Upsala, Federal mansion in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, United States
Upsala is a two-story mansion on Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy featuring classic Federal architecture with Pennsylvania marble mantels throughout the interior. A freestanding third-floor staircase creates an unusual interior layout that distinguishes it from other homes of its period.
The property served a strategic purpose during the 1777 Battle of Germantown when American forces positioned cannons on its grounds to attack British troops across the avenue. This location provided a crucial vantage point in the broader military engagement of that campaign.
The house holds furniture pieces from early America, including Sheraton and Hepplewhite styles that show how prosperous families furnished their homes. These collections reflect the decorative choices of people living in the young nation.
The house functions as a private residence with legal protections that safeguard its exterior appearance and interior details. Access is generally limited, though the exterior facade can be viewed from the street.
The property hosts annual reenactments of the Battle of Germantown on its front lawn directly across from Cliveden, the other major site of the original conflict. This makes it one of the few places where history is brought to life through staged events at the actual location where fighting occurred.
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