Image: Cedar Grove ahead of its renovation

The Philadelphia Museum of Art in Pennsylvania, US, has announced that Cedar Grove, the historic house located in Fairmont Park, will close on 8 July to undergo a major restoration.

Cedar Grove was built as a country retreat in 1750 and moved to its current location in 1926 after it was gifted to the City of Philadelphia. Furnishings were donated to the museum at the same time.

For more than 80 years, the building has been open to the public as a historic home and has allowed visitors to explore the daily life of five generations of a Philadelphian family.

The restoration project is designed to give "much-needed attention" to the exterior, with the work to include storm water management, roof repairs and porch reconstruction.

Atkin Olshin Schade Architects and CVM Construction are involved with the project, which has been supported by the William B Dietrich Foundation and an anonymous donor.

Timothy Rub, museum director and CEO, said: "The Philadelphia Museum of Art has a responsibility and desire to care for and maintain the remarkable properties it administers on behalf of the city."

Museum site manager Justina Barrett added: "When the site reopens to the public, new programmes will enable visitors to experience and appreciate Cedar Grove's stories, collections, and spaces."

Details: www.philamuseum.org

Image: The Philadelphia Museum of Art