08/29/2026
For a single summer in 1780 Esther de Berdt Reed, the British-born wife of Joseph Reed, president of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will live at Laurel Hill Mansion with her Mother and children. A passionate patriot Esther is the author of "Sentiments of an American Woman", a broadside expressing the aspirations of women to be useful in the cause of the American Revolution. Esther and Sarah Franklin Bache, daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Deborah Read Franklin, co-founded the Ladies Association of Philadelphia which raises over $300,000 for the patriot cause. Esther runs the operation from Laurel Hill. She will die just shy of her 34th birthday on September 18, 1780.
Laurel Hill Mansion, located in Philadelphia's East Fairmount Park is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. The last tour begins ant 3:00p.m.