Memorial Hall
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 as the art gallery of the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Memorial Hall is a granite, glass and iron building in West Fairmount Park, designed by Herman Joseph Schwarzmann in the modern Renaissance manner. Its central dome rises 150 feet, and its main front has three colossal arched doorways flanked by pavilions and arcades. Two bronze groups of Pegasus, originally made for the Imperial Opera House in Vienna, were bought by Robert H. Gratz and placed at the main entrance in 1876. The museum opened on May 10, 1877, and closed in 1954 after the Philadelphia Museum of Art took over its major collections. The building was adapted for community use in the 1960s, when its Great Hall was restored and the Fairmount Park Commission took offices in its smaller rooms. The nomination regards it as the first American art museum in the Beaux-Arts manner, a model that influenced many later museum buildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant as the first American art museum in the Beaux-Arts manner, a design that influenced many later art museums. It was designed by Herman Joseph Schwarzmann, who was also the designer of Fairmount Park's development. The building is also tied to the Centennial and to the civic reuse of the structure after its museum years.
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 76001665, listed December 8, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 8, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001665 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876 |
| Architect / builder | Herman Schwartzmann |
| Architectural style | Modern Renaissance; Beaux-Arts manner |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a museum in 1954 and adapted for community uses; re-dedicated in January 1969, with the East Gallery converted to an indoor swimming pool and offices of the Fairmount Park Commission in the smaller rooms. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | Fairmount Park |
| Coordinates | 39.97936, -75.20920 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 76001665.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6815433
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.