City Hall Visitor Center, Philadelphia

The largest municipal building in the country, City Hall Visitor Center sits on the spot that once marked the geographic center of the city. Designed by architect John McArthur Jr. and completed in 1901 after nearly three decades of construction, this 167 m (548 ft) tall structure is the world's tallest masonry building. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of the Second Empire style of architecture, the imposing building features granite floors, marble columns, and 250 sculptures created by famed artist Alexander Milne Calder. A statue of city founder William Penn, considered the greatest achievement of Calder's career, adorns the top of the building. The interior of the building is composed of 700 rooms, some of which you can explore on a guided tour of this National Historic Landmark. The site offers two-hour tours for an in-depth look at the building, or you can get a ticket to the hall's observation deck and tower to take in sweeping views of the city. Use our Philadelphia trip builder website to visit City Hall Visitor Center on your trip to Philadelphia, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.