Merchants' Exchange Building (also commonly known as the Philadelphia Exchange)

East side of the Merchant's Exchange Building.
(photos: TheHopefulTraveler)

I would have time to take in one more attraction before my timed ticket entry into Independence Hall. Looking at the handy map from the Independence Visitor Center I see that that Merchants' Exchange Building is near to the Second Bank of the United States.

The building is another monumental piece in the style of Greek revival by architect William Strickland, who also designed the Second Bank building. There is no attraction in the building as today it serves as the Philadelphia headquarters for the National Park Service but it worth a stop to admire the striking building. There is a small, and I mean very small, public exhibit just inside the first floor entrance. The east side of the building is the most striking and beautiful feature. The street is laid with cobblestones which makes one wonder how anyone traveled on such a road. Best you stick to the smooth paths.

It was built between 18332 and 1834 as the Merchants' Exchange Building and in 1875 replaced by the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and various other purposes before the NPS acquired and restored the building in 1952. Visit nps.gov for more information.

The west side facade of the building.