Historic Forest Hall

Forest Hall occupies a prominent corner in Milford, a stony testament to architectural vision and conservation history.

Built in 1863 in the French Normandy style by Calvert Vaux—famous for his work on Central Park alongside protégé Frederick Law Olmsted—the building initially served as a post office. It was commissioned by James Pinchot, a well-known patron of the arts and the father of conservation pioneer Gifford Pinchot. The building’s vertical roofs, dormers, and chimneys with curling details evoke a European grandeur uncommon in rural Pennsylvania.

In 1904, Richard Morris Hunt expanded the structure to host Yale School of Forestry summer classes, adding lecture halls, a gymnasium, and an auditorium. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, it retains much of the grandeur of its original design. 

Today, Forest Hall Studios hosts exhibitions, creative workshops, and events. Visitors can take in its traditional stone walls, intricate wooden ceilings, and exposed beams.