Sunday
May 5, 2024 
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum (Andalusia) will open for the season on Saturday, providing visitors opportunities to tour the picturesque property overlooking the Delaware River.
The Biddle family’s early 19th-century Greek Revival home is situated on a sprawling 50-acre estate, surrounded by native woodlands and formal gardens. The Bucks County riverfront property is a National Historic Landmark.
Andalusia dates back to the 18th century, when John Craig, a Philadelphia merchant, purchased the property as a summer retreat in 1795. He built a house two years later, then expanded it in 1806-08 with additions by architect Benjamin Latrobe.
In 1814, the property was passed to Craig’s son-in-law, Nicholas Biddle, best known as the president of the Second Bank of the United States during the 1820s and 1830s. Biddle was also a Renaissance man with a wide range of interests, including classical architecture and agriculture.
Under his care, Biddle oversaw an expansion of Andalusia’s gardens and commissioned architect Thomas Ustick Walter to design a Greek temple façade to wrap around the main mansion, known as the “Big House.”
From April 3 through Nov. 3, Andalusia will be open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding holidays. Admission to tour the gardens has been reduced to $15 per person.
Guided tours of the Historic House are offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and cost $30 per person, including access to the gardens. Tickets are available online or at Andalusia, though advance tickets are recommended for all house tours.
Andalusia will also host six Open Saturdays, offering the public opportunities to enjoy the grounds during the weekends: April 1, May 20, June 10, Sept. 23, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4. Each Open Saturday features special public programs and offerings, including a daffodil and spring bloom garden walk in April and a garden photography day in May.
This year, Andalusia begins extended hours on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Historic House tours offered at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets for Open Saturdays in advance from the Andalusia website. Admission is free for children 12 and under.
On May 4, Andalusia hosts the first-ever Andalusia Garden Symposium, where attendees have the unique opportunity to hear lectures from experts Fergus Garrett, Annie Novak, Frances Palmer, and Xa Tollemache.
The lectures will be followed by an exclusive reception at Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum with afternoon tea, book signings with the speakers, and ample time to explore the grounds.
Guests can extend their weekend by attending Andalusia’s Garden Party, an evening cocktail reception on the banks of the Delaware River, Saturday, May 6.
Those looking to support and preserve Andalusia and keep the site open to the public can join the Friends of Andalusia, a membership program that offers exclusive offers and benefits.
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