Philadelphia Mansions
Philadelphia mansions have been physical symbols of the city and its surrounding region. They embody a version of history that emphasizes wealth and social status, as well as the ebb and flow of development in a large American city and its suburbs.
Mansions became a visible feature of the landscape as soon as wealthy Philadelphia families began building them in the late 18th century. While they often looked like ordinary brick townhouses from the outside, their interiors were often opulent—with marble staircases and 13-foot high ceilings. They were often adorned with paintings by famous artists such as Renoir, Degas and Pennsylvania’s own Mary Cassatt. They included ballrooms, “brandy and cigar” rooms, and dining room tables that comfortably seated 30 well-heeled guests.
Architectural Splendor: Discovering the Charms of Owning a Mansion in Philadelphia
A number of these impressive mansions survive today, and are open to the public for tours and special events. Some, such as the Woodlands mansion in Spruce Hill, are also National Historic Landmarks and serve as educational resources for students of local architecture, botanical history and urban development. Others have been restored and are used as private residences or for corporate and wedding events.
In the early 19th century, the Main Line was a canvas for some of America’s greatest designers who transformed their rich clients’ grand visions into monuments of stone, brick and wood. One such house, now the Baldwin School, was designed by Frank Furness and is a classic example of his work.
Another is Whitemarsh, a sprawling Victorian mansion completed in 1921 for a then-staggering $3 million. It was modeled after the palace at Versailles and was a favorite gathering spot for prominent Philopatrians, who frequently hosted afternoon teas and dinner parties for hundreds of guests.
Philadelphia mansions have been physical symbols of the city and its surrounding region. They embody a version of history that emphasizes wealth and social status, as well as the ebb and flow of development in a large American city and its suburbs. Mansions became a visible feature of the landscape as soon as wealthy Philadelphia…