Resource Logo

Hello, you are using an old browser that's unsafe and no longer supported. Please consider updating your browser to a newer version, or downloading a modern browser.

Deshler-Morris and Bringhurst Houses: Historic Renovation

The oldest official presidential residence, the Germantown White House, twice sheltered George Washington during the Yellow Fever epidemic in 1793. The Morris family lived in the house for over one hundred years before donating it to the National Park Service in 1948.  The adjacent Bringhurst House now features new exhibits that tell the story of the Battle of Germantown, the First Family and the entire household, including enslaved Africans.

Exterior stucco was redone and roofs were replaced with historically accurate cedar shingles.  The Visitor Reception area in the Bringhurst House contains exhibit space and administrative offices for Park Service Guides and serves as a gathering space for the many groups that tour Deshler-Morris.

Overall Cost / $4,100,000
Owner / National Park Service
Architect / John Milner Architects
Project Status / Completed in 2009

Completed in August 2009, both buildings received state-of-the-art mechanical / electrical and fire protection systems to protect and prolong the life of the structures. A geo-thermal system of wells drilled 300 feet underground provides water for air-conditioning and heat without burning fossil fuels, and a VESDA early warning system detects smoke before a hint of fire, notifying National Park Service monitors and the fire department simultaneously.

Gallery Images