Hill–Physick–Keith House

The Hill–Physick–Keith House,[3][4][5][6] also known as the Hill–Keith–Physick House,[2][7] the Hill–Physick House,[1] or simply the Physick House,[8] is a historic house museum located at 321 S. 4th Street in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Built 1786, it was the home of Philip Syng Physick (1768–1837), who has been called "the father of American surgery".[2] The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.[2][3] It is now owned and operated by the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks as a house museum.

Hill–Physick–Keith House
(2013)
Location321 S. 4th St.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39.944315°N 75.14840439°W / 39.944315; -75.14840439
Built1786 (1786)
Architectural styleFederal
NRHP reference No.71000726
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 27, 1971[1]
Designated NHLJanuary 7, 1976[2]

Description and history

The Hill–Physick–Keith House stands in the southern part of Philadelphia's Center City, freestanding on a parcel bounded by Delancey, Cypress, and South 4th Streets. It is a three-story brick building with Federal styling. It is covered by a hip roof, and has a three-bay main facade whose levels are separated by stone stringcourses. The main entrance is in the center bay, flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a large half-round transom window. The interior is well appointed with original Federal period features, including numerous marble fireplace surrounds. It is decorated in with Federal and Empire style furnishings, including some that belonged to its most famous owner, Philip Syng Physick.[3]

Physick, born in Philadelphia, was trained in London and Edinburgh in surgery, a skill which he brought back to his hometown. He taught surgery and anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania, training an entire generation of new surgeons in the arts he had learned. He was also known for his skills in the operating room, and for the innovative designs of surgical tools he developed.[3]

The house was built in 1786 by wealthy Madeira wine importer Henry Hill. It was the residence of Dr. Physick after separating from his wife, Elizabeth Emlen Physick, in 1815, until his death in 1837. The house later fell into dilapidation. In the late 1960s, publisher Walter Annenberg restored the house and then donated it to the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks.[8] Today the house is the only free-standing Federal mansion remaining in the colonial center of Philadelphia.[5]

The house is now operated as a museum, with the garden replicating one of the early 19th century.[6] It is open Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 5pm, and Sundays, 1 to 5 pm. The building also serves as the headquarters of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Hill–Keith–Physick House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  3. James Sheire (August 6, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Hill–Physick–Keith House" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying one photo, exterior, from 1975 (32 KB)
  4. "The Society Today" website of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, which is headquartered in the house
  5. Gallery, John Andrew, ed. (2004), Philadelphia Architecture: A Guide to the City (2nd ed.), Philadelphia: Foundation for Architecture, ISBN 0962290815, p.30
  6. Teitelman, Edward & Longstreth, Richard W. (1981), Architecture in Philadelphia: A Guide, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, ISBN 0262700212, p.53
  7. National Park Service (April 2007). "National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  8. "Physick House" on the USHistory.org website
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