Arch Street Opera House
Also known as: Troc, The
Why it's listed
Built in 1870 to plans by Edwin F. Durang, the two-story brick Arch Street Opera-House extends about 170 feet from Arch Street to Appletree Street. It opened on 20 August 1870 for minstrelsy under Simmons and Slocum, burned in 1872, and was rebuilt. A fire in 1883 required reconstruction of the interior, which was remodelled again in 1891, 1894 and 1896, the last under the supervision of George W. Plowman. The building became the Trocadero in 1896 and was shortened to the Troc in 1949. From the late nineteenth century until after World War II it operated as Philadelphia's premier burlesque house. Its interior, with mirrored orchestra walls, plaster box ornament, a decorated proscenium, stenciled ceiling garlands and two cast-iron balconies, survives largely intact. Its preservation is considered unusual among Philadelphia theaters.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for the high degree of preservation of its late Victorian theater interior, remodelled in the 1890s, which it describes as better preserved than any theater or concert hall in Philadelphia except the Academy of Music. It also notes the building's long history as a burlesque house from the late nineteenth century until after World War II.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002442, listed June 13, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1003--1005 Arch St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | June 13, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002442 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-1896 |
| Architect / builder | Edwin F. Durang (1870); George W. Plowman (1896) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document states the theater is about to close and be restored to its late-nineteenth-century appearance, with a new owner proposing use for Chinese cinema and drama. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Within district | East Center City Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95372, -75.15649 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002442.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7844815
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.