Holiday Tours of the Gifford Pinchot Family Estate

This holiday, visit the decorated family estate of Gifford Pinchot and tour its spacious rooms, stone walls, gardens, and even its temple-like outdoor pool. The castle-like manor, named Grey Towers, is now a hub for environmentalism, ecology, and the epic history of America’s forests. As the founder and first chief of the United States Forest Service, Pinchot coined the term “conservation” and applied his life as a cabinet member and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania to ensuring future generations would have a sustainable life.

Today, the mansion he grew up in is a hub for scholars and youth studying the ecology and natural resources of the United States, as well as a popular landmark of American history. Short hiking trails scatter the grounds and pathways through shaded woods lead you on a winding route you may not find your way out of, like the Milford Experimental Forest, or the half-mile Forest Discovery Trail. If you’re more of an indoors-y type, and prefer your trails to be hallways, the mansion itself is full of lavish décor, antique furniture, and historical memorabilia that is guaranteed to impress.

The Grey Towers National Historic Site is open year-round for self-guided tours of the grounds. This holiday season, take a guided tour of all three floors of the 1886 mansion. Decorated for Christmas by the Milford Garden Club, the mansion’s Holiday Tours are active from December 5th to December 17th, starting at 1PM and 3PM. The tour costs $8.00 for each adult and also includes the Holiday Art Exhibit and Sale. Visit the website for more information on the tour and art exhibit. Visit the United States Forest Service’s web page on Grey Towers for a summary of Pinchot’s legacy or take a virtual tour before planning your visit.

Brandon Sherbo, Guest Blogger