National Historic Landmark

Philadelphia City Hall

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
December 8, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76001666

About this property

Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of the municipal government of the City of Philadelphia in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Built in the ornate Second Empire style, City Hall houses the chambers of the Philadelphia City Council and the offices of the Mayor of Philadelphia. This building is also a courthouse, serving as the seat of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. It houses the Civil Trial and Orphans' Court Divisions of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. It also houses the Philadelphia facilities for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (which also holds session and accepts filings in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh). Built using brick, white marble and limestone, Philadelphia City Hall is the world's largest free-standing masonry building (since the 1953 Mole Antonelliana spire collapse) and was the world's tallest habitable building upon its completion in 1894. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976; in 2006, it was also named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It was regarded as the world's tallest building until 1908 when surpassed by the Singer Building, and it was the world's tallest clock tower until 1909 when surpassed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower. It was the tallest building in Philadelphia until 1987 when it was surpassed by the Liberty Place.

Location

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95252, -75.16378

Categories

ARTPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

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American Baptist Publication Society
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Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
3 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
4.6 mi
Battle of Gloucester (NJ) 1777
1777Revolutionary War
4.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Philadelphia City Hall listed on the National Register?

Philadelphia City Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Philadelphia City Hall?

Philadelphia City Hall is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Philadelphia City Hall a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Philadelphia City Hall has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Philadelphia City Hall?

The period of significance for Philadelphia City Hall is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Philadelphia City Hall?

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