Philadelphia Architectural Style Hike 5 of 7: Best of Beaux-Arts Buildings

3-4 hours; 4-5 miles; brisk pace between stops; best examples of Beaux-Art architecture in Philadelphia's Center City and Rittenhouse neighborhoods; possibility of late lunch afterward if there's interest.

When someone says they don't like fancy architecture, they're probably thinking of Beaux-Arts. Well, they're wrong. The Beaux-Arts style can be overwhelming, but when it is executed well, the result is breathtaking. Beaux-Arts buildings came to prominence in Philadelphia between about 1890 to 1930. By the end of the period, the city was home to a few dozen excellent examples of the Beaux-Arts style, the grandest of which are mostly found in the east-west corridor between Walnut and Market Streets that runs from Old City over to the Rittenhouse area. We're going to visit as many of these as we can in a few hours.

After we meet up, our first stop will be the Curtis Publishing Company building on the north side of Washington Square. The exterior is an exquisite example of Beaux-Arts architecture, and inside the 6th Street entrance is an enormous Louis Comfort Tiffany mural that is simply breathtaking, which we'll pop in to see if the entrance is open. Then we'll head west down Chestnut Street and through the heart of Rittenhouse Square to check out a series of beautifully wrought Beaux-Arts offices, apartment buildings, hotels, and even a (former) private home. Finally, we'll walk back through Center City to admire a building on Walnut Street that has the most amazing stone carvings I've ever seen on a building in Philadelphia.

If you haven't been on previous architecture style hikes with us, I guarantee you'll see Philadelphia from a new perspective. For those who have joined previous hikes, this hike features almost all new buildings, with only three (really good ones!) that we have visited previously. All are welcome!

As always, we will move quickly between buildings, but we'll also stop for enough time at each one to enjoy and discuss the wonderful craftsmanship. No knowledge of architecture is needed . . . just an interest in seeing beautiful places and a willingness to stay with the group.

GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra. ••Donation requested. All monies donated to recreational charities like Natural Lands and the Friends of Wissahickon. •• For ~360 events each year donate $20 (2025), $30 for 2 or family or donate $5 for each event. ••Pay in person or at Zelle (2152474459) or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html . Thanks.
Yearly donation $15 July-Aug; $10 Sept-Nov; Dec new year.