Chamounix is a historic home located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Federal-style house was built in 1802 by George Plumsted who was a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, then enlarged to nearly double its original size by subsequent owners after 1853.[2] Chamounix is a 2½-story stuccoed stone dwelling measuring 45 feet (14 m) long and 47 feet (14 m) deep, featuring a hipped roof with dormers and a porch on three sides with decorative iron supports. The house served as a country retreat until it was appropriated by the state via eminent domain in 1869 to become a part of Fairmount Park, from which time it was used in various ways including as a boarding house, a restaurant, and a refreshment stand. After years of neglect and then fire damage, the Fairmount Park Commission decided to demolish Chamounix; however, a committee of the former American Youth Hostels (AYH, now HI USA) successfully petitioned to save it and, since 1964, it has served as an international youth hostel.[3]
Chamounix | |
 Chamounix, June 2010 | |
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| Location | West Fairmount Park on Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°0′13.6″N 75°11′46.6″W / 40.003778°N 75.196278°W |
| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1802[2] |
| Architectural style | Federal[2] |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001146[1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1972 |
Chamounix was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b c "A brief history of Chamounix Mansion". Archived from the original on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
- ^ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania". CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2012-07-18. Note: This includes Pennsylvania Register of Historic Sites and Landmarks (August 1971). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Chamounix" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-18.
External links
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Media related to Chamounix Mansion at Wikimedia Commons- Hostelling International - Chamounix Mansion website
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation:
- HABS No. PA-1653, "Chamounix Mansion", 6 photos, 4 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
- HABS No. PA-6184, "Schuylkill River Villas", 18 data pages of historical context
