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Andalusia (estate)
Encyclopedia
Andalusia, also known as the Nicholas Biddle Estate, is a historic mansion and surrounding estate located on the Delaware River
just north of Philadelphia in the village named Andalusia for it
in Bensalem Township
, Bucks County
, Pennsylvania
.
The mansion was built in 1794 by John Craig, who gave it the name Andalusia, after the Andalusia region
of Spain
. The home was expanded in 1806 in a Greek Revival
style by architect Benjamin Latrobe
. In 1811, Craig's daughter Jane married prominent financier Nicholas Biddle
(1786–1844), and the property has remained in the Biddle family
ever since. Notable members include brother Commodore James Biddle
(1783–1848), son Congressman Charles John Biddle
(1819–1873), and great-grandson aviator Charles John Biddle (1890–1972).
The mansion was further expanded in the same Greek Revival style in 1834–36 by architect Thomas U. Walter
, who is known mostly for his design for the dome of the United States Capitol
. According to the National Park Service
, "Andalusia is one of the earliest and most pristine examples of the Greek Revival style in the country."
The house was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1966. Today it is operated as a house museum.
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
just north of Philadelphia in the village named Andalusia for it
Andalusia, Pennsylvania
Andalusia is a historic neighborhood in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, bordering Philadelphia. The ZIP code is 19020. The area is the southernmost part of the township and of the county. Its boundaries are: Woodhaven Road to the northeast, the Delaware River to the east and south,...
in Bensalem Township
Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania
Bensalem Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States which borders the northeast section of Philadelphia. The township is composed of many communities, including Bensalem, Trevose, Oakford, Cornwells Heights, Eddington, and Andalusia...
, Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
The mansion was built in 1794 by John Craig, who gave it the name Andalusia, after the Andalusia region
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The home was expanded in 1806 in a Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style by architect Benjamin Latrobe
Benjamin Latrobe
Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe was a British-born American neoclassical architect best known for his design of the United States Capitol, along with his work on the Baltimore Basilica, the first Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States...
. In 1811, Craig's daughter Jane married prominent financier Nicholas Biddle
Nicholas Biddle (banker)
Nicholas Biddle was an American financier who served as the president of the Second Bank of the United States.-Ancestry and early life:...
(1786–1844), and the property has remained in the Biddle family
Biddle family
The American Biddle family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania yielded numerous and diverse people of interest down to the present era.William Biddle and Sarah Kempe were Quakers who emigrated from England to America in 1681 in part to avoid religious persecution...
ever since. Notable members include brother Commodore James Biddle
James Biddle
James Biddle , of the Biddle family, brother of financier Nicholas Biddle and nephew of Captain Nicholas Biddle, was an American commodore. His flagship was USS Columbus.-Education and early career:...
(1783–1848), son Congressman Charles John Biddle
Charles John Biddle
Charles John Biddle was an American soldier, lawyer, Congressman, and newspaper editor.-Biography:Biddle was born and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Nicholas Biddle, president of the Second Bank of the United States, and nephew of Congressman Richard Biddle...
(1819–1873), and great-grandson aviator Charles John Biddle (1890–1972).
The mansion was further expanded in the same Greek Revival style in 1834–36 by architect Thomas U. Walter
Thomas U. Walter
Thomas Ustick Walter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was an American architect, the dean of American architecture between the 1820 death of Benjamin Latrobe and the emergence of H.H. Richardson in the 1870s...
, who is known mostly for his design for the dome of the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
. According to the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, "Andalusia is one of the earliest and most pristine examples of the Greek Revival style in the country."
The house was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1966. Today it is operated as a house museum.
External links
- Official site: Andalusia Home Page
- Material on the Andalusia mansion and its several outbuildings, at the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)Historic American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
:- 38 b&w photos, 8 color images, 15 maps and measured drawings, and 8 data pages on the mansion.
- 4 photos, 2 measured drawings and 4 data pages on the cottage.
- 2 photos, 1 drawing, 3 data pages on the Billiard Room (house).
- 2 photos, 2 drawings, and 3 data pages on the Grotto.
- 1 drawing and 3 data pages on the Graperies.
- Listing at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings