Alexander Milne Calder Plaque 2007
* bas-relief bust of Alexander Milne Calder
* smallhead and upper torso,
hat
* inscription:
Alexander Milne Calder
Sculptor - 1846-1923
Alexander Milne Calder emigrated from Scotland in 1868 and
spent twenty years creating over 250 sculptures that adorn City
Hall. His bronze William Penn, installed atop the tower in 1894,
is thought to be the largest sculpture on top of a building at 37 feet
tall and 27 tons. Calder's son and grandson were also sculptors:
Alexander Stirling Calder's is located in
Logan Circle and Alexander "Sandy" Calder's monumental Ghost
mobile hangs in the Grand Stair of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Below William Penn are eight colossal bronzes of Native
Americans, Swedish settlers and eagles. Allegorical sculptures
on the building represent history, peoples of the world and nature,
and collectively symbolize the spirit upon which the United States
was founded.
Generations of Philadelphians have identified City Hall tower as
the symbol of their city. The tower is visible for miles and remains
the physical and civic heart of Philadelphia.
Creation of this plaque was funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
* On the wall..
East side of the North entrance of City Hall.
South side of JFK at Broad.
* 39.953050,-75.163500 [map][nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page
