CHESTER SPRINGS, PA — The Mill at Anselma is marking a major milestone in 2025: the 20th anniversary of its designation as a National Historic Landmark and the successful completion of a major restoration that preserved one of the nation’s most intact colonial-era grist mills.
The National Historic Landmark status, conferred in April 2005 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, recognized the site’s exceptional historical integrity—from its original milling equipment and architecture to its continuous operation from the 18th through the 20th century. The recognition capped off years of effort by the Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust, which had formed in 1998 to guide the mill’s restoration and transformation into a public heritage site.
Backed by a comprehensive Site Master Plan and substantial support from both public and private entities—including the Pew Charitable Trusts, Save America’s Treasures, the William Penn Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission—the project stabilized the mill structure, restored its water wheel, conserved its historic machinery, and rehabilitated several outbuildings on the 22-acre property.
The public reopening in 2004 drew more than 1,200 visitors and reintroduced working flour milling operations to the site for the first time in decades. The landmark designation followed shortly after, elevating the mill’s profile as a rare example of pre-Revolutionary industrial technology still in operable condition.
Founded in 1747, the Mill at Anselma predates the United States itself and now operates as a nonprofit historical site offering weekend tours, demonstrations, and educational events from April through December. As the mill celebrates two decades as a nationally recognized treasure, it continues to honor its legacy by educating visitors about Chester County’s agricultural, industrial, and community history.
Located along Pickering Creek at 1730 Conestoga Road, the mill remains a testament to the enduring value of historic preservation and the power of community partnerships.
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