The Franklin Residences facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benjamin Franklin Hotel
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 822–840 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Horace Trumbauer, John N. Gill |
| Architectural style | Late 18th-century Anglo-American |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003808 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1982 |
The Franklin Residences is a famous building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located on Chestnut Street in the heart of Center City. This building first opened its doors on January 14, 1925. Back then, it was known as the Benjamin Franklin Hotel. Today, it serves as a historic apartment building.
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A Look Back: The Franklin Residences
Before "The Ben": The Continental Hotel
Before The Franklin Residences, another grand hotel stood here. It was called the Continental Hotel. This hotel was built between 1857 and 1860. It had 700 rooms and was six stories tall.
The Continental Hotel was designed by architect John McArthur Jr.. He also designed the famous Philadelphia City Hall. The hotel was very fancy for its time. It even had one of the first elevators in the country! Its main stairway was made of shiny Italian marble.
Many famous people stayed at the Continental Hotel. These included presidents like Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Johnson. The famous writer Charles Dickens also visited. Even King Edward VII and Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro were guests.
The most famous guest was Abraham Lincoln. He was president-elect at the time. On February 21, 1861, he gave a speech from the hotel's balcony. This was just before he became president.
The old Continental Hotel was taken down in 1924. This made way for the new Benjamin Franklin Hotel. But a special lamp from Lincoln's balcony was saved. It still hangs today on a balcony in the new building. This spot is now known as the "Lincoln Balcony."
The Benjamin Franklin Hotel Era
The Benjamin Franklin Hotel opened on January 14, 1925. It was named after Benjamin Franklin, a famous founding father from Philadelphia.
A well-known architect named Horace Trumbauer designed the hotel. It was built by Frank A. Dudley and run by the United Hotels Company.
In 1947, the hotel made news for an important reason. The Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team had stayed there for years. But this time, the hotel refused to let them stay. This was because Jackie Robinson, the first African-American player in Major League Baseball, was with the team. At that time, many places were still segregated, meaning Black and white people were kept separate.
Another hotel, The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, agreed to house the team. The Dodgers later moved their regular stays to The Warwick Hotel. This event was a small but important part of the fight against segregation.
The hotel was owned by Bankers Securities Corporation. This company owned several hotels in Philadelphia. The Benjamin Franklin Hotel often hosted the Army team during the annual Army-Navy Game.
The 1970s were a tough time for hotels in Philadelphia. They hoped to get more visitors for the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration. This event celebrated 200 years of the United States. However, it did not bring as many tourists as expected.
Also, in 1976, New Jersey allowed casino gambling. This led to new hotels opening in Atlantic City. Many people started going there instead of Philadelphia. Because of these challenges, the Benjamin Franklin Hotel closed in 1980. In 1982, the empty building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This recognized its importance in history.
Becoming The Franklin Residences
After closing as a hotel, the building was given a new life. It was changed into 412 apartments and office spaces. It reopened in 1986 as the Benjamin Franklin House. Many locals affectionately called it "The Ben."
During the renovation, the hotel's large ballroom was turned into office space. But the National Park Service objected to this change. They wanted to keep the historic ballroom. So, in 1988, the ballroom was restored to its original grand look.
Today, this ballroom is one of Philadelphia's largest. It is managed by Finley Catering and is a popular place for weddings and banquets. It is now known as the Ballroom at the Ben.
In 2011, a company called Korman Communities bought the building. They spent $13 million to make it even better. In 2014, they renamed it "The Franklin Residences."
The Franklin Residences now offers luxury apartments. These include studio, one, and two-bedroom homes. They also have fully furnished suites for people who need a comfortable place to stay for a short time.
The final scene of the Oscar-winning 2012 movie Silver Linings Playbook was filmed here. It used both the building's ballroom and its lobby.
See also
In Spanish: The Franklin Residences para niños
