Andalusia Historic House, Gardens, and Arboretum, a true oasis spanning over 50 acres of gardens and grandeur, has opened its doors for the season, writes Melissa Jacobs for the Main Line Tonight.
The meticulously restored residence, exuding Gilded Age glamour, is the ancestral home of one of Philadelphia’s First Families, the Biddles.
Built in 1797, the Federal-style house originally featured four rooms, four bedrooms, a basement kitchen, and an attic with servants’ quarters.
While Andalusia’s lawn now offers views of Philadelphia’s skyline, the location was much more remote when the home was built.
“Andalusia was here before railroads, before there was a state road or a town,” explained John Vick, Andalusia’s executive director. “To get here from Philadelphia, people took boats, perhaps ferries or steamships. You’d dock where the river wall recedes, then disembark, and proceed to the house.”
Stepping into Andalusia is like entering a bygone world of curated art and delicate china, where industrialists and philanthropists once shaped history.
Andalusia recently gained well-deserved attention thanks to a tasteful marketing effort led by Vick, who joined in 2022. Weekday visits in 2023 more than doubled from the previous year, with overall visitation up 70 percent.
For a closer look at this hidden gem’s past, present, and rising popularity, read the full story about Andalusia Historic House, Gardens, and Arboretum now on Main Line Tonight.
