There’s been over 100 years of life, love, and celebrations held within these walls.

 Your unique celebration is a welcome addition to the rich history of King Mansion.

Setting The Standard

On a crisp March 15, the first shovels broke ground. Leading this architectural masterpiece was Frank Gordon Fahnestock Jr. He designed Temple Ohev Sholom (2345 North Front. St.), William Penn Hotel (327 Market St.), and many churches in the area, and was gaining notoriety for his elegant builds. The general contractor, James Albert McKelvy, who also built the Harrisburg Public Library, had estimated the cost of construction to be between $150,000 and $200,000, which is comparable to $3 million today. 

Breaking Ground 

Completed in 1926 as a private residence, the mansion redefined sophistication and comfort. King Mansion was composed of Indiana Limestone, to create a Mediterranean-inspired style that spread throughout the entire mansion. 

When the King family moved in, the spacious home was filled with furniture custom-designed to complement the mansion’s unique interior architecture. The basement housed a swimming pool, billiard room, and a two-lane bowling alley, which was later converted into a shooting range. A tennis court, now the current parking lot, also provided active enjoyment for the family. A gymnasium, studio, library, and a conservatory completed the vast mansion.

In 1915, the young couple relocated to Harrisburg, where Mr. King established a corporate tax law practice (Barnitz & King) at the Berger Building on Third and Market Street. King was so close to his home that it wasn’t unusual to see him walking to work in the mornings, rain or shine.  

The couple also welcomed six children: Horace, Agnes, James, Robert, George, and John. In 1925, the family settled in the house in 1925, even though construction wouldn’t be finished until the spring of 1926. 

King Mansion was the vision and home of Horace B. King and his family. King, born in 1883, grew up near Erie, Pennsylvania He attended Bucknell University and later studied law at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.

King met his future wife, Rose Vanderbilt McKeehan, during his time at Dickinson College. Rose lived across the street from the university and attended Drexel in Philadelphia, Pa. The two married on August 30th, 1911, in Rose’s family’s home. 

A granddaughter of Horace King shared, "People might look at this and think 'spoiled rich kids'. But my Dad used to say he got a secondhand bicycle for his birthday, and he and John used to bake fudge and sell it door to door to earn pocket money – 'penny a piece, nickel a row'.  His mother would prepare sandwiches for struggling men who would come by and sit out back, hungry, during the Depression. She was a resilient, wonderful woman."

Handed Down Through History

After King passed away in 1938, and the rest of King’s family had moved out, the mansion was passed from company to company, each with their own purpose for the space—a hostess house, a convalescent home, and more recently, office space.

Today, the historic venue is once again welcoming guests, celebrating love, and is full of life as an event venue. We've preserved and restored the character of the building so that weddings and corporate events, private parties, and fundraisers can all gather under the one-of-a-kind backdrop.

100 years later, King Mansion has retained its charm and character.

The recently restored home still stands proudly, with its intricate details and stunning architecture. It serves as a reminder of an era when elegance and opulence were valued above all else.