Thirtieth Street Station
Also known as: West Philadelphia Station; Pennsylvania Railroad Station; Penn
Why it's listed
Built between 1929 and 1934 by the Chicago firm Graham Anderson Probst and White, the cruciform station on the west bank of the Schuylkill River was designed in the modern classic style. Its exterior is faced with Alabama limestone and carries a continuous entablature, while the main concourse measures 290 by 135 feet beneath a coffered ceiling that keeps its original red, gold and cream scheme. The station was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of a central city improvement program begun in 1925 with the City of Philadelphia, and it replaced the older Broad Street Station as the railroad's principal terminal. Its design marks a transition from strict neo-classicism toward a more modernized style, and it included novel features for its time such as a chapel, a mortuary, hospital space and a landing area for small aircraft. It was constructed during the Great Depression with Public Works Administration financing, and it is regarded as one of the last major passenger gateways of the railroad era in an American city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station is significant as a transitional design that moved from neo-classicism toward a more modern style, with novel features for its time such as a chapel, mortuary, hospital space and a landing space for small aircraft. It is also tied to the history of American railroading and urban planning, as one of the last major city gateways and the product of a 1925 central city improvement program between the City of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
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 78002456, listed June 7, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W. River Dr., Market, 30th, and Arch Sts., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | June 7, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002456 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1934 |
| Architect / builder | Graham, Anderson Probst and White (architect) |
| Architectural style | Modern classic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The bowling lanes that replaced the bus terminal and concession area at the north end of the station are described as closed; the station is in use as a passenger station. |
| Acreage | 8.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.95594, -75.18202 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 78002456.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q224214
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.