Isn’t it incredible to think that the bronze William Penn Statue above us has been here since 1894? It’s more than just a statue. It’s a symbol of Philadelphia.
The William Penn Statue stands atop City Hall. Alexander Milne Calder created it. He also made over 250 other sculptures for the building. It’s quite a collection.
This William Penn Statue is no small feat. It’s 37 feet tall. People believe it to be the largest and heaviest bronze statue on top of any building across the globe. Imagine the engineering required to put it up there.
The statue faced northeast. It points toward Penn Treaty Park. This is significant. William Penn reportedly made a peace agreement with Tamanend there. Tamanend was a chief of the Lenni-Lenape nation. The agreement occurred under a large elm tree back in 1683.
Alexander Milne Calder wanted William Penn to face south. He wanted the statue to bask in sunlight. The Public Building Commission decided otherwise. They wanted it to face the park. So, northeast it was.
The William Penn Statue was cast in fourteen sections. It took almost two years to finish. That’s dedication.
For about 90 years, there was an unofficial agreement. No building could be taller than the hat on the William Penn Statue. This ended in 1985. That is when the Liberty Place complex was approved. It had two skyscrapers. They rose above Penn’s hat.
There is a copy of the William Penn Statue at Welcome Park. The National Park Service proposed renovating the park in 2024. This included removing the William Penn Statue there.
John McArthur Jr. hired Calder in 1873. McArthur was the architect for the new City Hall. Calder was to create sculptures for it. The task took twenty years.
The statue was assembled in 1886. Then, it was taken apart into 47 pieces. In 1893, it was reassembled in City Hall’s courtyard. People could admire it up close.
On Thanksgiving Day in 1894, workers fastened the head of the statue. People noticed it faced the “wrong way”. Alexander Milne Calder wasn’t happy about the change either.
The William Penn Statue represents more than just a historical figure. It embodies the spirit and history of Philadelphia itself. It reminds us of the ideals upon which this city was founded. It embodies peace, and progress. A legacy cast in bronze for all to see.