Witherspoon Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Witherspoon Building
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Witherspoon Building entrance, February 2010
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1319-1323 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1895-1897 |
| Architect | Huston, Joseph; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Skyscraper |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002462 |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1978 |
The Witherspoon Building is a historic office building located in the Market East area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was designed by architect Joseph M. Huston and built between 1895 and 1897. This impressive 11-story building was created for the Presbyterian Board of Publications and Sabbath School Work.
It has a unique "E"-shape and is built with a strong steel frame. The outside is covered with brick and granite. You can also see cool decorative parts made from terra cotta. The building features fancy Corinthian order and Ionic order columns, statues, and special medallions. These decorations show seals from different parts of the Presbyterian Church. The building is named after John Witherspoon, who was a president of Princeton University. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Art and History: The Building's Sculptures
The Witherspoon Building once had many beautiful statues and medallions. These were designed by a famous sculptor named Alexander Stirling Calder. He created statues of six important Presbyterian figures. These included Francis Makemie, John Witherspoon, John McMillan, Samuel Davies, James Caldwell, and Marcus Whitman.
In 1961, these sculptures were carefully removed from the building. Later, they were moved to the courtyard of the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia. There, people can still see and appreciate these historical artworks today.
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Francis Makemie
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John McMillan
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Samuel Davies
