Camden City Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camden City Hall |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Architectural style | Neoclassicism |
| Location | 520 Market Street Camden, NJ 08102 |
| Coordinates | 39°56′41″N 75°7′12″W / 39.94472°N 75.12000°W |
| Construction started | 1929 |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Height | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 18 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edwards and Green |
Camden City Hall is a very important building in Camden, New Jersey. It's where the local government for both the city and Camden County works. Think of it as the main office for running the city!
This building is also super tall. At 371 feet, it's the tallest building in Camden. It's even the tallest building in the whole Delaware Valley area, besides those in Philadelphia.
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Camden City Hall: A Tall Building with a Big Job
What is a City Hall?
A city hall is like the main office for a city's government. It's where important decisions are made. People who work there help manage the city. This includes things like public services and local laws. Camden City Hall serves both the city and the wider county area.
Building Design and Features
Camden City Hall was designed by two architects, Byron Edwards and Alfred Green. They moved to Camden in 1928 to work on this project. The building is made of light gray granite. It has a strong base with a tall, thin tower rising from it.
The building's style is called Neoclassicism. This means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. It has grand columns and a very formal look. At the very top of the tower, there is a large clock. Having a clock on the city hall is a long tradition in Camden. The city has had clocks on its main government buildings since 1876. The building was finished in 1931. It has 18 floors!
Words of Wisdom on the Walls
If you visit Camden City Hall, you'll see some special words carved into its walls. On the south side of the tower, it says, "In a dream I saw a city invincible." These words come from a poem by Walt Whitman. This quote is also the official motto for the city of Camden.
On the front of the building, you'll find two more famous quotes. One says, "No Legacy is so Rich as Honesty." This line is from a play by William Shakespeare called All's Well That Ends Well. The other quote on the front is, "Where There is no Vision the People Perish." This comes from the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. These quotes remind everyone about important values.
The First City Hall
Before the current Camden City Hall was built, there was an older one. It was built in 1876. This first city hall was located at Benson Street and Haddon Avenue. It also had a clock tower, just like the new one. However, the old building was taken down in 1930. This was to make way for new developments in the city.
