{"nrhp_refnum":"72001174","name":"Upsala","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"6430 Germantown Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Philadelphia","county":"Philadelphia","state":"PA","lat":40.046819035000055,"lon":-75.13525290499996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1972-01-13","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Upsala is a two-and-one-half-story stone house with a fine ashlar facade on Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main part of the house was added in 1798 and sits well back from the street.","why_significant":"The nomination argues that Upsala is one of the finest examples of Federal architecture, citing its ashlar facade, elaborate cornice and dormers, and interior woodwork and fireplaces with Pennsylvania marble facings. It also notes the house's association with the Johnson family, who owned it from 1797 until 1941, and its location opposite the Chew House.","narrative":"Upsala is a two-and-one-half-story stone house on Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia, set back from the street behind a stone facade of fine ashlar. Its main section was built in 1798 for John Johnson, who had inherited the property in 1797, and the front part was completed by 1801. The central arched doorway is sheltered by a wooden portico with Doric columns, and the cornice and dormers are notably detailed. Inside, a central hall leads to the main stairs, and the principal rooms have fireplaces with Pennsylvania marble facings and carved mantels. The Johnson family kept the house until 1941, and it is said that the name Upsala honors the Swedish author Frederika Bremer. The house is regarded as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the city. It was later purchased by the Upsala Foundation in 1944 and has since served as a historical society's headquarters. Its location opposite the Chew House adds to its significance.","period_of_significance":"1798-1801","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Federal","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Altered by a fire in 1942 that destroyed the roof, now covered in modern clay tile; the old conservatory was removed and interiors were renovated and partly restored. Purchased by the Upsala Foundation in 1944 and has since served as a society's headquarters.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:11:30.189509-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/72001174.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/72001174/c06c2d1e6c-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/72001174/c06c2d1e6c-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"See below","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WTP_B31_Audrey_3.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">See below</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WTP_B31_Audrey_3.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71996956","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upsala_(mansion)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7899236"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/upsala-72001174/"}