Built 1853-54 Designated PHMC May 16, 1991 Architectural style Italianate architecture | NRHP Reference # 72001152 Opened 1865 Added to NRHP 13 January 1972 | |
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Location 1326 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Architects Stephen Decatur Button, James H. Windrim Similar Forrest Theatre, Moore College of Art and D, Walnut Street Theatre, Citizens Bank Park, Tower Theater | ||
The Edwin Forrest House (a.k.a. Gaul-Forrest House) is a house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania built in 1853-54 for William Gaul, a wealthy brewer. A year after its completion, it was bought by actor Edwin Forrest, who resided there until his death in the house in 1872.
The Philadelphia School of Design for Women purchased the property in 1880, and built an extensive rear addition westward to Carlisle Street, to house art studios. The addition's Master Street façade was brick, but fitted with brownstone-trimmed windows consistent with those of the original house. The school, which later changed its name to the Moore College of Art, continued to occupy the building until 1960. The Philadelphia Cotillion Society purchased the building and used it as a community center until 1968.
Today the building is occupied by Freedom Theatre, which provides professional instruction in acting and live theatre production.