The Zebulon Butler House Museum
The oldest house in Wilkes-Barre, built 1793.
Built in 1793 and incorporating parts of a 1773 log cabin, the house will shed light on the very early history of Wilkes-Barre, from village to borough, and interpret the four generations of the Butler family who lived here from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War.
Restoring the house to the 1810s and 1820s
The house will be restored to the Federal period of the 1810s–1820s.
To date, the exterior has been restored and painted, and the interior has been stripped down to the original floors and walls. The roof is watertight and the basement is dry. The post-Agnes Flood era bathroom was removed, the front porch has been restored, a downstairs public bathroom is being designed, and new landscaping has been planted.
The Zebulon Butler House was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1933. See the Library of Congress documents.
Restoration progress
- DONEExterior restored and painted
- DONERoof watertight; basement dry
- DONEPost-Agnes bathroom removed; front porch restored; new landscaping
- UNDERWAYInterior stripped to original floors and walls; public bathroom being designed
- NEXTFurnishing the rooms in the Federal style
Donate a Federal-period piece
We are accepting donations of Federal-period (1780–1830) furniture, paintings, books and other household items.
Email us about an itemThe house through the years
Thank you
Our work is only possible with the generous support of our community.
We gratefully acknowledge the following contributors to the Zebulon Butler House Museum.
Corporations, foundations & institutions
- Back Mountain Bloomers
- The Constellation Fund of the Luzerne Foundation
- Mericle Foundation
- McKinsey & Co.
- Yellow Zinnia Fund of the Luzerne Foundation
- Wilkes University
In kind
- Borland & Borland
- I.B.E.W. Local 163
- Frederick Stegmaier Mansion
- Hillard House Inn
- Jonathan Edwards - 570 Drone
- Shawnee Fort Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
- The Times Leader
Individual patrons
- Karen Borton
- Anthony T.P. Brooks
- Audrey Fletcher Brozena
- Robert Bunsick
- Sarah P. Carr
- Mr. & Mrs. Frank E.P. Conyngham
- Henry B. Cummings
- Barry & Betty Dean
- Catherine F. Decker, MD
- Ellen P. Dennis
- Dr. Joseph & Nadine Dreier
- Sherry L. Emershaw
- John H. Hepp, IV, PhD
- Colleen Hodakowski
- Frank Hughes
- John J. Hughes, Jr
- Richard J. Jenkins
- Linda R. Joseph
- Eileen Kenyon
- Herbert Fellerman, MD
- Don & Joy Fiorucci
- Maxim & Patricia Furek
- Attilio M. “Butch” Frati
- Jackie Freeman
- Mark Gatusky
- Alan Glickman
- Richard M. Goldberg, Esq
- Ronald & Patricia Kaiser
- Kimberly Kerrick
- Warren & Blair Koehl
- Richard L. Kramer & Cheryl Fuller
- Melana M. Khalife
- Donna Krappa
- Dr. Michel Lacroix & Pamela Zuccker
- Bill & Beth Landmesser
- Mary Ann Lepa
- Phillip & Marguerite Latinski
- Ann R. Lewis & Andrew M. Augustine
- William V. Lewis, III
- Linda Loop
- John & Mary Jo Marconi
- Donald & Margaret Matisko
- Sean & Sara McGrath
- Mr. & Mrs. Clifford K. Melberger
- Carol A. Morris
- Emily Brooks Novakowski
- John & Jennifer Ochman
- Dr. Wesley & Patricia Parks
- Emmanuel & Susan Pons
- Daphne A. Reid
- Michelle Reilly
- Richard A. Rikoski, PhD
- Barbara A. Romanansky
- Deborra Schauss
- Rebecca M. Schmitt
- Matthew Fuller Schooley
- Ann M. Shinko
- Jeffrey & Cheryl Silverman
- Hon. & Mrs. Correale F. Stevens
- Matthew C. Thomas-Malani
- Mark & Delphine Torbik
- Thomas F. Torbik
- Jane Turner
- David Schappert
- Juliane & Annastina Von Schmeling
- Gordon L. & Cecelia Williams
- Gary & Gloria Wisemiller
- Joel Zitofsky & Ronne Kurlancheek
Press
“Grand plans for the restoration of the Zebulon Butler House in Wilkes-Barre now focus on the interior of the aged structure.” The Citizens’ Voice, 4/6/19
Zebulon Butler House Museum
pre 1867
1910
1939
Historic American Buildings Survey: First Floor
Historic American Buildings Survey - Elevations
painting the exterior, 2018
March 2018
DAR at the Zebulon Butler House, May 2018
May 2018
Christmas 2018
Christmas 2019
Fourth of July Bunting
Built in 1793 and incorporating parts of a 1773 log cabin, the Zebulon Butler House Museum will shed light on the very early history of Wilkes-Barre (from village to borough) and interpret the four generations of the Butler family that lived in the house from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. The house will be restored to the Federal period of the 1810-1820s.
To date, the exterior of the house was restored and painted, and the interior has been stripped down to the original floors and walls. Roof is watertight and the basement is dry. Post-Agnes Flood era bathroom was removed. Front porch has been restored and downstairs public bathroom is being designed. New landscaping planted.
Donations of Federal period (1780-1830) furniture, paintings, books and other household items are being accepted.
Zebulon Butler House has been documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1933. Library of Congress documents can be found here.
THANK YOU
Our work is only possible with the generous support of our community. We would like to gratefully acknowledge the following contributors to the Zebulon Butler House Museum.
Corporations, Foundations, & Institutions
Back Mountain Bloomers | The Constellation Fund of the Luzerne Foundation | Mericle Foundation | McKinsey & Co. | Yellow Zinnia Fund of the Luzerne Foundation | Wilkes University
Individual Patrons
Karen Borton | Anthony T.P. Brooks | Audrey Fletcher Brozena | Robert Bunsick | Sarah P. Carr | Mr. & Mrs. Frank E.P. Conyngham | Henry B. Cummings | Barry & Betty Dean | Catherine F. Decker, MD | Ellen P. Dennis | Dr. Joseph & Nadine Dreier | Sherry L. Emershaw | John H. Hepp, IV, PhD | Colleen Hodakowski | Frank Hughes | John J. Hughes, Jr | Richard J. Jenkins | Linda R. Joseph | Eileen Kenyon | Herbert Fellerman, MD | Don & Joy Fiorucci | Maxim & Patricia Furek | Attilio M. “Butch” Frati | Jackie Freeman | Mark Gatusky | Alan Glickman | Richard M. Goldberg, Esq | Ronald & Patricia Kaiser | Kimberly Kerrick | Warren & Blair Koehl | Richard L. Kramer & Cheryl Fuller | Melana M. Khalife | Donna Krappa | Dr. Michel Lacroix & Pamela Zuccker | Bill & Beth Landmesser | Mary Ann Lepa | Phillip & Marguerite Latinski | Ann R. Lewis & Andrew M. Augustine | William V. Lewis, III | Linda Loop | John & Mary Jo Marconi | Donald & Margaret Matisko | Sean & Sara McGrath | Mr. & Mrs. Clifford K. Melberger | Carol A. Morris | Emily Brooks Novakowski | John & Jennifer Ochman | Dr. Wesley & Patricia Parks | Emmanuel & Susan Pons | Daphne A. Reid | Michelle Reilly | Richard A. Rikoski, PhD | Barbara A. Romanansky | Deborra Schauss | Rebecca M. Schmitt | Matthew Fuller Schooley | Ann M. Shinko | Jeffrey & Cheryl Silverman | Hon. & Mrs. Correale F. Stevens | Matthew C. Thomas-Malani | Mark & Delphine Torbik | Thomas F. Torbik | Jane Turner | David Schappert | Juliane & Annastina Von Schmeling | Gordon L. & Cecelia Williams | Gary & Gloria Wisemiller | Joel Zitofsky & Ronne Kurlancheek
In Kind
Borland & Borland | I.B.E.W. Local 163 | Frederick Stegmaier Mansion | Hillard House Inn | Jonathan Edwards - 570 Drone | Shawnee Fort Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution | The Times Leader