Built in 1843 by United States Supreme Court Justice Henry Baldwin, the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum at Mount Hope is the premier home of history, the arts, and cultural experiences in northwest Pennsylvania.

The museum has been owned and operated by the Crawford County Historical Society since 1963. While it is the private property of the society, today the museum grounds and gardens serve as a place for the community to gather, learn, and enjoy.

History of the Home

Henry Baldwin (January 14, 1780 – April 21, 1844) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from January 6, 1830, to April 21, 1844.

Baldwin’s career began as a successful Pittsburgh attorney, but his investments in iron furnaces sparked a move to Crawford County, Pennsylvania where he was elected the newly formed jurisdiction’s first district attorney from 1799 to 1801. Here the widowed Baldwin would marry his second wife, Sally Ellicot daughter of George Washington’s Surveyor General, Andrew Ellicott.

Baldwin’s political career quickly exceled with his election to Congress in 1816 where he gained favor with future president, Andrew Jackson who he later helped to elect. In response, President Jackson appointed Baldwin to a seat on the Supreme Court, a post he held until his death in 1844.

In 1842, an aging Baldwin and his wife decided to settle closer to family and friends in Meadville where they stayed when court was not in session. During a visit to his son in Tennessee, Baldwin, fell in love with a home there known as “Hunter Hill,” and it became the inspiration for the home he was to build on a 24 ½ acre estate along Terrace Street referred to as Mount Hope.

Construction on a two-story Greek Revival mansion began in 1843, but the house was not even complete before Baldwin suddenly died in 1844. With almost no money to his name, Baldwin was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Upon her husband’s death, Sally Baldwin decided against living in the home, and she leased the property to the Meadville Female Seminary to be used as a girl’s finishing school.

Three years later, Sally deeded the property to her nephew, William Reynolds who moved his young wife, Julia, and infant daughter from Pittsburgh where he practiced law. Reynolds would become one of the most influential figures in the area’s future as Meadville’s first mayor and a businessman who brought the railroad to the city.

William and his wife remodeled the southern style plantation home to conform to their Victorian tastes. Pine woodwork was removed and replaced with black walnut, parquet floors were added over the existing pine, and new fireplaces, a library, and solarium were added. The most extensive renovation was the addition of a full third floor for both children’s bedrooms and servants’ quarters.

Upon their deaths in 1911, William and Julia left their home to their youngest child, John Earle Reynolds. A bachelor until his 50s, John married his longtime love, Katherine Shryock only months after his parents’ passing. After a year-long honeymoon to Europe and Asia, the couple returned, adorning their home with items that are still on display in the museum today.

John followed in his father’s footsteps, serving as Meadville’s mayor for three terms. Katherine was very active in the American Red Cross and was a charter member of the Meadville Garden Club. As a couple, they were the ideal socialites in Meadville and examples of true elegance.

After John’s death in 1947, Katherine remained in the house until her death in 1963, willing a the house to be put on market for public sale. With the generous support of the Tallon Zipper Company and others in the community, the Crawford County Historical Society purchased the property in 1963. Soon after, tt was transformed into a house museum, displaying much of the Baldwin and Reynolds family furnishings as well as many artifacts representing the history of Crawford County.

The Museum Today

The Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum offers free tours seasonally from June to August thanks to our partnerships with the Crawford County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, ONE Federal Credit Union and Ernst Seeds. Inside, visitors will not only learn about the fascinating story of the Baldwin and Reynolds families, but they will also be treated to displays with rare artifacts and artwork, most with important connections to our national history.

However, the property is so much more than a museum. With its serene green space, walking areas, and picturesque fountain, the museum acts as a public park, a botanical garden, and outdoor event venue!

The property also functions as a unique event venue for the Crawford County Historical Society and its partners. From our Biannual “Trees of Christmas” celebration to dinner theaters, lectures, re-enactments, the Ellie Davies Croquet Classic, and more, the museum is alive with activity year-round! See our Events Page for details on our current schedule.

More Information

Use for Private Events and Special Tours

The museum and grounds can be reserved for private events and special tours. The house and gardens can serve as the perfect backdrop for weddings, showers, and other memorable celebrations. To check on availability and facility specifications, please contact the Museum Director at (814) 333-9882 or museum@baldwinreynolds.org.

Photography Shoots

Commercial photography on the grounds must be pre-approved by museum staff. No commercial photography sessions will be allowed on museum property without prior permission and those not following this guideline will be asked to leave. For permission, contact the Museum Director at 814.333.9882 or email at museum@baldwinreynolds.org.