The Mercer Museum

Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, native Doctor Henry Chapman Mercer was an historian, archaeologist, collector, and ceramist who left behind him a legacy of a deep love of history and art that is brought to life through two outstanding museums, one of which was Mercer's home.



Dr. Mercer was afraid that technology was going to cause America to lose its cultural heritage, so he took it upon himself to collect items that had been discarded, combing junk yards and landfills for what he considered "treasure." After collecting items for a while, his attic must of overflowed and he decided to build a place just to house them.



Dr. Mercer's collections were varied and seemingly endless, including more than 50,000 objects of many descriptions. Objects of every day life, tools and artifacts, represent the soul of early America and the heritage of Bucks County.



The seven story concrete building was built between 1913 and 1916 by Mercer, eight laborers, and "Lucy" the horse. It, too, is a National Historic Landmark, awesome to behold with its towers, gables, and parapets.

Inside, more than 60 Early American trades are represented, including a wealth of woodworking, metalworking, agricultural, textile, and dairy tools. Some Native American implements date back to 8,000 B.C.



Dr. Mercer lived in what is now known as the Fonthill Museum

Built between 1908 and 1910, this glorious mansion was designed by Mercer himself, from the inside out. The exterior was not even considered until all the rooms had been imagined and sketched.



Today Fonthill is a National Historic Landmark. Constructed entirely of hand-mixed concrete, the house contains 44 rooms, 32 stairwells, 18 fireplaces, and more than 200 windows. A Guided Tour reveals more than 900 prints and other objects that Mercer gathered throughout the world. The lavish interior surfaces display many of Mercer's original decorative tiles.