About Us

In 1874, this grand estate was built as a wedding gift from industrial titan Asa Packer to his son, Harry Packer. Asa Packer — famed founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University — envisioned a home as distinguished as his family’s legacy. Six years later, following Asa’s passing, Harry expanded the mansion with the addition of a majestic front veranda and an elegant study wing. These additions were the work of Addison Hutton, a renowned Quaker architect celebrated for his refined, timeless designs.

 

The veranda, crafted from striking Vermont green sandstone, still features its original mahogany ceiling and ornate tile flooring. For the mansion’s opulent interiors, the elite firm Herter Brothers of New York City — favored by Gilded Age elite — was commissioned to complete the decorative work, creating a space of enduring luxury and character.