Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum Tour

About the Event

Stroll the spectacular formal gardens and native woodlands on a self-guided garden tour, enjoy sweeping views from a seat along the banks of the Delaware River, or step inside the country home of Nicholas Biddle, President of the Second Bank of the United States.

Join us on the grand porch of the Big House, overlooking the Delaware River, for a glass of champagne and a guided tour of the formal gardens.

HISTORIC HOUSE

With its soaring white columns and superbly crafted interiors, the mansion at Andalusia—called the Big House—is one of the finest, most distinctive examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. Inhabited from the 1790s until the 1970s, the story of Andalusia parallels and reflects that of the nation itself. Visiting this National Historic Landmark is a journey back in time, an invitation to see firsthand the traditions and tastes of the generations of Biddle family members who called it home.

THE GARDENS

Andalusia's gardens date back more than 200 years. The first was created in the late 18th century by John Craig, the owner of a residence that, expanded and enlarged, became the Big House. Craig was an avid plantsman, as evidenced by his copy of the 1791 book, Every Man His Own Gardener; on its back page, he listed the many varieties of flowers he planted on the property.

Other Andalusia residents followed Craig, contributing to what has become a collective garden, evolving over two centuries. Some added small touches here and there, while others made extensive changes. The result is a kind of horticultural timeline, one that reflects the long continuum, over generations, of one storied family — and America itself.

THE ARBORETUM

Andalusia is delighted to be awarded Level II accreditation by ArbNet and is now recognized in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world's tree-focused public gardens. The ArbNet program is sponsored and coordinated by the Morton Arboretum in cooperation with the American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

It is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards, including planning, governance, number of species, staff or volunteer support, education, and public programming, as well as tree science research and conservation.

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