The Historical Society of Dauphin County administers
the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion. The
mansion was built c. 1766 by John Harris, Jr., pioneer
trader and ferry operator and one of the founders
of Harrisburg. In 1863, it was purchased by Simon
Cameron, Pennsylvania politician, U.S. Senator,
and Lincoln's first Secretary of War. Cameron
transformed the Georgian house into a stylish
Victorian mansion and lived there until his death in
1899. The mansion is furnished with period pieces,
some belonging to both Harris and Cameron. Among
the rooms you will see are the grand Victorian parlor,
Cameron's office, both Colonial- and Victorian-style
bedrooms, and a spectacular Art Deco bathroom
installed by the last owner in 1929. Surrounding the
mansion are gardens containing trees and plants
found in the mid-19th century. The front porch
offers a view of the Harris family grave site and the
wide expanse of the Susquehanna River.