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Widener Building

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1913–1916, Horace Trumbauer. Bounded by Chestnut and Juniper sts. and S. Penn Sq.
  • (Photograph by Matthew Aungst)

The architectural harmony of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 continued to affect Philadelphia architecture until World War I. Here, Trumbauer provided the robber baron Widener family with an office building that directly confronted the city hall (PH49), while responding to the design and proportions of Daniel Burnham's Wanamaker store (PH47) across the street. For nearly four generations, Philadelphia-based jewelry store Caldwell's occupied the prime Chestnut Street front; its Trumbauer-designed store has been adapted as a restaurant.

Writing Credits

Author: 
George E. Thomas
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Data

What's Nearby

Ritz-Carlton Hotel (Girard Trust Company)
Macy's Department Store (John Wanamaker Department Store)
Land Title Building
Philadelphia City Hall
Union League of Philadelphia

Citation

George E. Thomas, "Widener Building", [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/PA-02-PH48.

Print Source

Cover: Buildings of PA vol 2

Buildings of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, George E. Thomas, with Patricia Likos Ricci, Richard J. Webster, Lawrence M. Newman, Robert Janosov, and Bruce Thomas. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012, 81-82.

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