Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Exhibit: Gargoyles

Traditional gargoyles, non-traditional gargoyles, and Peter Rockwell's free-standing Gargoyles.

Gargoyles
* small crouching person, bat-like creature
* Entrance. North side of South between Front and 2nd.
* 39.941075,-75.144475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn's Landing tour
* Other exhibits: Unidentified

Unidentified Heads
* small heads
* I am unable to find any record of the construction or early occupancy of the house, which might provide a date, architect, artist, or explanation of this work.
* Low on the wall. South side of Locust, West of 20th.
* 39.949400,-75.174625 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Other exhibits: Unidentified

Union Baptist Church Gargoyles
1832 (cornerstone)
* Symbols of Jesus, Saint John, Saint Mark and Saint Matthew
* small kneeling and partial angels, torches, winged bulls, winged lions, crosses, crowns, birds, musical instruments, books
* Walls. Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia. South side of Fitzwater, West of 19th.
* 39.942775,-75.174475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's John the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Mark the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Matthew the Apostle page
+facebook.com page for The Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia

Saint Mark's Gargoyles
John Notman (Architect), 1849
* small heads with headgear
* Walls. Saint Mark's Church. North side of Locust between 16th and 17th.
* 39.948825,-75.168350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's John Notman page
+saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Holy Trinity Gargoyles
John Notman (Architect), 1859
* dogs
* Side entrance. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. South side of Walnut between 19th and 20th.
* 39.950400,-75.173325 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's John Notman page
+htrit.org

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
* Other exhibits: Religious
* 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

Trinity Memorial Gargoyles
James Peacock Sims, 1875
* small heads, headgear
* Walls. Trinity at 22nd. Southwest corner, 22nd and Spruce.
* 39.948550,-75.177975 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's James Peacock Sims page
+trinityat22nd.org

St. Andrew and St. Monica Gargoyles
1883
* small dragons
* South and East walls. Church of St. Andrew and St. Monica. West side of 36th, South of Baring.
* 39.960600,-75.194050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Powelton tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+ssandrewmonica.org

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
* Other exhibits: New, Religious
* 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

Quaker City National Bank Entrance
Willis Gaylord Hale (Architect), 1888
* heads, headgear
* This is the Western third of the original building.
* Entrance. North side of Chestnut between 7th and 8th.
* 39.949570,-75.153120 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Willis Gaylord Hale page

Mother Bethel Gargoyles
Hazlehurst and Huckel (Architects), 1890
* dragons
* High on the walls. Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Northeast corner 6th and Lombard.
* 39.943375,-75.151850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lombard-South tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuilding.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Hazlehurst and Huckel page
+wikipedia.org's Mother Bethel AME Church page

Fisher Fine Arts Library Gargoyles
Frank Furness (Architect), 1891
* dragons
* On the walls. West side of 34th, South of Walnut (Woodland Walk side).
* 39.951700,-75.192975 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Frank Furness page

Faces
John Torrey Windrim (Architect), 1893 (approximate year of building)
* small heads, plants
* Both sides of the front door. North side of Spruce, East of 18th.
* 39.947760,-75.170490 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Other exhibits: New
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's John Torrey Windrim page

Penn Quad Gargoyles
Cope and Stewardson (Architects), 1894 - 1911
* small crouching and horizontal people, heads, headgear, squirrel, seahorse, donkeys, frogs, dragon, balls, shields, books, food, staff, musical instruments
* Walls. Penn Quad. South side of Spruce from 36th to 38th.
* 39.950875,-75.197400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Cope and Stewardson page
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the Quad

Witherspoon Building
Conkling-Armstrong Terra Cotta Company, Joseph M. Huston (Architect), 1895 - 1897
* References to and representations of Albert Barnes, Charles Hodge, Jesus, Saint John, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Matthew and John Witherspoon
* small lion, birds, ox, plants, books, winged person, groups of people, standing people, reclining people, heads and eyes, fire, scales, headgear, anchor, cup, furniture, various religious symbols
* Some art was moved to the Presbyterian Historical Society: Witherspoon Building Figures
* Entire Building. West side of Juniper between Sansom and Walnut, and along the North side of Walnut West of Juniper.
* 39.949250,-75.163200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Gayborhood tour
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Conkling-Armstrong Terra Cotta Company page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Joseph M. Huston page
+wikipedia.org Albert Barnes page
+wikipedia.org Charles Hodge 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
+wikipedia.org's Matthew the Apostle page
+wikipedia.org's John Witherspoon page

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
* Other exhibits: Religious
* 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
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Rankin and Kellog page
+broadstreetlove.org

Towne Building Face
Cope and Stewardson (Architects), 1906
* small face
* Entrance. West side of 33rd between Smith Walk and Walnut.
* 39.951550,-75.190450 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+upenn.edu's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Cope and Stewardson page

Zimmerman House
1911
* cattle heads, ball with Z
* Under the eaves and on the roof. North side of Fairmount between 4th and 5th.
* 39.962975,-75.145450 [map] [nearby]
* On the Northern Liberties tour
* See also:
+The Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building

Gate and Gargoyles
Samuel Yellin, 1912
* small dragon head, abstract gate
* there are identical gargoyles on either side of the gate
* Gate (and gargoyles). South side of Latimer, West of 16th.
* 39.948150,-75.168350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+samuelyellin.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
* Other exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Paul Monaghan page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+adorationsisters.org

Penn Dental Gargoyles
Cope and Stewardson (Architects), 1915 (completion of building, designed 1910)
* small crouching people (some with headgear), monkey, birds, bull, book, symbols, eyeglasses
* Spruce and 40th St. walls. Penn Dental School. Northwest corner, 40th and Spruce.
* 39.951865,-75.203150 [map] [nearby]
* On the University City South Medical Complex tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Cope and Stewardson page
+wikipedia.org's University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine page

Conwell Hall Gargoyles
William Harold Lee (Architect), 1924 (building date)
* small seated people wearing hats
* Both sides of the door. East side of Broad, North of Montgomery.
* 39.980350,-75.157285 [map] [nearby]
* On the Temple Campus tour
* See also:
+Gerry Wilkinson's history page on wrti.com with Conwell Hall information
+librarycompany.org's Temple University postcards page
+wikipedia.org's William Harold Lee page

Firefighter Gargoyles
John Molitor (Architect), 1925
* small crouching people wearing hats and helmets, firefighting equipment
* Was on the Southwest corner, Juniper and Race. Removed from the building 2008 prior to demolition for Convention Center expansion. Coordinates were entered after the demolition and are approximate.
* Entrance.
* 39.956050,-75.161750 [map] [nearby]
* Other exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters, Missing
* See also:
+Max Buten's page for this piece
+Gargoyle Hunter page for this piece
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+phillyhistory.org's 1928 picture of the front of the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's John Molitor page

Fisher-Bennett Gargoyles
Stewardson and Page (Architects), 1925
* small sitting people, books, eyeglasses
* Entrance. South side of Walnut between 33rd and 34th.
* 39.952585,-75.191295 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+upenn.edu's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Stewardson and Page page

Irvine Auditorium Gargoyles
1926
* small dragon heads
* Wall. South side of Irvine Auditorium. Northwest corner, 34th and Spruce.
* 39.950700,-75.193225 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Irvine Auditorium 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]
* 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

Gargoyles
1927
* small heads
* Fire station wall. South corner, Foulkrod and Darrah.
* 40.017000,-75.081340 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lower Northeast tour
* Other exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters

Carnell Hall Gargoyles
William Harold Lee (Architect), 1928
* small heads
* Both sides of the door. East side of Broad, North of Montgomery.
* 39.980425,-75.157075 [map] [nearby]
* On the Temple Campus tour
* See also:
+Gerry Wilkinson's Carnell Hall page on wrti.com
+librarycompany.org's Temple University postcards page
+wikipedia.org's William Harold Lee 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
* 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

Main Street Fire Station Lion Heads
John Molitor (Architect), 1928
* small anthropomorphic lion heads
* Front wall. Engine Company 12. North side of Main, East of Green.
* 40.026720,-75.226475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Manayunk tour
* Other exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters
* See also:
+philadelphiabuilding.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's John Molitor page
+firemanshallmuseum.org's Engine 12 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
* Other exhibits: Religious
* 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

Interfaith House Gargoyles
1930 (building date)
* small crouching people wearing hats, dragon
* Third picture Copyright 2018 Marianne Porter
* In niches high on the front wall. South side of Chelten Ave., West of Germantown Ave..
* 40.035350,-75.175100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building

Monster Capital Fountain
Peter Rockwell, 1980
* snake, group of people (heads)
* Also listed as "Gargoyles"
* Schuylkill River Park. North side of Pine at Taney.
* 39.948100,-75.183300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Peter Rockwell page
+hiddencityphila.org article about Peter Rockwell's Philadelphia pieces
+wikipedia.org's Schuylkill River Park page

Paul J. Gutman Library Gargoyles
Syma, 1992
* small heads, buildings as hats
* Library walls. North side of School House Lane, East of Henry Ave..
* 40.022375,-75.191350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson East Falls Campus tour
* See also:
+jefferson.edu's page for the library
+symastudios.com