Get a glimpse of the cosmopolitan life at Sweetbriar, the year-round home of Samuel Breck. Breck was intimately involved in the development of the city during the 1800s and was active in the founding of a public school system.
He was also famous for hosting and entertaining the movers and shakers of his time at his elegant villa. He was a patron of artist-naturalist John Audubon and supported many philanthropic community projects. Distinguished French emigrés including Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-igord and Marquis de Lafayette spent time at Sweetbriar. Breck published extensive diaries describing his life in Philadelphia and his many interests which included horticulture, civic affairs, history, literature and the arts.
The present furnishings, many of them his own, reflect the fine taste of Samuel Breck who had traveled and studied abroad and returned home with different concepts of gracious living.
Built to escape the terrible epidemics that ravaged the city, sadly and ironically Samuel and Jean Breck's only daughter succumbed to Typhoid.
Sweetbriar was incorporated into "Faire Mount" Park in 1868 and bordered the 1876 Centennial Exhibition site. Restored in 1932 by the Junior League of Philadelphia and in 1976 by the City of Philadelphia. Sweetbriar is operated by the Modern Club of Philadelphia.
Must See: The elegant "Etruscan" room
Admission: Adults-$3
Directions
From the Philadelphia Art Museum driveway, turn right at the traffic light and pass in front of the Museum. Get onto West River Drive from the middle-right lane. After about 1.3 miles turn left onto Sweetbriar Drive, and then turn right onto Landsdowne Drive. Take the first right at the top of the hill and proceed to the stop sign. Facing the Civil War Memorial, take the second right and either go straight to Sweetbriar.
Regional Location
