Some Pretty City Architecture

This post will be many photos, few words. I have included some short blurbs about some of the buildings, these were all sourced from Wikipedia, and you can click the link at the end of each segment if you're really excited about it and want to learn more or simply re-read what I wrote but with some of the words in blue.

As always, please click on a photo to see it larger, but please don't steal my photos or use without permission!

There is NOTHING I dislike about the clothespin. It's also a fantastic spot to meet someone in Center City not only because of it's great central location, situated conveniently on top of Suburban Station/15th St. Station and directly across the street from City Hall,  but it's also a super recognizable sculpture. Honestly, what's more clear? "Hey let's meet at the Northeast corner of the Southwest side of the 15th and Market intersection." or "Yo, meet me at the Clothespin." No brainer.

Also, it's pretty.

The Clothespin, Claes Oldenburg

Now, some wider angle skyline or skyline-esque shots.

The Masonic Temple, built in 1873, located directly across from City Hall, serves as the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Free and Accepted Masons. The temple receives thousands of visitors every year who visit the ornate structure including its seven ornate lodge rooms, where today a number of Philadelphia lodges and the Grand Lodge conduct their meetings. The massive granite cornerstone, weighing ten tons, was leveled on St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1868. The ceremonial gavel used on that day was the same gavel used by President George Washington in leveling the cornerstone of the nation's Capitol building in 1793. The bold and elaborate elevations of Norman architecture on Broad and Filbert Streets, especially the beautiful Norman portico of Quincy granite, make it one of the great architectural wonders of the City of Philadelphia. (via Wiki)

This was taken from the NW corner of city hall, facing NE towards the Masonic Temple and Thomas Paine Plaza. 

Masonic Temple

I have a thing for individual buildings from their bases or nearby. So... without further ado- The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton is a luxury residential skyscraper in Center City in Philadelphia. It is currently the tenth-tallest building in Philadelphia, and the tallest residential tower in the city. The building was erected on the former site of One Meridian Plaza which was seriously damaged by a deadly fire in 1991. (via Wiki)

The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

The Union League of Philadelphia is the largest gentlemen's club in Philly, and a center for Republican Party politics. It was the first of the Loyalty Leagues to promote loyalty to the Union cause during the American Civil War. This building, designed by architect John Fraser, opened in 1865. (via Wiki)

The Union League

When City Hall was completed its construction in 1901, it was the tallest habitable building in the world until 1908 and the tallest in Pennsylvania until 1932. It remained the tallest building in Philadelphia until the construction of One Liberty Place (1984–1987) ended the informal gentlemen's agreement that limited the height of tall buildings in the city; it is currently the 16th-tallest building in Pennsylvania.

City Hall

City Hall is topped by an 11.3 m (37 ft), 27-ton bronze statue of city founder William Penn, one of 250 sculptures created by Alexander Milne Calder that adorn the building inside and out. The statue is the tallest atop any building in the world. Calder wished the statue to face south so that its face would be lit by the sun most of the day, all the better to reveal the details that he had included in the work. The statue actually faces northeast, towards Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown, which commemorates the site where William Penn signed a treaty with the local Native American tribe. (via Wiki)

City Hall (I really love it) from the south