Moland House opens for season, offering visitors a walk through revolutionary history

The Moland House has officially reopened for guided tours twice a month, inviting visitors to step inside one of Bucks County’s most significant Revolutionary War landmarks and experience history where it happened.

Tours are now available from 1 to 4 pm on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from April through October (from November to  March, tours will only take place the second Sunday of the month). Each visit offers something unique: second Sundays feature open-hearth cooking and wood shop demonstrations, while fourth Sundays include wood shop and blacksmithing demonstrations.

Located on a 12-acre historic park, the Moland House dates back to the 18th century and was originally home to John Moland, a provincial councillor for the British Crown. But its place in history was cemented in August 1777, when George Washington used the home as his headquarters for nearly two weeks during the Revolutionary War.

During the season’s first tour on April 12, docent Sue Goldsworthy brought that history to life, beginning outside the home, where a series of replica flags immediately set the tone.

“These flags are not just for decoration,” Goldsworthy explained. “The one on the left is Washington’s flag since his troops were here. Then we have a French flag for Marquis de Lafayette, we have Betsy Ross’s flag because, legend has it that the Moland House was supposedly the first place where she flew her flag when the troops were here, we have a Polish flag for Casimir Pulaski; he was known as the father of the American cavalry, and then our Bucks County flag.”

Nearby, she pointed across the driveway to the Carriage House, where craftsmen demonstrate traditional tools and techniques during tour days, offering a hands-on glimpse into colonial life.

Inside, visitors are immediately immersed in the past. The scent of cooking over an open hearth filled the kitchen, where Susan McLellan Plaisted, portraying an 18th-century cook, demonstrated period food preparation.

“I have melted butter in this hearth that I will bring to a boil and will then boil the asparagus for a few minutes in it,” she said. “It will be served another time, extending the asparagus season.”

As the tour moved through the home, Goldsworthy highlighted both its authenticity and its resilience. She pointed out a scorched section of flooring, now preserved as part of the exhibit.

“Vandals had come into the home before they started the renovations here, and they set fires,” she said. “The house fortunately didn’t go up in flames, but it’s just a reminder of how lucky we are that it didn’t.”

“Everything inside is authentic from the time period,” Goldsworthy noted, pointing out original flooring, the fireplace lintel, the kitchen door, and even a stone sink.

One of the most compelling stops on the tour is the room now known as the “Council of War Room,” where Washington met with his officers during the critical days of August 10–23, 1777.

“I think visitors are most surprised by how many famous people were here,” Goldsworthy said. “Attendees at some of these meetings included George Washington, Casimir Pulaski, Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton, Anthony Wayne, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox and other notable individuals.”

Goldsworthy also explained why Washington chose this particular location. At the time, British General William Howe had departed New York Harbor with a massive fleet, but his destination remained unclear. Washington, already maneuvering his troops through the region after crossing the Delaware, positioned his army strategically while awaiting intelligence.

When word came that the British fleet had been sighted near Delaware Bay, Washington selected the Moland House as a meeting place. Its location at the intersection of York and Bristol Roads made it both accessible and secure, particularly because the surrounding population, largely Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, was believed to be sympathetic to the Continental cause.

Goldsworthy explained how ironic it was that he chose this home for his encampment.

“Mr. Moland was the highest-ranking lawyer in the area and a provincial councillor for the British Crown,” Goldsworthy explained. “He died in 1761 before General Washington and his Continental Army used his home for their headquarters. So you have to wonder what would have happened if Mr. Moland was still around when Washington came here.”

Upstairs, visitors can view the home’s bedrooms, including a master bedroom featuring a carefully recreated bed.

“It took one of the women from a local Questers group 3,000 hours to make,” Goldsworthy said. “All the material came from England because back then, that’s where they would have purchased it, and they wanted it to look authentic.”

Outside, a plaque mounted on the side of the house confirms the site’s significance, marking Washington’s presence there with approximately 1,300 troops. According to Goldsworthy, the discovery of that plaque by local residents helped spark the preservation effort that ultimately saved the property.

The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, and in 1996, Warwick Township took ownership. A year later, the Warwick Township Historical Society assumed responsibility for restoring and maintaining the site, transforming it into the historic park visitors experience today.

The tour concluded behind the house, where guests can explore additional features, including a restored 1850s well house and root cellar, a 1940s addition, and a colonial-style garden lined with antique brick.

For Goldsworthy, the experience of sharing the Moland House with visitors never loses its impact.

“Visiting and touring this house makes people realize just how close to history you are,” she said. “It still amazes me that General Washington actually walked where we are walking. A lot of people didn’t know the Moland House was here until the Warwick Historical Society saved it.”

Today, with tours once again underway, that history is no longer hidden;it’s open to anyone willing to step through the door.

For more information about upcoming tours, visit moland.org. The Moland House is located at 1641 York Road in Warwick Township.