Memorial Hall

Memorial Hall
Type	Historic building / Park site
Location	Fairmount Park (West)
Coordinates	39.9790,-75.2100
Area	Part of West Fairmount Park
Established	1876 (Centennial Exhibition)
Operated by	Please Touch Museum / Fairmount Park
Features	Beaux-Arts building, Please Touch Museum, grounds
Hours	Museum hours; grounds always accessible
Transit	SEPTA bus 38
Website	Official Site

Memorial Hall is a monumental Beaux-Arts building in West Fairmount Park, the only major structure remaining from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition—America's first World's Fair. Originally built as the Exhibition's art gallery, the building now houses the Please Touch Museum, a renowned children's museum. The surrounding grounds retain elements of the Centennial landscape.

Memorial Hall connects Philadelphia to its role as the birthplace of America's World's Fair tradition.

History

Centennial Exhibition

The 1876 Centennial International Exhibition celebrated America's 100th birthday:

• First official World's Fair in the United States
• Held in Fairmount Park
• 10 million visitors
• Introduced Americans to new technologies (telephone, typewriter)
• Showcased American industrial achievement

Memorial Hall's Role

Built as the Art Gallery for the Exhibition:

• Housed fine arts displays
• Designed to be permanent (unlike most fair buildings)
• Cost $1.5 million (enormous sum in 1876)
• Intended to become Philadelphia's art museum

Architecture

Designed by Hermann Schwarzmann:

• Beaux-Arts style
• Iron and glass dome
• Grand entrance pavilions
• Fireproof construction (for art protection)
• Renaissance revival details

Post-Centennial

After the Exhibition:

• Served as Philadelphia's art museum until 1928
• Art collection moved to new Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Building used for various purposes
• 2008: Please Touch Museum moved in after major renovation

Features

The Building

Architectural highlights:

• Massive central dome (150 feet high)
• Grand entrance stairs
• Ornamental sculptures
• Original ironwork and details
• Restored interior spaces

Please Touch Museum

Children's museum occupying the building:

• Interactive exhibits for children
• Focus on learning through play
• Multiple themed areas
• Special programs and events
• One of the country's premier children's museums

Grounds

Surrounding parkland:

• Remnants of Centennial landscape
• Open lawn areas
• Mature trees
• Picnic facilities

Centennial District

The area includes:

• Ohio House (preserved Centennial state building)
• Japanese Tea House site (original inspired Shofuso)
• Horticultural Hall site (demolished)
• Landscape features from 1876

Visiting

Please Touch Museum

Hours:

• Check museum website for current hours
• Closed some holidays
• Timed tickets may be required

Admission:

• Museum admission fee
• Memberships available
• Free for children under 1

The Building Exterior

• Viewable anytime
• Walk around for architecture appreciation
• Grounds accessible during park hours

Getting There

Location: Avenue of the Republic, West Fairmount Park

By Public Transit:

• SEPTA Bus 38 to Memorial Hall

By Car:

• Parking lot adjacent to building
• Enter Fairmount Park via Belmont Avenue

Tips

• Please Touch Museum is best for ages 7 and under
• The building's architecture is impressive even without museum visit
• Combine with Shofuso Japanese House nearby
• The dome is beautiful from inside

Centennial Legacy

Memorial Hall represents:

• America's first World's Fair
• Philadelphia's international moment
• 19th-century civic ambition
• Adaptive reuse success

Nearby

• Shofuso Japanese House and Garden — West Fairmount Park
• Fairmount Park — Surrounding park
• Belmont Plateau — Views nearby
• Mann Center — Performance venue
• Philadelphia Zoo — Nearby

See Also

• Fairmount Park
• 1876 Centennial Exhibition
• Please Touch Museum
• Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

External Links

• Please Touch Museum
• Fairmount Park Conservancy