City Hall

Until recent times (okay nearly 30 years ago) City Hall was the most visible building in the Philly Skyline with a gigantic statute of William Penn, the founder of the city, sitting on top. It is also the most hated building if you believe our tour guide with many locals ashamed of its “ugliness”. To me it didn’t look so bad so I wonder if the ugliness is more to do with the image of the building. It took 30 years and millions of dollars in the late 1800s (apparently it is estimated to build the same building today would cost at least $2 billion) to put up. Maybe the lavishness and excess of the building was too much for the Quaker sensibilities.

The tour of City Hall was fairly interesting and our tour guide knowledgeable and as a bonus I got a nod, a smile and a brush on the arm from the Mayor. It was pretty funny as he was simply walking by us and not two seconds later two of his aides came flying by shouting into their walkie talkies that the Mayor was on the way.

The view from the top of the tower at City Hall was fabulous but annoying at it is a timed visit and only four or so people can go up in the lift at once. I’m not sure if they change the procedure during peak season.