public. We appreciate your commitment to practicing safe physical distancing on this self-guided tour! Stopping at thirteen points of interest along the way, you’ll learn about the different structures within the landscape, the empire that built this estate, and its relationship with wider trends in design, horticulture, art, and entrepreneurship.

Glen Foerd is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its grounds qualify as a historic arboretum. The preservation of the site relies on grant funding and generous supporters of the Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation. Thank you for telling your community about Glen Foerd!