Philadelphia City Hall William Penn Statue

Ascend to the top of the historic building via elevator to enjoy a spectacular view of the benjamin franklin parkway and city skyline from the city s highest open air observation deck.

Philadelphia city hall william penn statue. For almost 90 years an unwritten gentlemen s agreement forbade any building in the city from rising above the hat on the penn statue. Completed in 1892 as a city public works project the work was hoisted to the top of city hall in 1894. City hall was the tallest habitable building in the world from 1894 to 1908 measuring 548 ft 167 m to the top of the statue of william penn. Just visit philadelphia city hall tower and ride the elevator to the top of the tower you ll eventually stand atop the gigantic statue of william penn the founder of the colony of pennsylvania.

Once a massive 37 foot statue of penn was erected atop city hall in 1894 however it reached 548 feet tall and surpassed the ulm münster 530 feet in baden württemberg germany as the tallest. Although city hall construction began in 1871 the building s history can be traced back to philadelphia s founding. When william penn envisioned his city of brotherly love in 1682 he planned a city that would stretch for approximately one mile north and south between the delaware and schuylkill rivers. The city hall tower tour offers a panoramic view of philadelphia s landscape from 548 feet above ground.

William penn is a bronze statue by alexander milne calder of william penn. At over thirty six feet tall and weighing more than 53 000 pounds alexander milne calder s sculpture william penn atop city hall is one of philadelphia s most prominent landmarks. Philadelphia city hall is the largest stone masonry building in. And you can get a breathtaking view of philadelphia just by standing in the brim of his gigantic hat.

After nearly four centuries penn s efforts still play a big role in modern life and we re not just talking about the way his city hall statue looks like it has a boner when viewed from. Cast at the tacony iron works the hollow 26 5 ton bronze sculpture assembled from 13 parts is also reputed to be the tallest to stand atop any building in the world. See the city from william penn s point of view. In fact you ll be in the brim of his hat and will thus enjoy the most breathtaking and comprehensive view of philadelphia possible.

It is the 16th tallest building in pennsylvania and was the tallest building in the state from 1894 until 1932 when it was surpassed by the gulf tower in pittsburgh. It is located atop the philadelphia city hall in philadelphia pennsylvania it was installed in 1894.