Fort Hunter Mansion

An 18th-century mansion on the bluffs above the Susquehanna, built in sections by Archibald McAllister, an officer under General Washington. The property dates back to 1725 and includes a blockhouse from the French and Indian War era.

Fort Hunter Mansion sits high atop the bluffs of the Susquehanna River, with a rich history dating back to the French and Indian War. Originally settled in 1725 by Benjamin Chambers, the property became known as Hunter's Mill when it passed to Samuel Hunter. In the 1750s, the British built a small fort here as an alarm station and supply depot. Revolutionary War officer Archibald McAllister, who served under General George Washington, later purchased the property and built the mansion in three sections, with the grand stone front house completed in 1814.

The 23-room mansion and its surrounding 40-acre park were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. While the claims of supernatural occurrences at Fort Hunter Mansion have not been extensively documented, some visitors and staff have reported lights flickering mysteriously and strange noises emanating from within the mansion when no one else is present. The property's long history spanning nearly 300 years of colonial conflicts, Revolutionary War service, and generations of inhabitants has left some wondering what spirits might linger in this grand estate.

Today Fort Hunter operates as a 19th-century historic house museum offering guided tours from May through December. The park includes nine structures listed on the National Register, picnic pavilions, a river walk, and access to the Pennsylvania Canal Trail.