The John Coltrane House is a historic house at 1511 North 33rd Street in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, USA. A

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

, it was the home of American saxophonist and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

pioneer

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Born and raise ...

from 1952 until 1958. On his death in 1967 the house passed to his cousin, who sold it in 2004. Efforts for restoration and reuse as a jazz venue are struggling. In 2022, two of Coltrane's sons filed a lawsuit contesting the ownership of the home.

Use by Coltrane

John Coltrane purchased the house for his family after leaving the U.S.Navy and lived there until he relocated to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

in 1958. He continued to use the house as an alternate residence to his New York home until the end of his life. Upon his death the house passed to Coltrane's cousin, Mary Alexander.

Architecture

In addition to its association with John Coltrane, the house has received attention due to its historic architecture. For example, it is considered a good example of a middle-class Philadelphia rowhouse from the turn of the 20th century. The architect is disputed; E. Allen Wilson is considered likely, due to his association with developer Clifford Pemberton, but no known source specifically ties him to the Coltrane House.

Preservation and reuse efforts

John W. Coltrane Cultural Society

The house's use as a residence by Coltrane's relatives prevented it from being made open to the public, and by 2003 the house was suffering from several structural and aesthetic problems. In 1984 Mary Alexander co-founded the "John W. Coltrane Cultural Society" (JWCCS) to promote jazz and the legacy of John Coltrane. The Society established a John W. Coltrane Center adjacent to the John Coltrane House circa 1998, when Alexander was still living in the house. The JWCCS offered children's workshops led by professional jazz artists throughout the Philadelphia School District, Philadelphia Housing Authority and other youth groups. An annual Summer Backyard Concert Series was held in the backyard of the Coltrane House and an annual Birthday Tribute/Celebration Concert at a large venue. A community garden on 33rd Street included a jazz mural created by neighborhood youth. A mural was also created by students of Strawberry Mansion High School, in the school. "Cousin Mary," who was raised with Coltrane in High Point North Carolina, also conducted a lecture series on his life and music.

Historic designation

Due to its association with John Coltrane, the house has attracted several official designations as a historic building, most prominently as a

. It was placed on the

Philadelphia Register of Historic Places The Philadelphia Register of Historic Places (PRHP) is a register of historic places by the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Buildings, structures, sites, objects, interiors and districts can be added to the list. Criteria According to the Phila ...

on December 18, 1985. It was later declared a

on January 20, 1999, and concurrently placed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

. Additionally, the

Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage. The commission cares for ...

dedicated a marker honoring John Coltrane in front of the house on July 17, 1990.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coltrane, John, House National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia Historic American Buildings Survey in Philadelphia John Coltrane Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia