City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall
| Type | Government building / Landmark |
|---|---|
| Address | 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Center City |
| Phone | (215) 686-2840 |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 1901 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm (tower tours vary) |
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.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Construction
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Exterior
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- Ornate public spaces
- Conversation Hall (historic council chamber)
- Mayor's Reception Room
- Historic murals and decoration
- Working government offices
Scale
[edit | edit source]- Floors — 9 above ground
- Rooms — Nearly 700
- Area — 14.5 acres of floor space
- Construction cost — $24 million (1901 dollars)
Tower Tours
[edit | edit source]Observation Deck
[edit | edit source]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
| 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
[edit | edit source]Center of the City
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]| 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
[edit | edit source]- 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