A three-story, late French Renaissance-style brownstone, which was built on "Millionaire's Row" in 1911 at a cost of $450,000,[6] it was described by The Pittsburgh Press in 1976 as "the city's sole example of the small 'town palace.'"[7]
Designed for iron industry millionaire William Penn Snyder[8] by George Orth, with construction beginning in 1911,[9][10] the William Penn Snyder House was completed in early January 1912,[11] and received significant media coverage of its opening when the Penn family hosted a combined housewarming for their new residence and a debutantes' ball in honor of their daughter on January 19, 1912.[12]
Located in the historic, Pittsburgh neighborhood of Allegheny West, the home was proposed for inclusion in a new city historic district by the Pittsburg Historic Review Commission at its meeting in early September 1989.[13]
Present day
Babb, Inc., an insurance brokerage firm currently owns and occupies the building.