|
|
Masonic Library & Museum Association - MLMA An International Organization of Librarians, Archivists, Curators, & Directors
Tour of the City Hall and Independence Hall
Our tour was conducted this morning by Greta Greenberger, Coordinator of City Hall Tours.
City Hall (Broad and Market streets pictured above) is directly across the street from the Masonic Temple. Designed by John McArthur, Jr. (1823-1890), it was built in the Second Empire style between 1871 and 1901. Brother Thomas Ustick Walter (1804-1887, Designer of the U.S. Capitol) was consulting architect until his death in 1887). City Hall is said to be the largest public masonry building in the world. Without a steel frame, the walls at the first floor are 22 feet thick to support the seven 16 foot floors above. The central tower reaches a height of 511 feet. It is topped by a 37-foot, 27-ton bronze statue of William Penn by Alexander Milne Calder (1846-1923); by far the largest statue, it is, however, just one of the 250 made for both the interior and exterior of the building. The more than 600 rooms are organized around a central courtyard; many were lavishly decorated by Brother George Herzog. The cornerstone of City Hall was laid in a full Masonic ceremony by Right Worshipful Grand Master Alfred R. Potter (1817-1881, Grand Master 1874-1875) on July 4th 1874.
Taking the train from Old City Hall to 5th Street Station - Independence Hall
Located on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets. Constructed between 1732 and 1756 as the State House of the Province of Pennsylvania, it is considered a fine example of Georgian architecture. From 1775 to 1783 (except for the winter of 1777 - 1778 when Philadelphia was occupied by the British Army) this was the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress. It was in the Assembly Room of this building that George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. In the same room the design of the American flag was agreed upon in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781, and the U. S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. The building, inside and out, has been restored whenever possible to its original late-18th century appearance. Most of the furnishing are period pieces. The "rising sun" chair used by George Washington as he presided over the Constitutional Convention is original.
Copyrighted © 2005-2006 Masonic Library & Museum Association All Rights Reserved. .
|
