Emlen Physick Estate facts for kids
The Emlen Physick Estate is a beautiful old house in Cape May, New Jersey. It's a museum that shows what life was like in the Victorian era. This was a time when Queen Victoria ruled England, from 1837 to 1901. The estate is found at 1048 Washington Street.
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A Look Back in Time
This large house has 18 rooms. It was built in 1879. A famous American architect named Frank Furness designed it. The house was made for Dr. Emlen Physick Jr. He was born in 1855 and passed away in 1916. Dr. Physick came from a well-known family in Philadelphia. He lived there with his mother, Mrs. Ralston, and his aunt, Emilie. This mansion looks a lot like another house Furness designed, the Knowlton Mansion, built around 1880.
Unique Building Style
The Physick Mansion is a great example of "Stick style" architecture. This style uses wooden boards on the outside of the house. These boards look like sticks. They show how the house is built. The outside of the Physick Mansion has some very big and special features. These were a trademark of architect Frank Furness. You can see huge chimneys that look upside down. There are also hooded dormers, which are windows sticking out from the roof. Plus, there are giant stick-like brackets on the porch. Inside the house, you can see many of the original furniture pieces.
Visiting the Museum
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is a group that helps save old buildings. They were formed in 1970. Their first big project was saving the Physick Estate from being torn down. The city of Cape May bought the estate. MAC then rents it from the city. MAC has worked hard to fix up and take care of the estate. They run it as a Victorian history museum. You can take guided tours of the house all year long.
The estate covers four acres of land. It also includes other buildings. The Carriage House has a ticket office and a shop. It also has the Carroll Gallery, which shows exhibits all year. There's even a cafe for lunch from April to October. Another building, Hill House, also has a ticket office and offices.
The Estate in Media
The Physick Estate has appeared in some TV shows. It was featured on an episode of Haunted Towns. This show explores places believed to have ghosts. A team called Tennessee Wraith Chasers visited the house. Many people believe that Dr. Emlen Physick and his family still haunt the home. This includes his aunts, Emilie and Isabella, and his mother, Frances Ralston.
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