Sweetbriar | |
---|---|
Location | West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia [1] |
Coordinates | 39°58′37″N 75°12′03″W / 39.9769833°N 75.2008667°W |
Built | 1797 [2] |
Architectural style(s) | Federal [2] |
Sweetbriar is a Neoclassical mansion in the Federal style built in 1797 [2] in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. [1] The mansion was built by Samuel Breck and named for the roses that grew on the property. [3] The interior includes a double parlor and floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the Schuylkill River. [2] Period pieces include Chinese armorial porcelain, Hepplewhite and Sheraton style chairs, and Adam style furniture. [2] Wedgwood jasperware and fireplaces with delicate plaster decorations were influenced by discoveries in the ancient houses of Pompeii. [2] Bird prints by John James Audubon and paintings by William Birch decorate the walls. [2]
The house was operated by the Modern Club of Philadelphia from 1939 to 2014. It has been closed while undergoing renovations as the city looks for a new organization to maintain it. [4]