Reading Terminal and Trainshed
Also known as: Philadelphia and Reading Railroad:Terminal Station and Train
Why it's listed
Built in 1891-1893 for the Reading Railroad in Philadelphia, the Reading Terminal is a stub-end railroad station with an eight-story head house of pink brick and cream terra cotta, linked by a concourse to a train shed that covers 13 tracks and 8 platforms. The shed is 559 feet long and 267 feet wide, its wrought iron three-hinged arches rising 88 feet. When completed it had the widest single-span train shed in the world, a position it regained in 1923 after the Broad Street shed of the Pennsylvania Railroad burned and was not rebuilt. The structure is regarded as the oldest long-span roof in the world and the sole surviving single-span arched train shed in the United States. Beneath the tracks lies a market hall, which was given space in the new building and kept operating during construction. The market is described as Philadelphia's principal farmers' market, with a history reaching back to 1693. The terminal still handles over 375 trains and 45,000 passengers each working day.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the terminal is an engineering work of world significance, with the widest single-span train shed in the world at the time it was built and the oldest long-span roof structure in the world. It also cites its importance in transportation architecture and the continuous history of the Reading Terminal Market, which is described as a direct descendant of Philadelphia's original market founded in 1693.
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 72001170, listed June 30, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1115-1141 Market St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | June 30, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001170 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891-1893 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Head house alterations include replaced cornice and parapet, enclosed second-floor office space, and conversion of lower levels to commuter service; the train shed remains in active use handling trains and passengers daily. |
| Acreage | 4.1 |
| Within district | East Center City Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95289, -75.15910 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 72001170.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q339098
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.