An architectural treasure inside and out,
City Hall
is the largest municipal building in the United States, with over 14.5 acres of floor space.
Topped with an iconic statue of Philadelphia founder William Penn, the 548-foot tower is the tallest masonry structure in the world without a steel frame, and it was the tallest building in Philadelphia until 1987.
The public rooms are among the most lavish in the city; the City Council Chamber, the Mayor’s Reception Room, Conversation Hall and the Supreme Court Room are some of the most ornate.
As of July 2021, guided tours of the exterior of the building are available, with tours of the interior and observation deck on pause due to COVID-19.
In his original 1682 design for the city, William Penn set aside the Center Square for public buildings, but it took 200 years before the square was used for that purpose.
City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States, containing over 14.5 acres of floor space.
The first
City Hall
was located at 2nd and Market streets, then moved to 5th and Chestnut streets when the
Independence Hall
complex was built.
Architect John McArthur, Jr. supervised the construction of the present-day City Hall on Center Square, which began in 1871 and took more than 30 years to complete.
The building’s exterior is covered with intricate sculptures representing the seasons and continents, as well as allegorical figures, heads and masks. All of the sculptures were designed by Alexander Milne Calder, including the 27-ton statue of William Penn atop the tower.
— Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia
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Admission & Info
While interior tours are on hold due to COVID-19, residents and visitors can join a
City Hall Exterior Tour
to learn more about the history, art and architecture of the iconic building.
— Photo by J. Smith for Visit Philadelphia
Stay tuned to the
City Hall Visitor Center’s official site
for more info on when interior tours — including tours that access the building’s uber-cool observation deck — will be offered again.
Located at the foot of City Hall,
Dilworth Park
hosts
community events
throughout the year, including fitness classes, movie screenings and musical performances that are free and open to the public.
Every winter, the Rothman Ice Rink opens at Dilworth Park, offering residents and visitors the chance to ice skate in the shadow of City Hall.
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Every winter, the park transforms into a welcoming wonderland complete with an ice-skating rink, a seasonal garden, a holiday market and the Deck the Hall light show, which is projected onto the facade of City Hall. For summer 2021, a rollerskating rink was debuted.
The Perfect Hotel Package for an Easy Philly Escape
The
Visit Philly Overnight Package
— booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
