Philosophical Hall facts for kids
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American Philosophical Society Hall
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American Philosophical Society, 2006
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| Location | 104 S. Fifth St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1785–89 |
| Architect | Samuel Vaughan |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000675 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 12, 1965 |
Philosophical Hall is a very old and important building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can find it at 104 South 5th Street, close to Independence Hall. For more than 200 years, this building has been the main home for the American Philosophical Society. This special group helps people learn and share new ideas.
Because of its strong connection to this famous society, Philosophical Hall was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965. This means it's a place of great historical importance in the United States.
Building a Home for Ideas
For 20 years after it started, the American Philosophical Society (APS) did not have its own building. Its members met in different places around Philadelphia. In 1783, the members decided it was time to build a permanent home.
They first thought about a spot near Arch Street. But then, a piece of land became available in the State House yard. Today, this area is known as Independence Square, and the State House is Independence Hall. In 1785, the Pennsylvania government agreed to give this land to the Society.
The Society quickly started digging the basement for their new building. However, raising money for the construction was slow. It took four years to finish the building. The last bit of money needed to complete it came from a loan. This loan was given by a famous member of the Society, Benjamin Franklin.
A Busy Place Through History
Philosophical Hall became a central place for the APS. It was used for meetings, offices, and the Society's growing library. The building was quite large, even bigger than the Society needed at first. So, they decided to rent out some of their extra rooms.
- For several years, classes for the University of Pennsylvania were held here.
- Charles Willson Peale, a famous artist, even had his Philadelphia Museum inside the hall for a while.
- Government groups also rented space. This included the city government and a United States court.
The Society finally stopped renting out rooms in 1934. This happened after a large gift from a member made the Society financially stable.
Over the years, the Society thought about moving out of Philosophical Hall a few times. Once, the city wanted to buy the building to use as a courthouse. However, they could not agree on a price. In the early 1900s, the Society considered moving to a new area. This was the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a new street designed to attract smart groups. The Society's members discussed this idea many times. But the big gift in 1934 ended those talks. The APS decided to stay at Philosophical Hall.
In 1890, the APS added a third story to the building. This was to make more space for its growing library. But many people thought this addition looked ugly. So, in 1949, it was removed. By then, the library had moved to a different location.
Today, Philosophical Hall is still used for the APS's offices. It also has a museum that is open to the public. You can visit the museum from April through December each year. The Society's twice-yearly meetings now happen at Benjamin Franklin Hall. This other building is about a block away and has been used since 1993. Philosophical Hall is special because it is the only building on Independence Square that is privately owned.
See also
In Spanish: Philosophical Hall para niños
