Trip Planner: USA / Pennsylvania / Pocono Mountains Region / Jim Thorpe / Asa Packer Mansion

Asa Packer Mansion, Jim Thorpe

4.6

#1 of 10 in Museums in Pocono Mountains Region

The Asa Packer Mansion is a historic house museum on Packer Road in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, United States. Completed in 1861, it was the home of Asa Packer (1805–1879), a coal and railroad magnate and founder of Lehigh University. It is one of the best preserved Italianate Villa homes in the United States, with original Victorian furnishings and finishes. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.DescriptionThe Asa Packer Mansion is located near Jim Thorpe's historic downtown Broadway area, on a terrace overlooking the Lehigh River on the west side of Packer Hill Avenue. The home of Packer's son, the Harry Packer Mansion, designed by Sloan's protegee Addison Hutton, is next door on the same road. The Asa Packer Mansion is a three-story seventeen-room mansion, with a two-story covered porch. Both the main roof and porch roof have extended eaves with brackets, and the main roof is capped by a cupola. The main three-story block is extended to either side by smaller blocks ending in bowed segments. The porch has elaborate Italianate details, including arched valances with lacework in the spandrels, and lacework balustrades on the second floor. The interior is also lavishly appointed, retaining original woodwork, features and period furnishings.HistoryPacker commissioned it to be built in what was then the Borough of Mauch Chunk. It was completed in 1861. The architect was Samuel Sloan of Philadelphia who also designed the Southern Mansion Hotel in Cape May, New Jersey, and Longwood in Natchez, Mississippi. The house bears a strong resemblance to a design published by Sloan in his 1852 Model Architect, in which he promoted the Italian Villa style.

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Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

460 reviews

Google

4.4

facebook

4.7

798 likes

ForbesB

August 7, 2017

This was a very interesting mansion tour, made all the better by a knowledgeable docent. It is one of the few places I have visited which had all the original pieces in the various rooms. My one compl... more »
dextersadventures

August 6, 2017

I've been to some larger Mansions and Castles, but I enjoyed all the details that were in this mansion including all the original furniture! There were so many details given by our wonderful tour guid... more »
Richard G

August 3, 2017

We visited this home while vacationing in the Poconos. It is a great treasure in a small town. You have to walk up a hill from where we parked our car to visit the place because it does not have a par... more »

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Google

T- Con

July 1, 2017

Beautiful property with a nice "rags to riches" story attached to it. Fair price and the tour guide had a refreshing dry humor. A must if you are in the area.

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Harry Poorman

May 30, 2017

You have to walk up a big hill but this place was really cool. Our tour guide was very knowledgable and informative.

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Arieta Rose

November 6, 2016

Great experience. I've been through the Mansion at least 4 times and I've seen the deterioration over the past 25 years. Tour guide speaks too fast most likely because he is saying the same thing over and over I should be considerate and realized people are visiting for the for the first time. Beautiful woodwork but you could tell from all the traffic through the house the place is taking a beating. They should contract a professional cleaning company as young people cleaning the place are using orange glow on the woodwork. The furniture probably has spider mites throughout as they don't vacuum it they really should steam to kill the mites. Use Murphy's Oil on the wood. That's only my opinion which everyone is entitled to, but I would definitely get Professionals in to take care of the woodwork and furniture. But it's still a must to visit when when touring Jim Thorpe

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Joshua Weinstein

July 14, 2016

What an incredible house! The tour was informative and lively without being too deep (what I mean is, the tour was appropriate for all ages). The tour guide was extremely knowledgable and he was given tons of questions from guests about the most minute details regarding the house and family. He was able to answer them all! Gorgeous house, well maintained and a great deal too for the price. Definitely visit if you're in Jim Thorpe!

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Janet Hurlbrink

September 15, 2016

Great tour! Worth a trip to see this mansion, I was quite impressed. Unfortunately, the only reason they are not receiving five stars is because I've tried for two days to get in touch with them by phone and the line is always busy. I want to find out if the tour is handicap accessible and still don't know, as I'm bringing a relative to see the mansion because it was so good.

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