Grey Towers is the ancestral home of Gifford Pinchot, first chief of the US Forest Service and twice Governor of Pennsylvania. The house, built in the style of a French château to reflect the Pinchot family's French origins, was designed by Richard Morris Hunt with some later work by Henry Edwards-Ficken. Situated on the hills above Milford, it overlooks the Delaware River. Pinchot grew up there and returned during the summers when his later life took him to Washington and Harrisburg. His wife Cornelia made substantial changes to the interior of the home and gardens, in collaboration with several different architects, during that time.
In 1963 his family donated it and the surrounding 102 acres to the Forest Service; it is the only U.S. National Historic Site managed by that agency. Three years later the Department of the Interior designated it a National Historic Landmark and President Kennedy presided over the dedication ceremony. Today it is open to the public for tours and hiking on its trails; it is also home to the Pinchot Institute, which carries on his work in conservation.
Laraine and I really had a wonderful time wandering around the grounds and taking pictures. I took quite a few pictures (as you probably figured I would!) and I was especially focusing on using sepia and black and white. But I wanted to first introduce you to this beautiful building in full color. I'll be posting more shots throughout the week.
@maggiemae Thanks Maggie. No, if anything it'd be a B&B- but I think from the git-go it was always purposed for conservation education after the family decided to donate it. Gifford Pinchot was a contemporary and friend of Theodore Roosevelt who was also a huge proponent of the conservation movement. @kerristephens Thank you Kerri! @httpgeffed Thank you Colleen! @dakotaburns Thank you Donald! It's the "soft focus" effect. @fullcircle Thank you Cindy! I took over 300 shots! Obviously I won't be posting them all- but choosing my favorites is going to be a challenge!
@paign Thank you Paign! And thank you so much for the fav!! @digitalrn Thank you Rick! It's very pretty- and it might be possible to see it after the Falls in Autumn. @nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole! I think you would really like this place- especially the garden and patio off the main house. @salza Thank you Sally! @eniaral Thanks Laraine! @henrir Thank you Henri! @sangwann Thank you Dione! Well, it's not as old as some of the churches on Malta, but I think you would like it! @filsie65 Thanks Phil- yes, it's supposed to mimic the French chateaus as the Pinchot family originated in France. @prttblues Thanks Bev. The funny thing is that no matter how steady you hold the camera buildings tend to curve. I can't remember what they call that now, but I did have to do some minor straightening and even so, I still think it looks somewhat crooked!
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri!
@httpgeffed Thank you Colleen!
@dakotaburns Thank you Donald! It's the "soft focus" effect.
@fullcircle Thank you Cindy! I took over 300 shots! Obviously I won't be posting them all- but choosing my favorites is going to be a challenge!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick! It's very pretty- and it might be possible to see it after the Falls in Autumn.
@nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole! I think you would really like this place- especially the garden and patio off the main house.
@salza Thank you Sally!
@eniaral Thanks Laraine!
@henrir Thank you Henri!
@sangwann Thank you Dione! Well, it's not as old as some of the churches on Malta, but I think you would like it!
@filsie65 Thanks Phil- yes, it's supposed to mimic the French chateaus as the Pinchot family originated in France.
@prttblues Thanks Bev. The funny thing is that no matter how steady you hold the camera buildings tend to curve. I can't remember what they call that now, but I did have to do some minor straightening and even so, I still think it looks somewhat crooked!
Thank you Diane!
Thank you Pam!