Washington Slept Here Often, Lincoln Dropped By: Phun Philly Phacts

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George Washington is known for his time leading the American Revolution and serving as the nation's first president, and he spent significant time in the Philadelphia region. Abraham Lincoln also briefly stopped in Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania during his inaugural train journey to Washington, D.C. in 1861.

Why it matters

Philadelphia was a central hub of the American Revolution and early republic, and both Washington and Lincoln had important connections to the city and surrounding region. Their visits highlight the historical significance of the Philadelphia area.

The details

Washington considered Philadelphia a favored city, arriving for the Second Continental Congress in 1775, presiding over the 1787 Constitutional Convention, and living there as president from 1790–1797. During the war, he set up shop at Summerseat in Morrisville, and during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic, he relocated to the Deshler-Morris House in Germantown. Lincoln briefly stopped in Bristol Borough on February 21, 1861, during his inaugural train journey to Washington, D.C., addressing a crowd of over 1,000 residents.

• Washington arrived for the Second Continental Congress in 1775.
• Washington presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention.
• Washington lived in Philadelphia as president from 1790–1797.
• Washington set up shop at Summerseat in Morrisville during the war.
• Washington relocated to the Deshler-Morris House in Germantown during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic.