Hill-Physick House — Attraction in Philadelphia

Because it was the holidays we weren't sure it would be open so we called. We were told no problem just call to let them know when we were coming and they would open the house for us.

So we got there and were let in and had a tour for probably almost an hour. The original owner made his money importing madeira. Dr. Physick then bought the house and he was a most fascinating person. Why he isn't better known I don't know. He is apparently the father of modern American surgery. Some of the instruments he invented are still used today with only minor modifications. He, Ben Franklin and another person worked together on different inventions although we now only hear about Franklin. It seemed that this family was interconnected into most of the goings on in Philadelphia and made significant contributions to the early US.

The house is the only free standing house left in Philadelphia. Many of the furnishings are original to the house. There is so much history to this house, it is a shame it probably doesn't see more tourists than it does.

The only downside to the tour was that at times the guide was difficult to understand. We couldn't figure out if it was because of a speech impediment or that he simply spoke so quickly. It turned out that he was a decendant of the Physick family and he was very proud of the house and the history and he tried to get as much information into the tour as possible. But if you didn't catch something he was happy to repeat or elaborate on it.

The pamphlet Beyond the (Liberty) Bell listing places to see near the Liberty Bell has information on it as well. If you need a phone number for the museum, it is listed there. (I tried adding the number but Google+...

My husband and I had our wedding at the Physick House in May 2018 and could not have been more thrilled with the venue!

Both the inside and outside of the house capture the rich history and demure beauty of Old City Philadelphia, and served as a relaxed yet elegant/refined venue. The yard was beautifully landscaped and ideal for photos. The wallpapers and antique furniture inside the house made for a delightful atmosphere for our cocktail hour. Tenting the yard even made some rain at the end of the night pleasant. Our guests could not stop talking about how gorgeous and fun the venue was.

DiBruno's was a truly exceptional caterer and everyone was blown away by the delicious family style Italian meal.

The staff of the Physick House, Philalandmarks, and DiBruno's were all EXCEPTIONAL and made our planning a fun and exciting experience. Everyone involved was knowledgeable, helpful, kind, genuine, and extremely professional. Everybody delivered far beyond our expectations to create our absolute dream wedding!

We cannot recommend the venue and caterer...

Highly recommended if you enjoy exploring haunted, historic landmarks, or are looking for a unique rental venue. Hill-Physick House, the last free-standing Federal style house in Philly, was home to Philip Syng Physick, "the father of American surgery". Our Philly Ghost Tour guide confided that caretakers have seen a somber, cloaked woman on the first floor. She is believed to be the ghost of Physick's estranged wife Elizabeth Emlen (see portrait).Other unsettled spirits sensed may be from corpses Physick brought to his home for autopsy research. A house tour includes a visit to the 2nd floor room where Physick performed breast cancer surgery on Dolley Madison. There are detailed medical instrument exhibits and a nearby chair (for those feeling faint). The beautifully preserved building is available for weddings and...