The Bryn Athyn Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, is home to some of the most remarkable architecture in the Philadelphia area.
Bryn Athyn was founded in the late 19th century by members of a Christian denomination known as the New Church, and the buildings in the historic district reflect the religious faith and vision of some of the community's earliest residents. Cairnwood, an 1895 country house in the Beaux-Arts style, was built for industrialist John Pitcairn. Cairncrest was the residence of Harold Pitcairn, one of the foremost pioneers of early American aviation. Glencairn, a magnificent castle-like mansion, was designed by Raymond Pitcairn as a home for his family and art collections and built throughout the Great Depression. Bryn Athyn Cathedral was dedicated in 1919 and dubbed a masterpiece of architectural art.