Conception Independence Mall (Philadelphia)

independence hall, newly demolished first block of independence mall, 1952.

the groundwork park area surrounding independence hall laid when historic sites act of 1935 adopted. before independence hall officially named national historic site in 1943, architect roy f. larson developed original concept site known independence mall in 1937. concept called 5-block mall extending chestnut callowhill streets, , incorporating approaches benjamin franklin bridge. , backed independence hall association , president, judge edwin o. lewis. in 1947, national park being assembled around independence hall, lewis advocated federal government purchase 3 blocks north of historic building park. national park service (nps) interested in purchasing first block. plan rejected, lewis took idea of three-block mall pennsylvania general assembly, convincing legislators build state park , monument pennsylvanians had died in world war ii, concept never realized.

independence mall state park created in 1950s intention land turned on nps. funded 40-year state bonds, construction joint venture between pennsylvania , city of philadelphia, , overseen edmund bacon, director of philadelphia city planning commission. couple hundred 18th-, 19th-, , 20th-century buildings purchased , demolished project. among these surviving walls of president s house – white house of george washington , john adams during decade (1790–1800) philadelphia served temporary national capital. building not demolished free quaker meetinghouse @ southwest corner of 5th & arch streets. relocated 30 feet west, 5th street widened. important note original approved design(s) mall created without involvement national park service.

the first block closest independence mall completed in 1954. design first block developed wheelwright, stevenson , langren, philadelphia landscape architecture firm. design, block featured central lawn surrounded terraces, walkways , formal allée of trees. next block featured central fountain , square reflecting pool. surrounded terraces , 2 brick arcades mimic first block.

the northernmost block designed dan kiley, landscape architect influential in modernist style. 1963 plan designed based on philadelphia s original five-city-square layout. each square represented fountains placed in scale center city map. surrounding fountains regularly spaced array of 700 honey locust trees planted 12 -6 18 on-center within brick paved plaza. trees failed due tight spacing , urban environment; many removed, degrading overall design intent.