Sansom Row

Sansom Row
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
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Location	3402–3436 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	39°57′12″N75°11′35″W / 39.95333°N 75.19306°W / 39.95333; -75.19306
Area	0.4 acres (0.16 ha)
Built	1869
Architect	John Cochran
Architectural style	Second Empire
NRHP reference No.	77001190 [1]
Added to NRHP	December 27, 1977

Sansom Row is a row of historic houses located at 3402 to 3436 Sansom Street in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ^[2]

History and architectural features

Built from 1869 to 1871, the rowhouses were constructed in matching three-story pairs, with brownstone facades and slate mansard roofs. They are significant as a surviving example of post-Civil War architecture in the area.

Madame Blavatsky, a founder of Theosophy and the Theosophical Society, lived for a time in the rowhouse located at 3420 Sansom Street. ^[3]

The houses were built as residences but most have been converted to other, mainly commercial uses. In the 1970s it became a popular locale among the University of Pennsylvania community and local residents for its restaurants and shops, like La Terrasse, White Dog Cafe and The Black Cat .

References

• Philadelphia portal

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
2. George E. Thomas (February 1977). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania SP Sansom Row. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved January 8, 2026. (Downloading may be slow.)
3. White Dog Cafe, History Archived 2009-04-13 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• National Register Nomination, prepared by George E. Thomas, at the University City Historical Society.
• Listing at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings