Stenton explores power, enslavement, & learning in Philadelphia's 250th year

Stenton, one of Philadelphia's oldest and bestpreserved historic houses, offers a window into 18thcentury life and the complex legacy of its owner, James Logan.

Logan, an immigrant from what is now Northern Ireland, served as William Penn's colonial secretary and became one of the most powerful figures in early Pennsylvania.

He built Stenton in 1730 as a summer home. The estate once spanned 511 acres; it is now 3.

As Logan's influence grew, Stenton became a hub for social and intellectual exchange. Much of the house remains intact, including original furnishings and family objects.

A voracious reader, Logan assembled what is considered one of the greatest private libraries in the colonies, with thousands of books in multiple languages.

The site also confronts the injustices tied to Logan's power.

He helped draft the Walking Purchase, an agreement that allowed colonists to take land from the Lenni Lenape through deception.

Despite his Quaker background, Logan enslaved people, and the home's architecture reflects that reality through hidden passageways and service spaces.

One of the most powerful stories told at Stenton is that of Dinah, a woman formerly enslaved on the property.

She asked for, and was granted her freedom in 1776. She stayed on at Stenton as a paid servant and, legend holds, she saved the house from being burned by British soldiers after the Battle of Germantown in 1777.

Today, Stenton operates as a museum and community space, offering tours, programs, and events like Dinah Day, from noon-4pm on April 18th.

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4601 N. 18th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19140