3 Philadelphia architectural sites not to be missed

On November 6, 2015, the city of Philadelphia was awarded the distinction of being the first World Heritage City in the United States. Democracy was born in Philadelphia and it’s where the Declaration of Independence was signed – two important enough reasons to justify adding Philadelphia to the list of World Heritage Cities, right alongside critical cultural centers like Rome and Cairo.

Historic sites like Independence Hall were a big draw to Philadelphia for Mom and me as we made our first trip there this past October. We visited all the main historical attractions and I can fully understand how and why Philadelphia has been named a World Heritage City. It was surreal to stand in the same room where the Declaration of Independence was signed and to see the exact chair George Washington was sitting in when it all went down. But Mom and I ventured a bit further down the timeline and discovered a few other places that also contribute to the historic appeal of Philadelphia. The following three Philadelphia architectural sites are quite historic, are masterpieces of varying degrees, and all are absolutely worth a visit.

Philadelphia City Hall

It is the largest municipal building in the United States and I could not get enough of it. Philadelphia City Hall is majestic and is visible from almost any point in Philly. I initially spotted the building when Mom and I set out down Benjamin Franklin Parkway to explore on our first day in the city. I tried to photograph the building from every angle and that proved to be a challenge from street level, as it’s a bit imposing. It used to be the tallest building in all of Philadelphia, the top of which is adorned with a 27-ton statue of William Penn. After three days of admiring City Hall, on our last morning in town, Mom and I decided to take a tour to the building’s observation deck. Timed tickets are required to go to the top of the tower and we had some time to kill before our tour, so I wandered the courtyard and alcoves. The enormity of the building and its dramatic Second Empire-style architecture might cause some visitors to think they’d been magically transported to an opulent European palace.

TIP: Visitors can ride up to the observation deck but there are a limited number of tickets available for the timed tours. Purchase tickets ahead of time at the Visitor Center. Interior tours also are offered Monday through Friday at 12:30pm.

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania

I did not expect to be as wowed as I was by the Masonic Temple. It’s right across the street from City Hall so Mom and I figured, why not – let’s have a tour. Plus, the legendary secrecy of the Masons has intrigued me for years so I thought maybe I’d gain some insight to this private fraternity. (Spoiler alert: no such thing happened.) Anyone even remotely interested in architecture needs to visit the temple. The exterior resembles a Norman cathedral; the interior is a visual wonderland. The temple was completed in 1873 after five years of construction and $1.6 million of funds. The hefty sum is one indication of how ornate the temple truly is.

The guided tour takes visitors to seven main rooms, each with a different architectural style. And these aren’t just “rooms”; they’re vast gathering halls where Masons do the secret stuff that Masons do. Even the foyer and the staircases are works of art, adorned with ancient inscriptions, flanked by marble statues, and presided over by stained glass windows. I’m still not exactly sure what goes on in that building and what Masons do, but the temple is magnificent.

TIP: Public tour dates and times are a bit scattered, and the lodge may close for private events, so be sure to call or stop in ahead of time to double check availability.

Eastern State Penitentiary

I don’t know how, but I managed to convince my mother to visit this former prison complex and world’s first penitentiary. Opened in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) was unlike all other American and European prisons. Its practices and philosophies broke away from corporal punishment and aimed to move the prisoners towards spiritual reflection and change. Solitary confinement, or “The Pennsylvania System”, was the norm at ESP and human interaction for prisoners was minimal. ESP was built on the premise that prisoners, when left alone in silence with only their thoughts, would realize the repulsiveness of their behavior and their crimes, therefore becoming penitent (source of the word “penitentiary”). The architectuctural design of the prison was intentionally aligned with the philosophies of The Pennsylvania System. Architect John Haviland designed it so that long corridors of cells, like spokes of a wheel, branched out from a central surveillance rotunda. The cells’ vaulted ceilings and the high, arched windows throughout the complex are reminiscent of grand cathedrals – and that was Haviland’s intention. The prison was meant to be perceived as a forced monastery from the inside, while the tall, imposing Gothic walls on the outside gave the illusion that something very evil was taking place within.

The prison officially closed in 1971 and opened for tours in 1994. ESP currently is operated by the non-profit, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc., and is still open for tours. Visitors are supplied with an audio guide, narrated by actor Steve Buscemi, and have the opportunity to physically enter some of the cells. ESP was home, for a short time, to one very notorious individual: Al Capone. Visitors can look in on his cell, which is set up much the same way it was when Capone did his time at ESP, and see that he was afforded some very special treatment.

TIP: Eastern State Penitentiary is located in the Fairmount neighborhood, a bit of a ways from Center City. Ride the Philly Phlash to ESP for only $2 (per ride) or $5 for an all-day pass. Hop on at one of the Center City attractions and get dropped off/picked up right across the street from ESP!

Can you guess which cell was Capone’s?

Big thank you to Visit Philly for providing complimentary admission to Eastern State Penitentiary and for the Philly Phlash passes. They really came in handy! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.