Philadelphia + Architecture = Art Deco

While it may not be Miami Beach (Philly doesn’t really do pastels), Philadelphia has some amazing Art Deco buildings. These are a few of the highlights in Center City:

The former Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company (photo above), now an annex of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (2525 Pennsylvania Avenue). Covered with decorations symbolizing attributes of insurance and hard work, including: the owl of wisdom, the dog of fidelity (origin of the dog name Fido – a tribute to the loyalty of dogs) , the pelican of charity, the opossum of protection, and the squirrel of frugality:

The old WCAU radio station (1618-22 Chestnut St.). The first building in the country designed specifically for a radio station. Decorated with lots of chrome and electricity symbols:

Suburban Station (16th & JFK Boulevard). It originally served as a terminal for Pennsylvania Railroad trains (yes- the same station on the Monopoly board – Pennsylvania Rail Road was one of the stations serving Atlantic City, home of all the properties on the board when it was first published in 1938):

The Ayer Building (210 W. Washington Square). Originally home to one of the oldest ad agencies in the country, N.W. Ayer – established 1884 and creator of the slogan, “a diamond is forever”:

The former Market Street National Bank (1 East Penn Square). Covered with Mayan theme decorations – a real contrast to the ornate City Hall across the street:

1500 & 1528 Walnut Street (interior of 1528):

1608 & 1616 Walnut Street (interior of 1616):

The Metropolitan Apartments (117 N. 15th Street):

The Drake Hotel (1512 Spruce Street). The decorations symbolize the voyages of Sir Francis Drake – dolphins, shells, globes:

The old Horn & Hardart Automat (818 Chestnut):

And, of course, these terrific mailmen from the exterior of the old post office at 9th & Market:

Just a few blocks away, amongst the red bricks of colonial Old City, is the 1932-34 customs building. Built as part of the WPA, the exterior aluminum decoration and interior murals depict scenes of US commerce. You have to go through security, but are allowed to enter to see the interior murals, staircases and dome.

If you are ever out in Upper Darby, be sure to check out its small art deco shopping enclave. The main focal point is the 1928 McClatchy building with its amazing terra-cotta tiles and stained glass window (viewable from inside the H&M), but the streets behind (Garrett and Terminal Square) also contain a bunch of art deco and modernist buildings.