Peter and Rosanna Wentz settled here in 1744. By 1758, they had built their English Georgian style house which featured many elements reflecting their German heritage. In the autumn of 1777, the Wentz home became temporary headquarters for General George Washington and his staff. After the war, Peter Wentz sold the farm to Devault Beiber. In 1794, it was purchased by Schwenkfelder Reverend Melchior Schultz and his family. Generations of the Schultz family continued to live and farm here until 1969, when the County of Montgomery purchased the property. The County restored the house to the way it would have appeared in the 1770s, when it served as Washington’s headquarters. The farm buildings, livestock, and kitchen garden represent early Pennsylvania German farming culture and practices in the region. The Peter Wentz Farmstead is a designated National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. Peter Wentz owned two enslaved men while he lived here. One of these men, Jack, made two attempts to escape to freedom. Tax records and runaway ads help us tell Jack’s story within the larger context of slavery in early Pennsylvania. TOURS
Free guided tours are available at each site year-round. Plan your trip so that you allow at least 45 minutes for this personalized view into the past. Tours are available on the hour and MUST be reserved in advance. Staff and visitors are subject to current Montgomery County COVID policy. Call us at 610-584-5104 to reserve your tour today! Tour Hours - last tours start at 3:00 pm
Tuesday - Saturday
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday
1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Closed Mondays and Holidays
Suggested donation: $2 per person.
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