Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia
“Public buildings—Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, Congress Hall, Christ Church, and Pennsylvania Hospital—receive focused treatment for their national importance.”
About the Book
Colonial Philadelphia possesses one of the richest and most distinctive collections of Georgian and pure Colonial architecture in America. This 1920 classic by Frank Cousins and Phil M. Riley shifts emphasis from historical anecdote to architectural analysis, presenting detailed studies of brick countryseats like Woodford, Port Royal, and Mount Pleasant; sturdy ledge-stone Germantown houses such as Stenton, Upsala, and Grumblethorpe; and refined city residences including the Morris House and Wistar House.
The volume examines characteristic Flemish-bond brickwork, Palladian windows, pedimental and hooded doorways with fanlights, varied fenestration patterns, spacious central halls with elegant winding staircases, and finely crafted mantels with hand-carved details. Public buildings—Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, Congress Hall, Christ Church, and Pennsylvania Hospital—receive focused treatment for their national importance.
Illustrated with over ninety period plates, this essential reference captures the substantial beauty, permanence, and unique regional flavor of early American domestic and civic design in the city where the nation was founded.
About the Author
A fine writer
A fine writer