Hill–Physick–Keith House facts for kids
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Hill–Physick–Keith House
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(2013)
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 321 S. 4th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1786 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000726 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | January 7, 1976 |
The Hill–Physick–Keith House is a really old and important house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You might also hear it called the Physick House. It's located at 321 South 4th Street in a neighborhood called Society Hill. This house was built in 1786.
It was once the home of Philip Syng Physick (1768–1837). He was a very famous doctor, often called "the father of American surgery." In 1976, the house was named a National Historic Landmark. Today, it's a historic house museum, run by the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks.
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About the Physick House
The Hill–Physick–Keith House is a special building in the southern part of Center City, Philadelphia. It stands by itself, surrounded by streets like Delancey and South 4th Street.
What the House Looks Like
This house has three stories and is made of brick. It was built in a style called Federal architecture. This means it has a balanced and elegant look, popular in the late 1700s. The roof is sloped, and the front of the house has three sections.
You can see stone lines, called stringcourses, separating each floor. The main door is in the middle. It has windows on the sides and a big, half-round window above it.
Inside the House
The inside of the house is very fancy. It still has many original features from the Federal period. For example, there are beautiful marble fireplaces. The house is decorated with furniture from the Federal and Empire styles. Some of these pieces even belonged to Dr. Philip Syng Physick himself!
Who Was Dr. Philip Syng Physick?
Dr. Physick was born in Philadelphia. He traveled to London and Edinburgh to study surgery. He brought these important skills back home. He taught surgery and anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania. He helped train many new surgeons.
Dr. Physick was also known for his amazing skills in the operating room. He even designed new and better surgical tools.
History of the House
The house was built in 1786 by a rich man named Henry Hill. He imported Madeira wine. Dr. Physick lived in this house from 1815 until he passed away in 1837.
Over time, the house became old and needed many repairs. In the late 1960s, a publisher named Walter Annenberg helped restore it. He then gave the house to the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks.
Today, the Physick House is the only free-standing Federal mansion left in the old colonial center of Philadelphia.
Visiting the Museum
The house is now a museum. It has a beautiful garden that looks like gardens from the early 1800s. You can visit the museum from Thursdays to Saturdays, 11 AM to 4 PM. On Sundays, it's open from 12 PM to 4 PM. The building is also the main office for the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania.
See also
