5 Museums in one Mile in Doylestown, PA

Doylestown Pennsylvania has a unique claim to fame: You can visit 5 castles and museums within a mile. “The Mercer Mile” includes Fonthill Castle, The Mercer Museum, and the Moravian and Tile Works. Additionally, the Michener Art Museum and the VAMP Vampire and Paranormal Museum are also located within this area. Doylestown is located in Bucks County, about an hour north of Philadelphia.

Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, PA

Developed by archaeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer, this unique mansion completed in 1912 has elements of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine styles. It was built without blueprints, using reinforced concrete. It showcases the Moravian tiles that helped make Mercer so successful, and contains 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and over 200 windows, all unique. The castle is one of 3 museums all located within a mile in Doylestown, known as the “Mercer Mile.”

In order to visit the castle, you must take a guided tour which lasts about an hour. You can buy advance tickets on this website, which is also the website for a separate but related attraction – the Mercer Museum. Operating hours are Tuesdays to Sundays 10 to 5. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 17, and free for 5 and under.

The Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA

Located just a mile away from Fonthill Castle, the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA, is also a concrete castle and National Historic Landmark. Mercer collected an enormous collection of pre-industrial American artifacts and this second castle was built to house them. Now, you can see the artifacts throughout the six-story castle, including a wagon, whaling boat, and fire engine. Some of the artifacts are even suspended from the ceiling!

We chose to visit Mercer Museum rather than Fonthill Castle, simply because we could visit without a tour. With smaller kids, an hour long tour can be challenging, but we were able to walk throughout the Mercer Museum at our own pace. It is quite an unusual attraction and we enjoyed seeing the early American tools and trade items whimsically packed into every inch of space, including the ceiling.

Ticket prices and operating hours are the same as for Fonthill Castle, and can be purchased at the same website. To see both attractions you do need to purchase separate tickets for each. Also, you need to be able to navigate winding staircases and some slightly cramped areas to move about the museum.

Moravian and Tile Works: Another of the Mercer Mile Museums in Doylestown

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown, PA, is adjacent to Fonthill Castle, and is one of the museums of the Mercer Mile. It is a “working museum,” meaning that artisans still create tile there, sometimes with the original molds. They sometimes host workshops for the public as well. Mercer used local clay to create the handmade tiles. Many of the tiles tell stories or refer to Bible stories or other narratives. Mercer’s tiles were highly sought after, and have been installed around the world, most notably at the Vatican.

Visitors can tour the factory, watch artisans at work on the tiles, and visit the gift shop to buy their own interesting tiles. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday 10 to 5. Tours are around $17 with events and classes varying in price.

The Michener Art Museum

Through not part of the “Mercer Mile,” the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA, is an excellent collection of local art from around Bucks County and the Delaware Valley. The building is actually a converted 19th century prison, but with it’s sculpture garden, outdoor musical instruments, and bright, colorful exhibits, it is anything but prison-like now. We were there during the Eric Carle exhibition, which was especially fun for our kids who loved so many of his books.

Hours are 10 to 5 Wednesday to Saturday, 12 to 5 Sunday and Tuesday, and closed on Mondays. Adult ticket prices are $15, kids aged 6 to 17 are $10, and 5 years and under are free. The Second Sunday of the month offers free admission. The museum has robust programming, so check the website for upcoming events. It also includes studios for local artists. There is a cafe and gift shop as well.

VAMPA Vampire and Paranormal Museum

VAMPA is another very unique museum very near (but not part of) the Mercer Mile. It includes artifacts from folklore, the occult, and even a large collection of antique vampire-killing kits! Other spooky items include haunted dolls, exorcism chairs, talking boards, crucifixes, and other artifacts thoughtfully displayed to tell the story of the classic conflict between good and evil as depicted through art, faith, and legend. Free roaming peacocks add a touch of whimsy, and the museum is co-located with an antique store in a barn.

Operating hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 5, and during the week by appointment. Tickets cost about $20 for adults and $8 for youth . More info can be found on the website.

Discover more to do in Southeastern Pennsylvania, at this post.