Sully, Thomas, Residence
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Why it's listed
A three-and-a-half story brick rowhouse with a gable roof and a single central dormer stands at 530 Spruce Street in Philadelphia. Its window sills, lintels, front steps and door frame are white marble, and the door frame has a post and lintel design with a transom. Thomas Sully, born in England in 1783, lived here during his years in Philadelphia, which began in 1808 and lasted until his death in 1872. Sully painted many portraits, including a celebrated 1838 portrait of Queen Victoria, and produced roughly 2,600 works. The Philadelphia Directory recorded his residence at this address in its 1828-1829 edition. The house is one of the many homes he occupied during his sixty-four years in the city. It is today a private home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as the Philadelphia residence of Thomas Sully, described as one of the best known American portrait painters of his lifetime, who lived in the city from 1808 until his death in 1872. The Philadelphia Directory recorded his residence here in the 1828-1829 edition.
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 66000691, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 530 Spruce St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000691 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1828-1829 |
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 21, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | It is today a private home. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | Society Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.94510, -75.15122 (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 66000691.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7794269
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.