Albert Gallatin and Friendship Hill National Historic Site

Our next stop on July 8th was to see Friendship Hill National Historic Site built by Albert Gallatin in 1789.

Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin was an AMAZING man!  He was born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1761 and came to America in 1780 just after the Revolutionary War was ending.  By 1785, he became an American citizen. The following year, he bought a 370-acre Fayette County, PA farm and then in 1789 he married his first wife Sophia Allegre where they started the house they called Friendship Hill.  Sadly, Sophia died a few months later and this event pushed him into politics to deal with his grief.

Gallatin was exceptionally educated and held the Swiss equivalent to a college degree making him expertly qualified to be in public service.  Hannah Nicholson became his 2nd wife in 1793 and then Albert bout 650 more acres and founded New Geneva, Pennsylvania where his business ventures in this new town included a general store, sawmill, gristmill, boat yard, and a boring and grinding works for muskets.  He most profitable was his glass work shop producing windowpanes and bottles.  

Sadly, by 1825, Hannah hated living at Friendship Hill as she relished the city life (even though a  son wanted to stay there).  So, they sold their holding and left for New York City in 1825.

During his lifetime, Gallatin was called "an astonishing man" by Patrick Henry.  He was Secretary of the Treasury for Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison for 13 years!  He was an assemblyman, briefly a U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, a U.S. Negotiator for the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812 and he also helped plan the National Road (that George Washington implemented in my last post).  Gallatin wrote a 203-pg book called, "A Sketch of the Finances of the United States" in 1796 calling telling people that they "should live within [their] means and avoid debt."

One of the mile markers along the National Road

Albert Gallatin also planned the financing of the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803 and funded the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)!  Lewis and Clark named the three rivers that confluence into the Missouri for Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin.

At any rate, Albert Gallatin was an extraordinary man!  So, let's tour his house, Friendship Hill.

First thing you should know is that it is settled up on a hill above the Monongahela River.  There is handicap parking up by the house, but it's not well signed.  Regular parking (including RV) is down below but not too bad of a walk up the hill to the home.

Gallatin's Friendship Hill is a brick 2-story home that took several years to complete.  After his marriage to his second wife, the home needed an addition for the six children they had.  The visitor center is located in a corner of the first floor of the home, restrooms are in the basement, and the remainder of the home is available for a self-guided tour, as well as the grounds.

Here are photos of some of the rooms in the home.

The visitor center had a few nice pieces to display...very minimal, but excellent.  Also their info desk and a small bookstore.

Another interesting thing we learned about this site is that the National Park System now has a BARK Ranger program where owners can learn about the benefits of exploring a national park location with a dog as well as the rules of BARK, which are B-Bag your waste, A-Always wear a leash, R-Respect Wildlife and K-Know where you can go.  Dogs completing the short program will be sworn in as "Bark Rangers" and receive a Bark Ranger collar tag!  The program is free and all dogs are welcome to become Bark Rangers.  After that, all the dogs do are to follow park rules and be a good dog.  Check your local national park for details.  Besides BARK Ranger, there is also a Junior Ranger program for the kids.

Lupino Bean
NPS Photo

Orion
NPS Photo

This was a super fun place to explore.  There is also a waterfall along the nature trail there as well.  If you do explore the surroundings, we aware there are mine openings and mineshafts, so beware.