Guided History Tours
Learn the Personal History of this Grand Beaux Arts Country House!
Guided tours of Cairnwood Estate reveal the personal history of this grand Beaux Arts country house. Tour participants discover the private side of the family and its integral role in founding the Bryn Athyn community. Tours begin with an orientation video in the Garden House, three floors of the Main House, the Chapel in the tower, the Cairnwood Family Gallery, Servant’s Quarters, and the Carriage House collections of horse-drawn carriages and sleighs and a 1927 Packard. Members – please call to receive your free tour(s). Fundraising and Outreach Activities proudly hosted by Cairn Club, LLC
- General Admission: Adult (Ages 18-64): $15; Student (Ages 6-17) and Seniors (Ages 65+): $12; Children 5 and under: Free
- Tours are available Tuesday – Sunday at 11:00am
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended; the estate and grounds are occasionally closed for private rentals on short notice
- Parts of the estate are not fully accessible due to 1895 construction; tours require a fair amount of walking and stairs. Call for more information or to request tour modifications.
- Call 215-947-2004 or contact us at info@cairnwood.org to schedule your tour
Gertrude’s Gardens & Home Tour
Tuesday – Thursday at 2pm or By Appointment ~ April – October
Working with the architects Carrère & Hastings and the landscape architects, Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot, Mrs. Gertrude Pitcairn oversaw the vision and details of every aspect of Cairnwood Estate. During this seasonal tour we will focus on the exterior architecture of the home and intention of the historic landscape plans while wandering the garden paths and terraces. The tour begins in the Garden House, includes the grand entertaining rooms on the first floor, and ends in the Carriage House. If you have toured the estate before and would like to learn more, this is the tour for you! Fundraising and outreach activities proudly hosted by Cairn Club, Inc.
- General Admission: Adult (Ages 18-64): $15; Student (Ages 6-17) and Seniors (Ages 65+): $12; Children 5 and under: Free
- Minimum 2 tickets; Single ticket – call to book
- Cairnwood Members – please call to receive your free tour(s) coupon code.
- Tours are available: Tuesday – Thursday at 2:00 pm or by Appointment (reservations required)
- Weather permitting, dress for the weather/discretionary substitutions may be required
- Tour includes uneven garden paths and stairs; call to inquire about accessibility
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Purchasing tickets in advance is required
Purchase tickets online by clicking: Calendar of Events
Learn from Home ~ Click to Enjoy Recordings of Cairnwood Programs
Plan your visit
- The Estate is closed on Mondays
- Closed for private events, call ahead for availability
For a full listing of closed dates, please refer to the Estate hours listed at:
Group Tours
Pre-booked group tours of Cairnwood can be scheduled for 10 guests or more at a discounted admission. Guests are also encouraged to enhance their visit to the Bryn Athyn Historic District by adding a guided tour at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral and Glencairn Museum.
Click here for more detailed information: Bryn Athyn Landmark Tours_sm
Annual Holiday Exhibition
Visit Cairnwood during the month of December when the Estate is fully decorated by local florists for the holidays. Enjoy a special exhibition of period fashions worn by three generations of Cairnwood ladies displayed throughout the second and third floors. For more information: http://www.bahistoricdistrict.org/christmas-in-the-district