City Hall, Philadelphia

City hall tours are 12:30 pm Monday-Friday, and take 1.5 to 2 hours.

Tower Tours are given from 9:30 am to 4:15 pm. You get to stand directly under the William Penn statue atop City Hall. Be aware that during the school year, the tours are reserved for school groups until noon. Timed tickets are available at the Tour Information Center.

For more information call 215.686.2840

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I admit that I'm one of the people that overlook this fantastic building. I take it for granted since it's Philly's City Hall. However, it also is the world's tallest masonry building! William Penn (The founder of Pennsylvania, go figure) is the bronze statue at the top. This is just one of hundreds of sculptures at the site. His statue is also the tallest atop any building in the world. There's a great observation deck where you can have an expansive view of the city. For more unique legends, go ahead and look up the "Curse of William Penn".

Tours for non school groups are noon to 4:15 M-F.

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One of the most unique and distinctive buildings in Philadelphia, City Hall was constructed from 1871 to 1901. This square was in William Penn's original 1682 design of the city, but it took many years for the city to expand west from the Delaware River.

City Hall is designed as a huge square with a 548 foot tower. Its 700 rooms make it the largest municipal building in the US, and it houses all three branches of city government.

At the top of City Hall's tower is the famous and highly visible statue of Pennsylvania's founder, William Penn. This 37 foot-tall statue weighs 77 tons, and includes intricate details, such as the buttons and lace cuffs. Mr. Penn is pointing a hand towards Penn Treaty Park where a peace treaty was signed with the local Indians, and he is carrying the Charter of Pennsylvania.

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The building that houses the City Hall is an impressive tall/huge building in French second empire style (pic 1). I’ve read that was designed to be world’s tallest building but although the construction started in 1871 it didn’t finish until 1901 (and the cost went up to millions these 30 years) when other building were already taller.

There are about 700 different rooms but what I liked most was the Clock Tower which dominates Philadelphia skyline. At the top is 11m statue of William Penn (city’s founder)

There’s a 90’ tour Monday-Friday but the reason we actually visited the City Hall because we wanted to go up to the Tower of City Hall and have a pigeon’s eye view of the city. First we took our tickets ($5) at the bottom level where the souvenir store is and then we went up with the elevator. First to the 7th floor and then we followed the red lines on the floor to the escalator that goes to 9th floor waiting room. Then the guard will take you to the top with another elevator that leads to the observation desk which is below Penn’s statue). There are no refunds if late so arrive at the Tower 15 minutes before scheduled time.

At pics 2-3 you can see some of the pics we took from up there.
The City Hall is open Monday to Friday 9.00-16.30

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Designed by Scottish-born architect John McArthur Jr, Philadelphia City Hall is a huge building which dominates Centre Square. Construction commenced on 3 January 1871 with the first meeting of the Commission for the Erection of Public Buildings and John Rice, President of the Commision, broke ground on 27 January 1871.

During its time it has been the tallest habitable building (not counting monuments) in the world (1901 to 1908) and the tallest in Pennsylvania until 1932 when it was surpassed by Gulf Tower. It remained the tallest building in Philadelphia until 1987 with the opening of One Liberty Place; it currently is the 15th tallest building in Pennsylvania.

The buidling has numerous features, including an observation deck which is located just below the statue of William Penn which is the main statue of over 250 which adorn the buidling.

As we visited at the weekend, we were not able to see the interior of the building or the observation deck, however, I was truly impressed by the exteriors.

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Philadelphia's City Hall was surrounded by scaffolding for so long, I was mesmerized when I first saw William Penn atop it. It's one of the most impressive building in the US and it's strategic central location makes for a grand entrance if you drive up Broad Street, something I try to do when showing my hometown to people especially from out of the country.

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In the center of downtown Philadelphia is the nation’s largest municipal building. City Hall is situated in the exact geographical center of William Penn's original 1682 plans for the city, now known as the intersections of Broad and Market Streets, Center Square.

City Hall includes some 700 rooms and more than 250 architectural relief’s and freestanding sculptures, including its most famous 37’ bronze William Penn statue topping the clock tower. I found one of the most remarkable features to be the 250 relief and freestanding sculptures, all created by Alexander Milne Calder adhered to this ornate building.

Inside City Hall we climbed up and down several grand staircases. We visited the City Council Room but found the Supreme Court & several other rooms locked. We took a small elevator above the clock up to the top of the tower. The views were impressive as were the photographs.

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Philadelphia has the largest, tallest City Hall of any city in America. It's also the world's largest masonry building. The tower stands 511 feet high. Completed in 1901, it took 30 years to build. It was designed by John McArthur, Jr.

The Visitors Center is an excellent source of information. It's on street level, at the eastern side of the courtyard.