To be considered a historical landmark, buildings must be at least 50 years old and be able to recite the past presidents of the county's homeowners association. Step into a history buff with today's Groupon to Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion. Choose between the following options:
- For $6, you get one guided tour for two adults (a $12 value).
- For $11, you get one guided tour for four adults (a $24 value).
A 17-room Victorian mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion transports visitors to the 19th century with tours of the site's Gothic architecture and authentic furnished interiors. Led by knowledgeable guides, groups of up to 10 traipse about the house's two floors and twin gardens. Split to reflect two distinct time periods—circa 1860, when the Maxwell family inhabited the manor, and circa 1880, during Philadelphia's centennial celebration—the museum is filled with remnants of each decade, from the parlor's Civil War–era furniture to the upstairs hallway's wall-length mural of James Garfield's beard. Tours occur every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 3:15 p.m.
Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion
Step foot onto the lush landscaped grounds of the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, and you're instantly transported to the Victorian era—a time when ladies toted lacy parasols, gentlemen sported tall silk hats, and children played with coal-powered Game Boys. Beyond the stately mansion's immaculately manicured lawns and brick façade lie 17 restored rooms, replete with lavish Rococo and Renaissance revival furnishings, elaborate ceiling designs, and Victorian-era appliances such as cast-iron stoves and gas-lit chandeliers.
This museum of Victorian architecture and culture hosts weekly tours, as well as a monthly Upstairs Downstairs tour that explores the lives and challenges of women in Victorian-era Philadelphia. The mansion also stages theater performances throughout the year, featuring the works of Victorian-era greats including Charles Dickens, Bram Stoker, and Louisa May Alcott.