Wyck House
Why it's listed
Wyck is a two-and-a-half story stone house in Germantown, Philadelphia, formed from two separately built houses later joined together. The older section dates from 1690, making it, according to the account, the oldest house in Germantown. Its slate roof is a simple gable running the full depth of the house, and a cellar lies beneath most of it. A 1824 remodeling removed the windows from the street-facing gable, added a central fireplace there, and produced much of the interior paneling that is especially admired today. After the Battle of Germantown in 1777 the house served as a hospital. In 1825 the Marquis de Lafayette was entertained there. It is regarded as an outstanding example of early Germantown building, valued for its rubble stonework, early slate roof, and panelled interiors. It lies within the Germantown Avenue National Historic Landmark area and is counted among the most important houses in that district.
Significance in brief: The document states Wyck is said to be the oldest house in Germantown and that it is one of the most important houses in the Germantown Avenue National Historic Landmark area for architecture, setting the early period of Germantown building style. It is cited by architectural historians as an outstanding example of early Germantown building, known for its rubble stone work, early slate roof, and especially its panelling, much of which dates from an 1824 remodeling.
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 71000736, listed October 26, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6026 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | October 26, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000736 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1690-1824 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 14, 1990 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The property was remodeled in 1824 and has had no major changes since; a great deal of the original hardware has been preserved. It was used as a hospital after the Battle of Germantown in 1777. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Colonial Germantown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03989, -75.17853 (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 71000736.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903760
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.