Editing City Hall

{{Infobox LocalBusiness
| name = Philadelphia City Hall
| type = Government building / Landmark
| address = 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
| neighborhood = Center City
| phone = (215) 686-2840
| website = https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/city-hall/
| established = 1901
| hours = Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm (tower tours vary)
| public_transit = City Hall Station (MFL/BSL)
}}

'''Philadelphia City Hall''' is the seat of Philadelphia's government and the largest municipal building in the United States. Topped by the 37-foot bronze statue of William Penn, City Hall stood as the world's tallest habitable building when completed in 1901 and remains an architectural landmark at the center of Philadelphia's street grid.<ref name="cityhall">{{cite web |url=https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/city-hall/ |title=City Hall |publisher=Visit Philadelphia |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Construction ===

City Hall took 30 years to build:

* '''1871''' — Construction began
* '''1901*** — Completed
* Architects John McArthur Jr. and Thomas U. Walter
* '''548 feet tall''' (to top of Penn's hat)
* World's tallest occupied building at completion
* Second Empire / French Renaissance style

=== The Penn Statue ===

Alexander Milne Calder's William Penn statue:

* '''37 feet tall''', '''27 tons'''
* Largest single sculpture atop a building
* Faces northeast toward Penn Treaty Park
* The "curse" — no building could be taller
* Curse "broken" in 1987 (One Liberty Place)

=== The Curse ===

For decades, a "gentlemen's agreement" kept Philadelphia buildings shorter than Penn's hat:

* No building exceeded City Hall's height until 1987
* One Liberty Place broke the tradition
* Philadelphia sports teams won no championships 1983-2008
* Phillies 2008 World Series ended the "curse"
* Small Penn statue placed atop Comcast Center as gesture

== Architecture ==

=== Exterior ===

* French Second Empire style
* White marble exterior (granite base)
* Over 250 sculptures by Alexander Milne Calder
* Elaborate ornamental details
* Four facades face the four directions

=== Interior ===

* Ornate public spaces
* Conversation Hall (historic council chamber)
* Mayor's Reception Room
* Historic murals and decoration
* Working government offices

=== Scale ===

* '''Floors''' — 9 above ground
* '''Rooms''' — Nearly 700
* '''Area''' — 14.5 acres of floor space
* '''Construction cost''' — $24 million (1901 dollars)

== Tower Tours ==

=== Observation Deck ===

Visitors can ascend to the observation deck:

* 360-degree views of Philadelphia
* See all directions from Penn's feet
* Elevator ride to observation level
* Small fee for tower access
* Limited capacity—arrive early

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Detail !! Information
|-
| '''Tower Hours''' || Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:15pm (tours every 15 min)
|-
| '''Cost''' || ~$8-10 adults
|-
| '''Tickets''' || Purchase in Room 121
|-
| '''Capacity''' || Limited per tour
|-
| '''Duration''' || ~15 minutes at top
|}

== Location ==

=== Center of the City ===

City Hall occupies the central square of William Penn's original plan:

* The intersection of Broad and Market Streets
* Traffic circles around the building
* Subway stations underneath
* Walkable to major attractions
* [[Dilworth Park]] on south side

=== Dilworth Park ===

Renovated plaza on the south side:

* Opened 2014
* Café and fountain in summer
* Ice skating rink in winter
* [[Octavius Catto Memorial]]
* Direct access to subway

== Visiting ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Detail !! Information
|-
| '''Building Hours''' || Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm
|-
| '''Admission''' || Free (tower tour has fee)
|-
| '''Guided Tours''' || Available; check schedule
|-
| '''Best view of exterior''' || Broad Street, north or south
|}

== Getting There ==

* '''SEPTA Subway''' — City Hall Station (direct access)
* '''Market-Frankford Line''' — 15th Street or City Hall
* '''Broad Street Line''' — City Hall Station
* '''Walking''' — Central location, many approaches
* '''Parking''' — Nearby garages

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

{{FAQ
|q1=Can you go to the top of City Hall?
|a1=Yes, tower tours take visitors to an observation deck at the base of the William Penn statue. Tours run Monday-Friday (9:30am-4:15pm, every 15 minutes) with limited capacity. Purchase tickets in Room 121. There's a small fee (~$8-10).

|q2=How tall is City Hall?
|a2=Philadelphia City Hall is 548 feet tall to the top of William Penn's hat. When completed in 1901, it was the world's tallest habitable building. It remained Philadelphia's tallest until One Liberty Place was built in 1987.

|q3=What is the Penn Curse?
|a3=A "gentlemen's agreement" kept Philadelphia buildings shorter than the William Penn statue until 1987. When One Liberty Place broke this tradition, Philadelphia sports teams supposedly fell under a curse, winning no championships until the Phillies' 2008 World Series.

|q4=Is City Hall free to visit?
|a4=Yes, entering City Hall and viewing public spaces is free. Only the tower observation deck tour requires a ticket (~$8-10). Dilworth Park on the south side is always accessible.
}}

== See Also ==

* [[Dilworth Park]]
* [[Octavius Catto Memorial]]
* [[LOVE Sculpture]]
* [[Center City]]
* [[William Penn]]

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==

* [https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/city-hall/ Visit Philadelphia - City Hall]

{{#seo:
|title=Philadelphia City Hall - America's Largest Municipal Building
|description=Philadelphia City Hall, topped by the 37-foot William Penn statue, is the largest municipal building in the US. Tower tours offer 360-degree views of the city.
|keywords=Philadelphia City Hall, William Penn statue, Center City, tower tours, municipal building, Philadelphia landmarks, observation deck
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:Landmarks]]
[[Category:Historic Sites]]
[[Category:Center City]]
[[Category:Government Buildings]]