Philadelphia City Hall Clock

At the time of its construction, Philadelphia City Hall, located at 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Center City, was both innovative and inspired by traditional design. The municipal floors and clock tower have stone walls, cornices, pillars, and decorative elements that have wowed the public. The 548-foot structure was designed by John McArthur Jr. and Thomas Ustick Walter, both of whom have worked on other notable structures. The First National Bank was designed by John McArthur Jr., and the new and current dome of the Capital Building in Washington D.C. was designed by Thomas Ustick Walter. Although the highest point in the building is nine floors up, the clock tower, which was built shortly after the municipal floors, is hundreds of feet tall.

The Philadelphia City Hall clock is a unique marvel that dominates the city. The tower was intended to be the tallest building in the world, but the Eiffel Tower outstripped it with a height of 301 meters. Nevertheless, the City Hall held the record for the tallest occupied building until 1908. As you ride the elevator to the observation deck at the top of the tower, you can see the amazing mechanisms at work in the clocks and towers. At the top of the clock tower are several bronze statues that depict William Penn and the original inhabitants of Philadelphia, who were Swedish and Native Americans.

Year of construction: 1898

Total Height: 548 feet (167 m)

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US