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 City Hall by Sue08080
The observation deck at the top offers an impressive view of the city. The bronze statue of William Penn on the top is by Alexander Milne Calder, the grandfather of the 20th century Calder of mobile fame. When Philly sports teams do well, an increasingly rare occurance, it's customary to "dress" the statue in a sports jersey.
If you walk north, right on the sidewalk you can see William Penn's "Prayer for Philadelphia." Leave a Comment Directions: The heart of Center City
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The building was designed by Scottish architect John McArthur, Jr., in the Second Empire style, and was constructed from 1871 until 1901 at a cost of $24 million. Originally designed to be the world's tallest building, by the time it was completed it had already been surpassed by the Washington Monument and the Eiffel Tower. With close to 700 rooms, City Hall remains one of the largest municipal buildings in North America. The building houses three branches of government, the Executive (Mayor's Office), the Legislative (City Council), and the Judicial Branch's Civil Courts (Court of Common Pleas). The building is topped by an 11.3-m (36 ft, 4 in), 27-ton bronze statue of city founder William Penn, one of 250 sculptures created by Alexander Milne Calder that adorn the building inside and out. The statue is the tallest atop any building in the world.
Gothic and neoclassical influences dominate the features of City Hall. The statue of William Penn that resides atop City Hall's clock tower remains a Philadelphia skyline marker—until the 1980s there was a "gentleman's agreement" that no Philadelphia building would be built higher than the rim of Penn's hat. City Hall provides a majestic backdrop for shoppers and businesspersons alike as it is situated on the intersection of the city's two main arteries, Broad and Market Streets.
Tours of the Penn statue and the rest of the facilities are offered Mon-Fri at 12:30pm for a 90 minute tour you'll see the Conversation Hall, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the City Council chambers, and the mayor's reception room. You can attend often heated City Council meetings, held each Thursday morning at 10. To top off your visit, take the elevator from the 7th floor up the tower to the observation deck at the foot of William Penn's statue for a 30-mi view of the city and surroundings. The elevator holds only six people per trip and runs every 15 minutes; the least crowded time is early morning. Address: 1600 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103Phone: (215) 686-1776Website: www.phila.gov
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 City Hall--West
Portal--Philadelphia by VeronicaG
City Hall is an example of French Second-Empire Architecture. It was the most expensive municipal building to erect, taking thirty years to complete due to many delays. It is the nation's largest municipal building! The entrance in the photograph is the West Portal--the smallest and simplest of the entrances.
City Hall is open Mon.-Fri. from 9:30 am-4:30 pm with tours occuring every 15 minutes. There is no charge for the tour.
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 Christmas decoration in City
Hall Courtyard by Phillylawyer_19107
A tour is offered to see the official rooms, the tour is free and definitely interesting, it always ends with a little excursion up the city hall tower where one has a terrific view of the city. Unfortunately, the quality of the tour can differ depending on your tour guide and the available rooms (some can be closed due to council meetings or official functions taking place), still, one definitely learns a lot about the building and sees some magnificent rooms. The tour starts in a little office close to the Eastern Exit. Leave a Comment
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 William Penn Statue by bct341
The huge granite mass of City Hall, throughout its 100+ year history, has indeed been a building of "publick concerns". An elaborate temple of local politics, City Hall is one of the nation's finest examples of French Second -Empire Architectural style. It has earned a great deal of respect and admiration as a unique architectural and sculptural achievement.
It is the nation's largest municipal building (larger than the U.S. Capital), it holds the dubious distinction as being its most expensive.
The building's Second Empire Mode of French Renaissance Revival architecture, so popular at the start of construction, was outdated and abhorred by its completion. A 30 year construction project.
On top of the city hall tower is a statue of William Penn. He is the founding father of Philadelphia and gave name to what is now the state of Pennsylvania meaning "Penns Woods" The statue and city hall was the tallest building in Philadelphia until the 1980s when taller buildings broke the "Gentleman's code" of not building higher then the William Penn Statue.
The statue of William Penn is the tallest statue on any building in the world at 37 feet. You can go to an observation area at the base of the statue for great views of the city.
Hours: Weekdays: 9:30am-4:15pm Leave a Comment
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 City Hall by SmileyLeSaLeave a Comment Phone: 215-686-9074Directions: Penn Square, Broad and Market streets
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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. Leave a Comment
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 Philadelphia City Hall by EDavis
The photo is of City Hall. Look up top... higher, higher... there on top is Billy Penn (William to those that aren't on a personal level with him).
See if you can find someone to give you a tour of City Hall and give you some information about it... largest freestanding masonary building in the world (no, I don't fully know what that means), etc. The building has an interesting story. Leave a Comment
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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. Leave a Comment Address: East Portal, City Hall, PAPhone: (215) 686-1776Directions: The Tour Information Center is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday.Website: Phila.gov
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 City Hall during the
Holiday Season by brad216
There are tours that will take you throughout the building but my advice is to pass on the tour and instead take a FREE walk up the stairs to the observation deck which provides a panoramic view of the city.
As for the picture you see, this is City Hall during the Christmas Holiday season. 2005 marks a new beginning for City Hall as for the first time, instead of the traditional lights, City Hall is illuminated in amzaing colors from projected imagery. Casa Magica for Artlumiere of Paris, France has created this amazing site that makes it appear that City Hall has undergone a new paint job. Address: Broad St and JFK BlvdPhone: 215-686-2840Directions: Center CityWebsite: www.phila.gov
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