Andalusia (estate) facts for kids
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Andalusia
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Andalusia in 1976
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1237 State Road, Andalusia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Nearest city | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 225 acres (91 ha) |
| Built | 1794 |
| Architect | Benjamin Latrobe, Thomas U. Walter |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000649 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 |
Andalusia, also called the Nicholas Biddle Estate, is a beautiful old mansion and large property. It sits right on the Delaware River in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This area is just northeast of Philadelphia. The town nearby, also named Andalusia, got its name from this 225-acre estate.
Contents
History of Andalusia Estate
Building the Original House
The first house at Andalusia was built in 1794. A man named John Craig had it built. He named his new home after the Andalusia region in Spain.
Expansions and New Styles
In 1806, John Craig hired a famous architect named Benjamin Latrobe. Latrobe helped expand the house. He designed it in a Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek temples.
In 1811, John Craig's daughter, Jane, married Nicholas Biddle. He was a very important banker. Nicholas Biddle and another architect, Thomas U. Walter, made the house even bigger. They worked on it from 1834 to 1836. Thomas U. Walter is famous for designing the dome of the United States Capitol building.
Key Architectural Changes
The biggest change they made was adding a large wing. This part of the house faced the river. It had huge Doric columns on three sides. Inside this wing were two large rooms called parlors. These rooms could be opened up to make one big space. This new section ended in a portico, which is like a covered porch. This portico became a famous example of Greek Revival style.
They also added new rooms to the north side of the house. These rooms created a grand entrance. Some parts of Benjamin Latrobe's 1806 design were kept. These included two rooms with unique semi-octagonal ends.
The Biddle Family Legacy
The Andalusia estate has stayed in the Biddle family for a long time. Many important Biddle family members lived there. These include Nicholas's brother, Commodore James Biddle. His son, Charles John Biddle, became a Congressman. Later, his great-grandson, Charles John Biddle, was a pilot. His great-great-grandson, James "Jimmy" Biddle, led the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Andalusia as a Landmark
In 1966, Andalusia was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place in the country. The National Park Service said that Andalusia is one of the first and best examples of the Greek Revival style in the United States. Today, you can visit Andalusia. It is open as a house museum.
Images for kids
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Andalusia (circa 1834), watercolor by Thomas U. Walter. This shows Latrobe's alterations from 1806.
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First floor plan.
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North façade.
