Country Living Outside Of Pittsburgh - Hartwood Acres
Hartwood Acres Park is home to one of the largest country estates in the Pittsburgh area. The mansion was built for philanthropist Mary Flinn Lawrence her inheritance from her father, Pennsylvania Senator and construction mogul William Flinn. Mary enjoyed a privileged lifestyle afforded to her and she was well established in Pittsburgh high society. She inherited the modern day equivalent of about $23 million when her father died in 1924.
In the late 1920’s, Mary and her husband John hired architect Alfred Hopkins to build their manor home. The result was a stately 31-room slate-roofed stone house constructed around a great hall completed in 1929. Rose Greely, the first licensed woman architect of Washington, D.C., to design the landscaping around the mansion in 1938. The grounds were transformed into an equestrian showcase, building miles of riding trails, show rings, steeplechase layouts, and a stable complex.
John died in 1945 and Mary remained in residence until her death in 1974 as one of the stipulations for the 1969 purchase by the Allegheny Parks Commission buying 400 acres. Other stipulations inccluded that the land would never be subdivided and the county would also purchase her sister home, Harkaway Farm. The new park was opened to the public.
Today, the 629-acre park consists of a Tudor mansion, a stable complex, sculpture garden, amphitheater, gate lodge, walking and hiking trails, glass-covered pavilion, and elegant formal garden.
This is what caught my eye; I hope you enjoy!
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What you should know:
Access to the park is free.
There is a fee for the mansion tours and should to be booked online. Unfortunately, the day I visited there was a wedding and no house tours were conducted.
There are walking trails.
You could spend from a couple of hours to entire day exploring the grounds.
Check website for days and hours of tours.
There is ample free parking.
Location: 200 Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
For more information: Hartwood Acres
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