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Memorial Hall (Philadelphia)

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Memorial Hall
The new home of the
Please Touch Museum
Memorial Hall (Philadelphia) is located in Pennsylvania
Memorial Hall (Philadelphia)
LocationWest Fairmount Park
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131
Built1876
ArchitectHerman Schwartzmann
Architectural styleBeaux-Arts
NRHP reference No.76001665[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 8, 1976

Designed by Hermann J. Schwarzmann for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Memorial Hall is made of brick, glass, iron, and granite. The building is 365 feet (111 m) by 210 feet (64 m) and 150 feet (46 m) tall at the top of the building's most distinctive feature, an iron and glass dome. The top of the dome is adorned with a twenty-three-foot-tall statue of Columbia (the poetic symbol of the United States) holding the laurel branch of glory. At the ends of the south (main) facade sit figures symbolizing industry and commerce. It is located in Fairmount Park, west of the Schuylkill River, at the corner of East Memorial Hall Drive and the Avenue of the Republic.[2] Since October 18, 2008, the Hall has served as home to the Please Touch Museum.

Background

Memorial Hall was designed in Beaux-Arts style and housed the Centennial's art exhibits. The Centennial received so many art contributions that a separate annex was built to house them all. Another building was built for the display of photography.[3] After the Exposition, Memorial Hall reopened in 1877 as the Pennsylvania Museum of the School of Industrial Art and also served as the first home of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which was located there until 1929. The building was taken over by the Fairmount Park Commission in 1958.[4][5] It also was used for a gymnasium and a swimming pool in both wings. In 1982, the building was being used as a police station.[5][6] The Hall fell into disrepair until 2005, when the Please Touch Museum began an $85-million renovation to convert it into its new home. The museum opened its doors to the public on October 18, 2008.[7]

Recent history

In September of 1997, a viewing for long-time Philadelphia Phillies baseball player, broadcaster, and fan favorite Richie Ashburn was held shortly after his death from a heart attack in New York City. Several hundred thousand people were there to mourn his passing as they walked by his casket in the Grand Hall.

Since October 18, 2008, Memorial Hall has served as home to the Please Touch Museum.

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
  2. ^ Memorial Hall
  3. ^ Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exhibition, pages 101 - 103
  4. ^ Gross, Linda P. (2005). Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-3888-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help), page 105
  5. ^ a b Wainwright, Nicholas (1982). Philadelphia: A 300-Year History. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-01610-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Resinger, Kelly. "Memorial Hall Update". Please Touch Museum. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
  7. ^ "The History of Please Touch Museum" from the museum's official website
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