Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Architecture: Whole Buildings

First Presbyterian
Henry Augustus Sims (Architect), 1869 - 1872
* Presbyterian symbols, plants, fruit, bird, lizard, dragons, squirrel
* Whole building. First Presbyterian Church. Southeast corner, 21st and Walnut.
* 39.950650,-75.175550 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Henry Augustus Sims page
+fpcphila.org

City Hall, East Pavilion
Alexander Milne Calder, 1873 - 1893
* beaver, crane and owl, butterfly, plants, elephant head, dragon heads, City Hall tower, city seal, ship, plow and scales, scrolls, standing people, reclining people, heads, headgear
* Part of the whole building's art. East entrance City Hall. Market at Juniper.
* 39.952300,-75.162800 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

City Hall, North Pavilion
Alexander Milne Calder, 1873 - 1893
* people sitting, people standing, partial people, groups of people, horse head, seal of the city, ship, plow, cattle head, bear head, lion or tiger head, elephant head
* This pavilion was the first of the four to be cleaned and lit. Standing in this one small portion of the building you can sense the incredible amount of work that went into the building's sculpture.
* Part of the whole building's art. North entrance City Hall. South side of JFK at Broad.
* 39.953000,-75.163400 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

City Hall, South Pavilion
Alexander Milne Calder, 1873 - 1893
* standing people, sitting people, heads, birds, dragons, book and scrolls, staff, cats, seal of Pennsylvania, horses, ship, plow, plants, bison head, squirrel, headgear
* Part of the whole building's art. City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951825,-75.163650 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

City Hall, West Pavilion
Alexander Milne Calder, 1873 - 1893
* standing people, sitting and kneeling people, people in groups, heads, headgear, book, plants, snake, lizard, city seal
* Part of the whole building's art. City Hall. East side of 15th at Market.
* 39.952495,-75.164450 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
Theophilus Parsons Chandler Jr. (Architect), Henry Christopher McCook, Michael F. Scully, 1884 - 1886
* Symbols of and references to Jesus, Saint John, Saint Luke and Saint Mark
* dragons, plants, partial cherubs and angels, winged lion, winged ox, eagle, sun, candle, fire
* Rev. McCook is reported to have chosen the inscriptions
* inscription:
North Entrance: I am the door.
tower: My Goodness and My fortress. My High Tower and My Deliver. He in whom I trust.
East Entrance: We have seen his star in the East and are come to worship him.
shields:
He is risen.
Lampades multae, una lux.
Christus Exaltus Salvator.
Lux lucet in tenebris
Nec tamen consumebatur.
* North and East sides. Tabernacle United Church. Southwest corner, 37th and Chestnut.
* 39.954500,-75.196800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Chestnut 29th to 40th tour
* Exhibits: New, Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Theophilus P. Chandler Jr. page
+wikipedia.org's Henry Christopher McCook page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Michael F. Scully page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's John the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Luke the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Mark the Evangelist page
+tabunited.org

Native Americans, Swedish Settlers and Eagles
Alexander Milne Calder, 1894
* big people standing, sitting, eagles
* Part of the whole building's art. Around the tower of City Hall. Broad and Market.
* 39.952750,-75.163350 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+undated picture of part of this piece in the studio from phillyhistory.org
+another picture of part of this piece in the studio from phillyhistory.org
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

William Penn
Alexander Milne Calder, 1894
* Statue of William Penn
* big standing person wearing a hat
* Billy Penn's hat was once higher than all the buildings in the city. The last two pictures are of references to this piece from the murals at 12th and Walnut and 24th and Chestnut.
* There is a much smaller copy in Welcome Park
* Also referenced by The Tableau
* Part of the whole building's art. On top of the tower of City Hall. Broad and Market.
* 39.952750,-75.163350 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org undated picture of the head of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1893 picture of this piece in the courtyard
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+wikipedia.org's William Penn page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Crows
1897 (date of building)
* small birds
* Not sure if these are original to the building or not.
* Front of building. South side of Locust, East of 21st.
* 39.949540,-75.175728 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour

Epiphany Chapel
Isaac Pursell (Architect), 1898
* standing angel, heads
* As of 11/25/2024 there are several very different histories of this building on the web. I am choosing to believe the Epiphany Chapel section of the wikipedia page for St. Luke and the Epiphany, though I have not yet found any corroborating evidence that Pursell was the architect.
* inscription: Gloria In Excelcis Deo
* Whole building. Saint John Chrysostom. East side of 17th, South of Vine.
* 39.957850,-75.167300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's St. Luke and the Epiphany page
+Gargoyle Hunter page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Isaac Pursell page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Isaac Pursell page
+oca.org's Saint John Chrysostom parish page

Chambers-Wylie Gargoyles
Rankin and Kellog (Architects), 1901
* small faces, dragons
* Whole building. Broad Street Love. East side of Broad between Spruce and Pine.
* 39.946150,-75.164750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Rankin and Kellog page
+broadstreetlove.org

St. Maron Church Cross and Mosaics
1902 (year of building)
* symbol and mosaics of Jesus and Mary
* three bar cross, standing person, held child, headgear, ship, buildings, clouds, plants, candle
* The upper mosaic says 1997 at the bottom
* Front wall and entrance. Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church. North side of Ellsworth, West of 10th.
* 39.935762,-75.160576 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Philly tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Mosaic
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+saintmaron.org

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church
1907
* Representations of Jesus, Joseph and Mary
* people sitting, kneeling, standing, headgear, book, manger, furniture, staff, sheep, ox, heads, winged people
* The Springfield side of the building was obscured by scaffolding when these pictures were taken in August, 2010. The church web site has pictures of the front doors.
* inscription: The Word was made flesh
* Whole building. St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. Northeast corner, 47th and Springfield.
* 39.947150,-75.215194 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Saint Joseph page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+desalesphilly.com

Convent of Divine Love
Paul Monaghan (Architect), 1914 (date of building)
* Relief of winged Jesus
* sitting, standing, winged people, sword, dove, sun, dragon heads, symbols
* inscription:
Chapel Entrance: Venite Jesum Adoremus
:Convent Entrance: Come holy spirit. Beneath the shadow of thy wings we dwell.
* Whole building. Convent of Divine Love. Southwest corner, 22nd and Green.
* 39.965285,-75.174400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fairmount tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Paul Monaghan page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+adorationsisters.org

Beneficial Savings Fund Society Building
Horace Trumbauer (Architect), 1916
* reliefs of Mercury and Venus
* small kneeling people, headgear, mirror, flaming torch, plants, birds
* East wall and North entrance. Thomas R. Kline Institute for Trial Advocacy. Southwest corner, 12th and Chestnut.
* 39.950350,-75.160250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson Center City Campus tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Horace Trumbauer page
+wikipedia.org's Mercury page
+wikipedia.org's Venus page
+drexel.edu's Kline Institute page

Independence Building Reliefs
1925
* Relief medallions of Athena and Hermes
* small sitting, kneeling, standing people, angel, helmets, Independence Hall tower, machines and tools, papers, scrolls, and books, ship, cornucopias, symbols and allegories
* Best viewed from the North side of Walnut
* Entrance, North and West walls. South side of Walnut, East of 5th.
* 39.947415,-75.149200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Athena page
+wikipedia.org's Hermes page

Insurance Company of North America Building
Stewardson and Page (Architects), 1925
* Eagles
* There are large medallions hidden behind the banners and not pictured here.
* inscription:
Insurance Company of North America
Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Company
Organized in Philadelphia on December X, MDCCXCII
in the old state house and in the room in which
was signed the Declaration of Independence
* Part of the whole building's art. Southwest corner, 16th, Arch, and the Parkway.
* 39.954775,-75.166585 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Stewardson and Page page

City Hall Annex
1926
* eagles, plants, food, fasces, stars
* The masonry panels are visible on all sides of the building but the pattern is not completely consistent. The pictures were taken on the 13th Street side.
* Entrances and walls. Notary Hotel. Southeast corner, Juniper and Filbert.
* 39.953075,-75.162260 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: New

Fidelity Mutual Building
Lee Lawrie, 1926 - 1927
* Building renamed in honor of Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman
* big and small people standing sitting, furniture, weapons, kite, ships, tools and machines, dogs, horses, alligators, elephants, owls, squirrels, buildings, trains, plants, symbols and words
* Originally an insurance building. Donated to the Art Museum by the Perelmans. The pictures here are only a representative sampling of the art.
* inscription:
Pennsylvania side:
In the honor and perpetuity of the family is founded the state. In the nobler life of the household is the nobler life of mankind.
26th side:
He labors best who loves best : the finest work of a man's life is to open the doors of opportunity to those who depend on him.
* The whole building. Perelman Building. Northwest corner of Fairmount and Pennsylvania.
* 39.967490,-75.179490 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Max Buten's picture of one of the reliefs
+Another Max Buten picture of one of the reliefs
+wikipedia.org's Lee Lawrie page
+wikipedia.org's Raymond G. Perlman page

Barbelin Hall Gargoyles
Francis Ferdinand Durang (Architect), 1927
* including heads of Felix-Joseph Barbelin, James A. Ryder and Burchard Villiger
* small partial people, hats, cat, bat, books, saxaphone
* the builder is John McShain, but there's no record of him being the gargoyle carver
* All over the building. Saint Joseph's University. City Line, West of 54th.
* 39.995250,-75.237950 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+Gargoyle Hunter page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Francis Ferdinand Durang, Sr. page
+wikipedia.org's Felix-Joseph Barbalin page
+wikipedia.org's James A. Ryder page
+wikipedia.org's Burchard Villiger page
+sju.edu

Drexel Building
Charles Zeller Klauder (Architect), O.W. Ketcham Terra Cotta Works, 1928
* zodiac signs and symbols, ram, meregoat, bull, winged people sitting and kneeling, crab and fish, lion, musical instrument, scales, scorpion, centaur, weapons, jug, water, headgear, eagle
* inscription: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
* Whole Building. Northeast corner, 15th and Walnut.
* 39.949625,-75.165850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+www.philadelphiabuildings.org's Charles Zeller Klauder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's O.W. Ketcham Terra Cotta Works page

Fidelity Bank Building
Richard William Morton Keast (Architect), Edward Paul Simon (Architect), Grant Miles Simon (Architect), 1928
* reclining people, heads, standing people, headgear, hammer, artists tools, quill and scroll, dragons, ship, weapons, lion, tree, donkey, sun, sundial
* Keast is listed in two places as the actual designer of the building, but Simon and Simon are officially credited.
* inscription:
Libertas Americana, 4 Juil 1776
Non sine diis animosusinians 17 Oct. 1777 - 19 Oct. 1781
Fugio. 1787, Mind your business
Value me as you please
Masathusets
* Whole building. East side of Broad between Sansom and Walnut.
* 39.949675,-75.163925 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Richard William Morton Keast page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Edward Paul Simon page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Grant Miles Simon page

First National Bank Building
O.W. Ketcham Terra Cotta Works, Ritter and Shay (Architects), 1928
* big and small birds, seated people, dog head, lion head, snakes, zodiac signs
* Zodiac signs and dog's head are behind the 15th street entrance awning.
* Whole Building. Southwest corner, 15th and Walnut.
* 39.949500,-75.166040 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's O.W. Ketcham Terra Cotta Works page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Ritter and Shay page

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
1928 - 1929
* gargoyles and statue of Saint Paul
* small standing person, Bible, sword, crosses, plants, dragons and chimeras, snake, bird, fish
* inscription: Spiritus Gladius
* Whole building.. St. Paul's Episcopal Church. South side of Chestnut Hill Ave., East of Germantown Ave..
* 40.079100,-75.208850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+gargoyle hunter's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Paul the Apostle page
+stpaulschestnuthill.org

Bruce S. Marks Scout Resource Center
1929
* logos, insignia, and mottoes, lion's head, shields, stars, birds, bison, tools, tent, anchor, torch, flowers
* inscription:
Youth Prepared Safeguards the Nation
Founded MCMX
This house dedicated to the training
of boys for youthful citizenship. Was
built by the Boy Scouts and their friends.
Erected MXMXXIX
On my honor I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the scout law.
* Whole building.. Southeast corner, 22nd and Winter. One block South of the Parkway.
* 39.958850,-75.175300 [map] [nearby]
* On the JFK North tour