The Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia was founded on May 19th, 1887 by members of the Philadelphia Manufacturers Association, a group of leading Philadelphia industrialists that predominantly consisted of textile executives. Organized primarily as a social and gentleman's club, its purpose was to advance and protect the interests of manufacturers throughout the United States. The Philadelphia Manufacturers Association encouraged all local businessmen to join the club's ranks with the purpose of growing its membership to better defend tariffs and challenge the Knights of Labor.

By October 1887, the Manufacturers' Club began construction on their new clubhouse located on Broad and Walnut Streets in Center City, Philadelphia. Designed by the architectural firm of Hazelhurst and Huckel, the clubhouse was completed by 1890. Despite its impressive design, the Club only occupied the building for twenty years when, in 1911, a larger structure was constructed on the footprint of the original clubhouse. In 1925, the Manufacturers' Club moved their headquarters to Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, in order to escape the noise of the city. The club changed their name to the Manufacturers' Golf and Country Club in 1933.