Hear about historic Strawberry Mansion's rise and fall and the sad life of architect Thomas Nevell who designed one of Philadelphia's greatest mansions, Mount Pleasant.(Nevell fell from grace after his marriage to the widow, Mrs. Weed). Learn why Philadelphia's historic Morris House on South 8th Street is the real 'Presidents' House. Preview the galloping life of Hope Montgomery Scott in and outside the gilded halls of Ardrossan. Hear about Germantown's mysterious Ebenezer Maxwell and his famous house that became the inspiration for the exterior of the popular Addams Family house.  'Journey' to the Poe House at 7th and Spring Garden and hear what it was like to be 'stranded' for 2 hours in the poet's old kitchen.  Leave the city for the Loch Aerie Mansion, designed by Addison Hutton, in the rolling hills of Chester County. There will also be an appreciation of Rittenhouse Square's beginnings when ladies in their best bib and tucker walked with gentlemen in top hats.The finale includes a glimpse into the life of Henry McIlhenny  in his cramped mansion at 1914 Rittenhouse.  

Speaker's Bio: Thom Nickels is the author of 12 books, including Philadelphia Architecture, Out in History, Two Novellas and Literary Philadelphia: A History of Prose & Poetry in the City of Brotherly Love. He was awarded the Philadelphia AIA Lewis Mumford Award for Architectural Journalism in 2005. He was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in 1990 for his book, Two Novellas: Walking Water & After All This.  He is the monthly theater critic for ICON magazine, a weekly columnist for Philadelphia Magazine, and a writer for City Journal and PJ Media.  In May 2017 he was the featured speaker at Walt Whitman's 198th birthday celebration in the poet's old home on MIckle Street in Camden. .