Andalusia (estate)

Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States

United States historic place

Andalusia

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

U.S. National Historic Landmark

Pennsylvania state historical marker

Andalusia in 1976

Location of Andalusia in Pennsylvania

Show map of Pennsylvania

Andalusia (estate) (the United States)

Show map of the United States

Location| 1237 State Road,
Andalusia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nearest city| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates| 40°3′43″N 74°57′30″W﻿ / ﻿40.06194°N 74.95833°W﻿ / 40.06194; -74.95833
Area| 225 acres (91 ha)
Built| 1794
Architect| Benjamin Latrobe, Thomas U. Walter
Architectural style| Colonial Revival, Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.| 66000649[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP| November 13, 1966
Designated NHL| November 13, 1966[3]
Designated PHMC| November 01, 2001[2]

Andalusia, also known as the Nicholas Biddle Estate, is a historic mansion and estate located on the Delaware River, just northeast of Philadelphia, in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The community surrounding it, Andalusia, takes its name from the 225-acre estate.

## History

[edit]

The original house was built in 1794 by John Craig, who named it after the Andalusia region of Spain. Craig hired architect Benjamin Latrobe to expand the house in 1806 in a Greek Revival style. In 1811, Craig's daughter Jane married prominent financier Nicholas Biddle (1786–1844). Biddle and architect Thomas U. Walter expanded the house into a mansion in 1834–36. Walter is best known for his design for the dome of the United States Capitol.

Their most dramatic addition was a two-and-a-half-story wing, surrounded on three sides by massive Doric columns, that thrust southward toward the river. This contained twin parlors on the main floor, divided by pocket doors that could be opened to create a single room. The wing ended in a portico, one that has become an icon of Greek Revival architecture. Across the north façade, a two-story block of new rooms created a grand entrance and service spaces. Some of Latrobe's 1806 spaces were retained in the 1830s alterations, including twin rooms with semi-octagonal ends.

Notable Biddle family members include Nicholas's brother Commodore James Biddle (1783–1848), son Congressman Charles John Biddle (1819–1873), great-grandson and aviator Charles John Biddle (1890–1972), and great-great-grandson and National Trust for Historic Preservation president James "Jimmy" Biddle (1929–2005). The property remains in the Biddle family.

The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966.[3][4] According to the National Park Service, "Andalusia is one of the earliest and most pristine examples of the Greek Revival style in the country."[3] Today it is operated as a house museum.

* Andalusia (circa 1834), watercolor by Thomas U. Walter. This shows Latrobe's alterations from 1806.

* First floor plan.

* North façade.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
3. ^ a b c "Andalusia". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on November 28, 2002. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
4. ^ S. S. Bradford (October 31, 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Andalusia" (pdf). National Park Service. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help) and Accompanying 4 photos, exterior, from 1966 and undated. (1.04 MB)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andalusia (Nicholas Biddle mansion).

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Historic American Buildings Survey documentation:
* HABS No. PA-1248, "Andalusia"
* HABS No. PA-1248-A, "Andalusia, The Cottage"
* HABS No. PA-1248-B, "Andalusia, The Grotto"
* HABS No. PA-1248-C, "Andalusia, The Billiard Room (house)"
* HABS No. PA-1248-D, "Andalusia, The Graperies"
* Andalusia data from the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings (PAB) project of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia

* v
* t
* e

Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania

Founded 1682

Communities|

* Andalusia
* Bensalem
* Bridgewater
* Cornwells Heights
* Eddington
* Flushing
* Oakford
* Siles
* Trappe

Education|

* Bensalem Township School District
* Bensalem High School
* Holy Ghost Preparatory School

Government|

* Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district
* Bensalem Township Police Department

Attractions/
Landmarks|

| Historic sites|

* Andalusia
* Belmont
* Growden Mansion

|

* Parx Casino and Racing
* Neshaminy Mall
* Neshaminy State Park
* Penn Community Bank Amphitheater

Transportation|

| Roads|

* I-95
* I-276/PATP
* US 1
* US 13
* PA 63
* PA 132
* PA 513

|

Bus|

SEPTA City bus routes

SEPTA Suburban bus routes
128
129
130
133
150

Rail|

| Lines|

Regional Rail
Trenton
West Trenton
Inter-city rail
Keystone Service
Northeast Regional

|

Stations|

* Cornwells Heights
* Eddington
* Neshaminy Falls
* Trevose

Related|

* Bucks County
* Philadelphia metropolitan area

Category

* v
* t
* e

US National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania

Topics|

* Contributing property
* Keeper of the Register
* Historic district
* History of the National Register of Historic Places
* National Park Service
* Property types

Lists by county|

* Adams
* Allegheny
* Armstrong
* Beaver
* Bedford
* Berks
* Blair
* Bradford
* Bucks
* Butler
* Cambria
* Cameron
* Carbon
* Centre
* Chester
* East
* North
* South
* Clarion
* Clearfield
* Clinton
* Columbia
* Crawford
* Cumberland
* Dauphin
* Delaware
* Elk
* Erie
* Fayette
* Forest
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Greene
* Huntingdon
* Indiana
* Jefferson
* Juniata
* Lackawanna
* Lancaster
* Lawrence
* Lebanon
* Lehigh
* Luzerne
* Lycoming
* McKean
* Mercer
* Mifflin
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Montour
* Northampton
* Northumberland
* Perry
* Philadelphia
* Pike
* Potter
* Schuylkill
* Snyder
* Somerset
* Sullivan
* Susquehanna
* Tioga
* Union
* Venango
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Westmoreland
* Wyoming
* York

Lists by city|

* Pittsburgh
* Lancaster
* Philadelphia
* Center City
* North
* Northeast
* Northwest
* South
* Southwest
* West

Other lists|

* European archaeological sites
* Native American archaeological sites
* Bridges (covered)
* National Historic Landmarks (Philadelphia)

* Category
* NRHP portal

*[No.]: number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template