Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia

Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia

King Charles II owed a hefty sum of money to Admiral Sir William Penn, to wit 16,000 pounds. To discharge the debt, on 4 March 1681, the King signed a charter granting what is now Pennsylvania to the Admiral's son, William. William the Younger was a radical Quaker filled with democratic ideals. He set out for America.

Center Square was one of the original five squares marked out by Penn as the center of his city. It was simply a public square until the building of City Hall in 1871. By that time, it had come to be called Penn Square.

Located at number 1 Penn Square, City Hall was designed by architect John McArthur in the Second Empire style. It was in the process of construction from 1871 until 1901. Upon its completion, the Hall was the world's tallest habitable building.

The City Hall is a masonry building supported by brick and granite walls up to 22 feet thick. The outside walls are mainly limestone, granite, and marble. Sculptor Alexander Milne Calder created over 250 sculptured images of American ideals. With nearly 700 rooms, the Hall is the largest civic building in the country with the tallest clock tower in the world.

The tall clock tower has a clock face on each side. Four bronze eagles are perched above the clocks. A giant bronze statue of William Penn by Calder is at the top of the tower. Beneath the monument is a glass-enclosed observation deck.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Philadelphia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Philadelphia City Hall on Map

Sight Name: Philadelphia City Hall
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Create Your Own Walk in Philadelphia

Create Your Own Walk in Philadelphia

Creating your own self-guided walk in Philadelphia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
University of Pennsylvania Walking Tour

University of Pennsylvania Walking Tour

As America's first university, The University of Pennsylvania (aka Penn or Upenn, for short) has a history stretching back to the mid-18th century, closely bound with the city's colonial past and the birth of the United States. Initially, this Ivy League institution emerged as the College of Philadelphia, one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the US Declaration of...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Fairmount Park Historical Houses Walking Tour

Fairmount Park Historical Houses Walking Tour

Fairmount Park, Philadelphia's oldest park, established since 1867, is also the city's largest municipal park, sprawling over 2,000 acres adjacent to the banks of the Schuylkill River. The park grew out of the Lemon Hill estate of Henry Pratt, whose land was originally owned by Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1972, the park was placed on the National...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia

Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia

Benjamin Franklin's journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in Revolutionary America began when he, as a teenager, ventured from a Puritan family in Boston to Philadelphia. This city would not only become his home but also a stage for his remarkable life as a writer, printer, philosopher, postmaster, scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat. His life epitomizes the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour

Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour

King Charles II of England, while seriously indebted to Admiral Sir William Penn, settled his debt in 1681 by granting lands in America to William Penn, the Admiral's Quaker son. A thorn in the King's side, young Penn sailed to America, where he envisioned a utopian society based on tolerance and founded Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love."

The Old City Center, the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Franklin Parkway Walking Tour

Franklin Parkway Walking Tour

Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic boulevard running through the cultural heart of Philadelphia. Named for America's Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, this mile-long tree-lined parkway is lined with several notable sights and world-class museums.

At its heart lies Logan Circle, a charming green space centered around a picturesque fountain. This spot can provide a refreshing break on...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Rocky Movie Sites Walking Tour

Rocky Movie Sites Walking Tour

There's hardly any other character, fictional or real, as iconically Philadelphian as Rocky. Indeed, this American sports drama franchise, centered on the boxing career of Rocky Balboa, released in 1976, has become synonymous with and arguably done more for the city of Philadelphia than anyone else since Ben Franklin.

The cultural phenomenon was created by Sylvester Stallone, who wrote,...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.3 Km or 3.9 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Philadelphia Souvenirs: 13 Unique Gift Ideas from the City of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia Souvenirs: 13 Unique Gift Ideas from the City of Brotherly Love

Looking for a great gift while visiting Philadelphia? Famous for its history, arts and culture, championship sports teams, and award-winning food and drink, Philadelphia is a top-rated shopping destination. Here, you'll find an amazing selection of items to choose from - something uniquely...