The reconstruction of Pennsbury Manor began. However, not everyone agreed that Pennsbury Manor should be rebuilt. Some people believed the federal funds should go to save existing colonial buildings, others didn’t want the manor built on Penn’s original site because it would prevent future archaeological research.

Colonial Revival Design

After World War I, patriotic feelings inspired Americans to honor their own history. They wanted new buildings, furniture, and landscapes designed to recall their nation’s past. They also wanted a way of preserving what they thought as “pure” American culture. Many supporters were terrified of the “corrupting influence” new immigrants might have on their original traditions. Government leaders also saw this as a way of promoting national civic pride. 

The movement inspired people to look for ways to include colonial history in their lives, like their furniture. The Colonial Revival Movement also inspired people to rebuild colonial sites. Colonial Williamsburg- begun in 1926- became the most successful Colonial Revival site and a trendsetter for future reconstruction projects nationwide. But Colonial Revival designs didn’t accurately reflect historical examples. Instead, they presented a romantic ideal of the colonial period mixed with contemporary taste. Pennsbury Manor’s design is partly based on research, partly on the ideals of the Colonial Revival movement.