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| (photos except where noted: TheHopefulTraveler) |
Few would argue that Philadelphia City Hall is the most
elaborate building in the state. Like a French chateau transplanted to America,
it’s full beauty can be appreciated from down one of the several streets that
intersect around the building or up close where one fully realizes that it rises
548 feet above the ground.
Constructed from 1871 until 1901, it the largest municipal buildings
in the U.S. with over 700 rooms on nine floors housing three branches of
government: executive (mayor’s office), legislative (city council) and judicial
(civil court).
On top of the building stands a 37 feet tall bronze statue
of city founder William Penn and is the tallest on top of any building in the
world. Up until 1987 the building itself maintained the distinction as the
tallest building in Philadelphia due to an informal gentlemen’s agreement that
forbade any structure higher than the statue of Penn. The construction of One
Liberty Place nearby ended the agreement.
Trying to get the massive building in one photo is quite an
effort and it is when many visitors finally realize the breadth and size of the
ornate building. There is a courtyard that is equally decorative and an
observation deck that takes guest to just below the base of Penn’s statue.
Reference photos are included below since both were closed on this Saturday
morning.
Visit phila.gov for more information. Tour information
center is open Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm. Free tours inside City Hall are Mon-Fri at
12:30pm and begin at the information center and lasts approximately 90 minutes
to 2 hours. Tower tours offered 9:30am-4:15pm. Timed tickets available at the
information center.
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| City Hall Courtyard (photo: kevinwburkett/flickr) |
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| Observation Deck (photo: skyscraperpage.com) |
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| One of several grand staircases inside City Hall. (photo: flickr4jazz/flickr) |
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