Memorial Hall (Philadelphia) facts for kids
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Memorial Hall
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Home of the Please Touch Museum
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | West Fairmount Park 4231 Avenue of the Republic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131 |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | Herman J. Schwarzmann |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001665 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | December 8, 1976 |
Memorial Hall is a grand building in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. It was built in the beautiful Beaux-Arts style, which is known for its fancy details. The hall was first created as an art gallery for the Centennial Exposition, a huge world's fair held in 1876. It is the only major building from that fair that is still standing today.
For many years, the building was home to an art museum that later became the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Since 2008, it has been the home of the popular Please Touch Museum. Because of its importance, Memorial Hall was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Contents
A Grand Building from the Past
Designing a Fireproof Masterpiece
Memorial Hall was designed by an architect named Herman J. Schwarzman. It is a great example of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture in the United States. The building cost $1.5 million to build, which was a lot of money back then. One of its most amazing features was that it was built to be fireproof, using stone and metal instead of wood. This was a new and clever idea at the time.
The outside of the building is covered in granite, a very strong stone. Inside, it is decorated with beautiful marble and plaster designs. The building is very large, measuring 365 feet by 210 feet.
The most noticeable part of Memorial Hall is its huge iron and glass dome. On top of the dome stands a 23-foot-tall statue of Columbia, a female figure who represents the United States. At the corners of the dome, four other statues represent industry, business, farming, and mining. The design of Memorial Hall was so impressive that it inspired the look of the famous Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany.
The 1876 Centennial Exposition
Construction on Memorial Hall began in 1874 and finished just in time for the Centennial Exposition's opening day on May 10, 1876. This huge fair celebrated the 100th birthday of the United States.
President Ulysses S. Grant officially opened the building. He was joined by members of Congress, the Supreme Court, and even Emperor Pedro II of Brazil. The fair was a massive success, and almost ten million people visited Memorial Hall between May and November of 1876.
The hall was built to show art from all over the world. So much art was sent for the fair that another building had to be built just to hold it all!
What Happened After the Fair?
After the Centennial Exposition ended, Memorial Hall became a museum in 1877. It was part of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art. When the Philadelphia Museum of Art opened at a new location in 1928, Memorial Hall closed as a museum.
For many years, the building was used for different things. The Fairmount Park Commission used it for its offices. It was also used as a police station and even had a gym and a swimming pool inside its wings.
By the year 2000, the building was in need of major repairs. A new purpose was needed to restore it to its original beauty. In 2005, the Please Touch Museum signed a long-term agreement to move into the building and began a large renovation project.
Modern Uses of the Hall
A Place for Music and Memories
In the 1980s and 1990s, the famous Philadelphia Orchestra used a basketball court inside Memorial Hall to make recordings. The orchestra's usual home, the Academy of Music, didn't have the right sound quality, but Memorial Hall was perfect.
In September 1997, the hall was used for a public viewing for Richie Ashburn, a beloved baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. Thousands of fans came to the Grand Hall to pay their respects.
Home of the Please Touch Museum
In 2005, the Please Touch Museum began a huge $85-million project to turn Memorial Hall into its new home. The museum, which is designed for children, opened to the public on October 18, 2008.
Today, the museum is a popular spot for families. The lawn outside the hall is also used as a home field for the Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, a team that plays baseball using the rules from 1864.
Gallery
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A map of the art gallery's ground floor in 1876.
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The hall almost finished in March 1876.
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The east side of the building.
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A view of the southwest entrance area.
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The rotunda, the large circular room under the dome.
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A statue of a winged horse near the entrance.
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A doorway showing the detailed Beaux-Arts style.
See also
In Spanish: Memorial Hall para niños
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Philadelphia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in West Philadelphia
- Ohio House - The building for the state of Ohio at the Centennial fair, which is also still standing.
- Centennial comfort stations - Two restroom buildings from the fair that are also still standing.
