Through the years, the Zoo protected The Solitude without making substantive changes to the fabric of the house. Several years prior to the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, the Zoo, in cooperation with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, was involved in sizeable repairs and improvements made to the house. In 1991, Friends of The Solitude was formed to preserve this historic structure and research its history.
Since the inception of Friends of The Solitude, the group has completed the installation of a new roof, and four columns for the east portico have been fully restored. On the interior of the house, structural stabilization of all ceilings has been completed, as well as a paint analysis of the Library and Parlor ceilings—and a full restoration of the original Library ceiling to its original eighteenth century colors has been completed.
The Friends of The Solitude also initiated an evaluation of the tunnel connecting the house to the kitchen dependency and its associated vaults in 2003, which revealed the unique quality and important historical significance of this structure. The Friends of The Solitude are interested
in restoring the underground tunnel and kitchen vaults for future public access and interpretation.
Today, the Friends’ primary goal is the complete restoration of the parlor and entrance hall to its original colors. This major undertaking will require the help and support of individuals and organizations who understand the historical and architectural importance of The Solitude.