Forrest, Edwin, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1865 on Broad Street in Philadelphia, this three-and-a-half-story stone house in the Italianate style was commissioned by Edwin Forrest, the Shakespearean actor who was then at the height of his popularity. Its features include a raised basement, an elaborate bracketed cornice, and window entablatures supported by consoles. The L-shaped plan encloses a courtyard that once had a fountain, and a small gallery built for Forrest's art collection stood at the front, with a private theatre with a miniature stage beneath it. Forrest died in the house in 1872. After his death it was used for summer concerts during the Centennial celebration. In 1880 the Philadelphia School of Design for Women acquired the property and added a four-story rear wing along Carlisle Street, providing sixteen studios and classrooms. The school, later renamed Moore College of Art, occupied the building until 1960. The house is listed for its association with Forrest and for its Italianate architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is associated with Edwin Forrest, a noted Shakespearean actor, who built it at the height of his popularity and died there in 1872. It is regarded as a notable example of the Italianate style, and it later housed the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, the first school of its kind.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72001152, listed January 13, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1326 N. Broad St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | January 13, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001152 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1865 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in good condition but its interior has been considerably altered; the College of Art moved out in 1960 and the building is now occupied by Heritage House, a community center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.97147, -75.15536 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72001152.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5346421
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.