 | Cultural Resources - Buildings
Moving the King of Prussia Inn |
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| The King of Prussia Inn, located in Montgomery County, is destined for a new location on August 20, 2000. The historic inn, built in 1719, was relocated from its present position in the median of Route 202 to a safer location approximately 1 mile away. |  |
| PennDOT planned the move in an effort to save the historic inn, while still managing to relieve traffic congestion on crowded roads. More than 86,000 motorists a day pass by the inn in their daily travels. The move is a benefit to both preservationists and motorists, allowing for conservation of a valuable historic resource, and expansion of the existing roadway. |
| Construction on the Inn began in 1719, with major additions and renovations occurring between 1750 and 1770. During the Revolutionary War the inn played an important role in Washington's decision to bring troops to Valley Forge. It is said to have derived its name from the large numbers of Prussian troops who frequented the Inn during the Revolution. |
| The Move | |
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 | PennDOT's design plans originally scheduled the move for July 4, 1998, but a lack of funding delayed the project. Some additional stabilization was necessary prior to the August 2000 move date to ensure the building could withstand the relocation. |
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| Early plans by the King of Prussia Chamber of Commerce, current owners of the inn, called for moving the structure in stages, which would have involved disassembling the building piece by piece. After consultation with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), plans were redesigned to allow for removal of the entire building at one time. |  |
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| The process of physically moving the inn was awarded to International Chimney Corporation (ICC), of Buffalo N.Y. An experienced firm with moves of historic buildings, ICC is well known for its relocation of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina. |
| For more information contact: | |
| Catherine Spohn, Ph.D.
Archaeologist, PennDOT District 6-0
(610) 205-6711 (Voice)
cspohn@pa.gov | |
| Monica Harrower
Architectural Historian, PennDOT District 6-0
(610) 205-6709 (Voice)
mharrower@pa.gov | |