Join us on Sunday April 27 at 2 pm at Ormiston Mansion for our Annual Meeting! Please RSVP to Phyllis Fox at phylfox@juno.com. We hope you will be able to join us.
Ormiston Mansion Showcased in Manhunt
On March 9, Ormiston Mansion held an afternoon event where the Apple TV production of the TV series Manhunt was highlighted. In 2022, Apple TV used Ormiston Mansion to film the opening scenes where an assassin attempts to kill President Lincoln’s Secretary of State Seward was attempted unsuccessfully. It occurred on the same night that Lincoln himself was assassinated. The film was released on Apple TV in 2024. This stunning series can still be viewed on Apple TV.
Board members including Tom Elsasser, Rob D’Amico and Matthew who worked in the Mansion during the filming discussed how the interior and exterior of the 1798 mansion were transformed to look like a Civil War era mansion.
A large crowd of historical fans of Manhunt were enthralled with the photos of the house. All loved the anecdotes of how the film crew brought to life the foiled assassination attempt on Seward in a 2nd floor room that became a bedroom
Ormiston Board members provided wonderful refreshments. It was a great afternoon where Ormiston Mansion itself was showcased as a set of a Civil War famous historical event.
A Salute to Oliver!
View Scenes Shot at Ormiston Mansion from the Apple TV Production Manhunt
Why is There a British Flag Outside Ormiston?
Residents of the Delaware Valley in 1982 founded the Royal Heritage Society (RHS) after the consulate office closed in Philadelphia. These lovers of Great Britain sought to retain a local link with the U.K. following its decision to close the office. The Fairmount Park Commission and the City of Philadelphia offered the RHS the use of a historic home for the purpose of maintaining a link with Great Britain which would promote British culture. The Fairmount Park Commission made Ormiston Mansion available to the RHS provided the House would be open to the public at least three days a year.
Over the years the Fairmount Park Commission evolved into the Fairmount Park Conservancy, as it is known today, partnering with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Office to plan and manage community outreach programs across the city.
Since 1982, the RHS has accomplished this preservation goal by restoring the house’s exterior, maintaining the interior and the historic grounds while simultaneously carrying out its mission to promote British culture. Ormiston Mansion provides an amiable location for meetings with members of the Royal Family and other distinguished visitors from the U.K.
The British flag is highly symbolic of the makeup of the U.K. The flag flies outside of Ormiston Mansion since the flag known as the Union Jack is the de facto national flag of the U.K. The Union Jack dates back to 1801. In 1606, the British flag began to represent the union between England and Scotland. The flag of England is a red cross on a white background (St. George’s cross). The flag of Scotland is a white “saltire” (an x-shaped cross) on a blue background (St Andrew’s cross). Great Britain and Ireland united in 1801. The Irish flag is a red “saltire” on a white background. Wales is not represented on the Union flag because it was considered part of England. The emblem of Wales is the Welsh dragon which does not appear on the Union Jack.
