Explore Fonthill Castle and the Mercer Museum

Built in 1913, The Mercer Museum is a six-story building filled with more than 17,000 pre-industrial tools and artifacts that reveal how people lived and worked before modern industrialization.

History of the Castle

As a historian and archaeologist, Mercer believed it was important to preserve the tools of everyday trades as the industrialization period began to replace them. He designed and built the museum to house his vast collection of these items.

Today, the building itself is part of the experience, with its unusual castle-like design providing a dramatic setting for Mercer’s collection. The museum continues his original mission by preserving and interpreting objects connected to early American crafts, trades, agriculture, and everyday life.

What to See at the Mercer Museum

Be sure to give yourself time to explore all the museum’s unusual displays!

Explore the Central Court: Artifacts are arranged throughout the towering interior and displayed at different heights.
Discover More Than 60 Early American Trades: The permanent collection represents more than 60 crafts and trades, including blacksmithing, printing, farming, shoemaking, and more.
See Tools and Objects from Everyday Life: Exhibits include everything from agricultural equipment to household items.
Visit the Changing Exhibitions: In addition to the permanent collection, the museum presents changing exhibitions covering historical, cultural, and artistic themes.
Browse the Museum Shop: The modern wing includes a museum shop with books, souvenirs, educational items, and merchandise.
Explore the Research Library: The library contains extensive materials related to Bucks County history, traditional crafts, trades, and industries.

Know Before You Go

A little planning will make it easier to enjoy the Mercer Museum.

Admission: There are fees for admission with adult, children, and senior prices offered.
Hours and Operation: The museum is open year-round. Check the website for current hours before visiting.
Type of Visit: The museum is a self-guided experience, although gallery guides are available to answer questions.
Accessibility: The modern ground-floor wing is fully accessible, but the historic castle portion is only partially accessible.

Built in 1908, Fonthill Castle offers a completely different experience, taking visitors inside the former home of Henry Chapman Mercer to see his highly personal approach to design.

History of the Castle

Mercer designed the unusual castle himself, combining Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine influences into a building with 44 rooms, more than 200 windows, and 18 fireplaces.

Mercer lived at Fonthill from 1912 until his death in 1930, after which he left the property in trust as a museum of decorative tiles and prints. The Trustees of the Mercer Fonthill Museum then arranged for the Bucks County Historical Society to care for and manage the property as a historic house museum.

What to See at Fonthill Castle

A guided tour is the best way to explore Fonthill Castle.

Tour the 44 Rooms: Explore the castle’s maze-like interior.
Admire Mercer’s Tilework: Ceramic tiles are among the highlights of Fonthill Castle, reflecting Mercer’s work as a tilemaker and his interest in preserving traditional decorative arts.
See Mercer’s Collections: Mercer’s tiles and prints were central to the home’s original purpose as both a residence and a personal showplace.
Learn About Henry Mercer: Because Fonthill was Mercer’s home, a visit provides context for understanding the man behind the Mercer Museum.

Know Before You Go

Fonthill is a more structured visit than the Mercer Museum, so be sure to plan around the guided-tour schedule and the historic building’s physical limitations.

Admission: There is a fee for admission with adult, child, and senior prices available.
Hours and Operation: The castle is open year-round. Check the website for current hours.
Guided Tours: Fonthill Castle is experienced through guided tours lasting approximately 60 minutes.
Accessibility: Fonthill has limited accessibility because of steep stairs and narrow, uneven passages throughout the historic interior.
Young Children: The 60-minute guided tours may be challenging for very young children, and the site notes that tours may not be suitable for children under age 5.

After exploring the castles of Doylestown, return to New Hope and relax at Olivia’s Bridge Street Inn. Built in 1817 along the Delaware Canal, our historic Georgian-era inn places you in the heart of downtown New Hope, close to the Delaware River, shops, restaurants, galleries, and local attractions.

Our eight guest rooms feature private bathrooms, and every stay includes a hot, made-to-order breakfast each morning. With inviting common spaces, a garden patio, and a rooftop deck overlooking the canal, Olivia’s gives you a comfortable place to unwind after a day exploring Bucks County.

Book your stay today!

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