Our National Landmark Trip

The front of Christ Church where Ben Franklin "attended" regularly.
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June 19

Yesterday we traveled to Philadelphia to review four National Historic Landmark projects that are receiving Keystone Grant and Save America’s Treasures funding. At Christ Church architect Dale Frens heads the restoration of the balustrade and windows and the repointing of the entire building. Next we traveled to Founder’s Hall at Girard College, a massive marble building designed early in the Greek Revival period. Years of deterioration due to roof leakages have rendered the third floor and attic useless. The restoration work removed a 110 year old tin cover that acted to guard the marble slab roof, replacing it with stainless steel.  The solid marble building cost $2 Million to build in the 1830s; the only building requiring more funding was the United States Capitol.  Third we toured Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, the last remaining structure from the 1876 Centennial celebration in Philadelphia. The granite building formerly used by the park for various recreational activities will return to its original form as a museum. Purchased by the Please Touch Museum, the project will transform the building into an interactive learning center. The BHP Keystone Grant paid for outer masonry. Most work involves removing additions to the interior made by the Fairmount Park Commission, including removal of black paint over pink marble and gray paint over granite. Finally we arrived at the Academy of Music to view their chandelier prior to restoration. The Academy will dismantle and ship the massive chandelier, one of the largest in the United States, to Paris for the restoration process. The day’s activities allowed me to understand how the BHP monitors projects and interacts with professionals.

The solid marble building cost $2 Million to build in the 1830s; the only building requiring more funding was the United States Capitol.