1727 Mt. Vernon St.
This house belonged to the family of 19th–century artist Thomas Eakins. Eakins’ father built an additional fourth floor studio to harbor his son’s artistic talents in oil painting, photography and sculpting. Here, he embarked upon a professional career after studying abroad in Paris. The studio also contained a mysterious slot that opened to the roof, which the clever Eakins used to easily transport his huge paintings directly from the studio to the street. With a generous amount of windows, the house suited Eakins well, giving him ample lighting for his paintings of Philadelphia. Currently a National Historic Landmark, the house serves as a base for the Philly Mural Arts Program, which commissions mural projects throughout the city.
1320 Locust St.
Known as the Cassatt house, this residence was built in 1883 by the architectural firm of Frank Furness and Allen Evans for J. Gardner Cassatt, who lived in the house with his brother, Alexander, and his famous Impressionist artist sister, Mary Cassatt. The house’s elegant style has been maintained over time by the preservation of the wooden staircases, crystal chandeliers and marble fireplaces. The house currently serves as the Library Company Fellows Program for scholars—with a full–on luxurious library, study rooms, living amenities and offices—which only speak to its decadence. Mary pursued her painter's life, hopping back and forth between Philadelphia and Paris, lucky to have her big brother’s home to come back to. If you’re in need of a sumptuous break, this is the place to visit.
532 N. 7th St.
This 1843 residence of Edgar Allen Poe inspired many of the iconically creepy stories and poems he wrote while living there, including “The Black Cat” and “The Raven.” The interior of the house still resembles what it looked like while Poe stayed there, and the ambience evokes the settings of his stories: the low lighting and gratuitous red chroma enhance the eerie atmosphere. The residence offers visitors a chance to gaze upon strands of Poe’s lovely locks of black hair and is open to self-guided tours. Get your horror fix here; you’ll feel as if you stepped into your own “House of Usher.”
2008 Delancey Pl.
Modernist poet Marianne Moore planned carefully for posterity. Though she never resided in Philadelphia while she was alive, at her request, most of her literary works and apartment furnishings were moved here to the Rosenbach Museum and Library. The Marianne Moore Collection in the museum features almost all of her manuscripts, as well as a considerable collection of her photographs and letters. The entire third floor of the museum is dedicated to showcasing Moore’s study exactly as she left it. You might find your inner poetic muse after peeking through her stuff, or you can take comfort in the sumptuous furniture.
