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 | Toronto City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square Reviews | Tips 11 - 20 of 63 |  |
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If you have a chance pop inside the Old City Hall, an interesting Romanesque style building dating back to 1899. City Hall was moved to a nearby modern building 1960s, the Old City Hall was converted to a courthouse. Since it is a courthouse, you are required to go through metal detectors to get a look at the interior and no interior photos are allowed. Things to look for inside the building include the wrought iron dragon like (perhaps griffins) grotesques near the base of the Grand Staircase, removed from the building in 1947 but reclaimed by the city in the 1980s; the stained glass windows, depicting the union of industry and commerce symbolizing Toronto's evolution into a bustling metropolis, as you walk up the Grand Staircase; the marble war memorial beneath the stained glass window dedicated to citizens who lost their lives during WWII; the beautiful mosaic floor and the murals painted by George Reid. The website also says the former city council chambers are open to the public when court is not in session but the door was shut when I went. On the outside of the building, it's hard to miss the clock tower and when you enter the building from the Queen St. side check out the grotesques on the arches, said to be caricatures of politicians from the late 19th century. I didn't know to look for Edward Lennox's face among them (he was the architect who also built Casa Loma), on the west side of the center arch, identified by his handle-bar mustache. I thought this was one of the coolest buildings I saw in Toronto, thank heavens they didn't raze it to build the Eaton Centre! Leave a Comment Address: Queen Street near the new city hallWebsite: http://www.toronto.ca/old_cityhall/index.htm
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