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| THE PENNSYLVANIA BUILDING - This was one of the
handsomest and most attractive buildings erected by the States. It
stood beside New York, opposite the
main entrance of the
Art Palace, on one of the best
sites. Its elegant and
thorough finishings within, its broad verandas without, and the
presence at its doorway of Liberty Bell
, all conspired to
make it a favorite meeting and resting place, when not itself given
over to the particular festivities of the Keystone State. Our
picture represents the fine structure as it looked on its proudest
day, when Pennsylvania celebrated in Jackson Park, September 7, 1893.
There were forty thousand Pennsylvanians on the grounds, and
Governor Pattison was attended by Governor Flower, of New York, and
Governor Altgeld, of Illinois. The front of the Pennsylvania
Building was a reproduction of Independence Hall, at Philadelphia,
having its entrances and tower. The ground area was one hundred and
ten by one hundred and sixty-six feet. The front corners were
quarter-circled in, and over the veranda was a balcony protected by
balustrade. Above the pediment over the front doors was a sculptural
State coat-of-arms, and on one side the statue of Penn, and on the
other of Franklin. The outer walls were of pressed brick, and the
building was made so that it could be moved out of the Park and serve
as a public museum. At the concave corners stood groups of statuary
- on the left "Mines and Manufactures;" on the right, "Arts and
Sciences." Native marbles and woods were used in the rich interior
finishings. Eight hundred electric lights made the structure
brilliant at night. Cost, $60,000. |
