To View the images, click on the dot or the carat representing each view. To see the name and a contemporary description fot each image, click on the corresponding number or letter. Red links represent Wild's Views, and green links represent Child's Views.
[Note: All images of Wild's Views were obtained from Bryn Mawr College, Special Collections.]
*1. Panorama Of Philadelphia From
The State House Steeple: S
*2. Panorama Of Philadelphia From
The State House Steeple: N
*3. Panorama Of Philadelphia From
The State House Steeple: W
*4. Panorama Of Philadelphia From
The State House Steeple: E
1. Fairmount
"It was originally a high fully elevated even above the tops of the
highest houses of the city. The grounds connected with Fairmount are beautifully
laid out in circular glass plots, adorned with ornamental trees and shrubbery."
2. United States Bank
"The design is constructed after the Parthenon, at Athens, the colonnades
on the sides, and certain other merely decorative parts of the original
being dispensed within the copy."
3. Merchant's Exchange
"It is erected from the purest Roman marble, from a design by Mr. Strickland,
the well-known architect of the city. The weaver need not be told the, 'The
Exchange,' is the place where, 'the merchants most do congregate.'"
4. View From The Inclined Plane,
Near Philadelphia
"The Inclined Plane is situated upon the Great Western Rail Road, leading
from Philadelphia to Columbia. Following the road from the intersection
of Vine and Broad Streets, in Philadelphia, for nearly three miles, you
come to the foot of the Inclined Plane, on the opposite side of the River
Schuylkill."
5. The Girard College
"The principal entrance to the east will bear the slope of the lot,
immediately opposite the centre building. This entrance forms the termination
of an avenue leading from the city."
6. The Eastern Penitentiary
"This is a State Prison, and it has always been regarded, both at home
and abroad, as one of the best institutions, for the object designed, in
the civilized world."
7. United States Naval Asylum
"The site is very eligible, being the highest point of land along this
beautiful river, below Fairmount; it is upwards of fifty feet above the
high water mark. The details of this building are form the Ionic Temple
on the Illyssus, near Athens."
8. Alms House
"This institute is justly claimed as one of the most conspicuous ornaments
of the philanthropic character of our city."
9. Moyamensing Prison
"This is a county prison, situated on the Passyunk Road, about two
miles form the heart of the city, embracing debtors' and criminal apartments."
10. Philadelphia From The Navy Yard
"The Philadelphia Navy Yard is situated upon the banks of the river
Delaware, below the city, at the Southern extremity of Swanson Street. This
station is new under the command of the gallant Commodore Stewart, whose
laurels have shed lustre upon his native state of Pennsylvania."
11. State House
"No stranger ever comes to Philadelphia, without paying visit to this
structure, and no public edifice exists amongst us, which is cherished so
warmly in the feelings of the citizens."
12. Pennsylvania Institute For
The Instruction Of The Blind
"Above are various arrangements for different mechanical pursuits,
such as the manufacture of brushes, mattresses, baskets, and various other
occupations, which the blind can learn to render themselves useful at when
they go again into the wide world."
13. Pennsylvania Hospital
"This is one of the best endowed institutes in America. The good founder
of Philadelphia, William Penn, gave a large lot to it, which rose, in a
succession of years, so richly in value, as to render the institution, with
its other vast resources, very bountifully provided for."
14. Market Street, From Front Street
"This view represents one of the first streets of the city, from Front
Street. Market Street is exactly ion the centre of the City. The immortal
Quaker, in laying out the City in his original plan of all the streets running
at right angles, intended Market Street doubtless to form the great centre
of business."
15. University Of Pennsylvania
"The origin of the University was from a Charity School, and an Academy,
which were chartered and endowed in 1753."
16. United States Mint
"This splendid marble structure. . . is fashioned in the Ionic order
of Architecture, from the Grecian Temple on the Illyssus, near Athens, by
our distinguished architect, Mr. Strickland.
17. Christ Church
"It was originally, it would appear, only one story high, and, according
to the best evidence that can be obtained, it was even so low in the ceiling
as to be touched by persons with uplifted hands. The bell which was used
to summon the people to church, was hung in the crotch of a large tree in
front."
18. Manayunk, Near Philadelphia
"This is a beautiful village, about seven miles up the Schuylkill,
from the city. One of the most delightful drives, with which the country
abounds, is along the banks of the beautiful Schuylkill to Manayunk."
19. St. John's Church
"It is one of the finest specimens of Gothic Architecture in the city.
It is built of imitation marble."
20. Laurel Hill Cemetery
"This 'home for the dead' is situated on the Ridge Road, about three
miles from the city, and upon the banks of the River Schuylkill."
[Note: All images of Child's views were obtained from the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP), except where mentioned]
A. Philadelphia From Kensington
[Image obtained from Bryn Mawr College, Special Collections.]
"It is peculiarly the distinction of Philadelphia that it is the successful
fulfillment of [its] original design."
B. Swedish Lutheran Church
[Image obtained from Bryn Mawr College, Special Collections.]
"This simple building, which stands nearly on the Delaware, in Southwark,
was consecrated in the year 1700, under the name 'Gloria Dei'"
C. Christ Church
[Image obtained from Bryn Mawr College, Special Collections.]
"Owing to the destruction by firs of the early records of this building,
the precise date of its erection cannot be ascertained. Enough, however,
is known to prove, that a building stood upon the site of the present church,
prior to the year 1696; and that the only assistance attained from England
in aid of its erection was a stipend of fifty quineas, given by King William."
D. Friends Meeting House Merion
"Among the companions of the founder of Pennsylvania, when he arrived
on the shores of the Delaware, in the year 1682, were a large number of
Welsh people of great respectability and substance. These excellent persons,
before they left their native country, had purchased of the proprietary
several thousand acres of land on the western side of the Schuylkill, about
six miles from the spot fixed upon for the city of Philadelphia; and this
tract was called Merioneth, in honour of their birth-place."
E. Saint Stephen's Church
"Among the religious edifices of Philadelphia, Saint Stephen's Church
is one of the most distinguished. It was intended by the architect (Mr.
Strickland) to present a specimen of the Gothic architecture of the middle
ages, and he has happily executed the design."
F. First Congregational Unitarian
Church
"The idea produced in the mood of a spectator on viewing this edifice,
is its peculiar fitness to the purpose for which is was intended- a temple
dedicated to the worship of the almighty."
"The design of the building was furnished by W. Strickland and is exceedingly
simple: the whole style of the work does honour to the spirit of those who
worship within its walls and have so liberally contributed to its completion."
G. State House
"This venerable edifice has become one of the most interesting in the
history of the world. Beneath its roof was assembled the august body which
pronounced the freedom and sovereignty of the United States."
"The building, two stories in height, is constructed of brick: the
façade, being of the Roman character with rustic corners, and an
enriched Corinthian cornice with marble between the stories."
H. Fairmount Water Works- From the
West Bank of the Schuylkill
J. Fairmount Water Works- From the
Reservoir
"The situation of Fairmount is exceedingly picturesque, and the works
themselves are constructed with great neatness; it is a favorite resort
of the citizens and the view of it is highly interesting, blending as it
does the beauty of nature with the ornaments of useful art, and the gaiety
and animation of groups of well dressed people."
K. View Of The Schuylkill- From
the Old Water Works
"Of these [river] no one exceeds the Schuylkill in various usefulness
and beauty. It flows for more than a hundred miles through the state of
Pennsylvania, its shores covered with luxurious forests, with fields rich
in every prod of agriculture, and with mines of valuable minerals."
L. Bank Of The United States
"The whole is built with marble from the quarries of Montgomery County,
near the city- the interior is vaulted throughout and arched, so as to be
entirely fire proof, and the roof is capped."
M. Bank Of Pennsylvania
"This chaste and classical building was designed by the late B.H. Latrobe,
Esq."
N .Girard Bank (Late United States
Bank)
"The building occupied by Mr. Girard for his Bank ranks among the choice
architectural embellishments of Philadelphia."
O. Pennsylvania Hospital
"as early as 1707 . . . The subject of establishing a Hospital claimed
the attention of some of [Penn's] benevolent followers. It was not, however,
until 1751, that several distinguished individuals associated, and laid
the foundation of the Pennsylvania Hospital, the first institution of the
kind in the Western Hemisphere."
P. Pennsylvania Institute For The Deaf
And Dumb
"The Asylum was built with reverence to the convenience and safety
of its inmates."
Q. University
"The whole structure, though wanting in classical taste, and established
rules of architecture, is imposing from its magnitude."
R .Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine
Arts
"from a small beginning, the Academy has become fully adequate to the
greater purposes of its institution."
S. Eastern Penitentiary Of Pennsylvania
T. Plan Of The Eastern Penitentiary
"The Eastern State Penitentiary is situated on one of the moist elevated,
airy, and healthy sites in the vicinity of Philadelphia. This Penitentiary
is the only edifice in this country which is calculated to convey to our
citizens the external appearance of those magnificent and picturesque castles
of the middle ages."
U. United States Mint
"The building is of white marble, from designs furnished by Mr. Strickland.
The order is Ionic, taken from that celebrated Grecian temple on the Illyssus,
near Athens."
V. Widows And Orphans Asylum
"The skillful architect who has constructed the present building has
effectively guarded against [fire's] recurrence."
W. Schuylkill Canal At Manayunk
"The thriving little village of which our engraving represents one
of the most interesting parts, is situated on the banks of the river and
of the canal, at the distance of about six miles from Philadelphia. It derives
its name from the aboriginal title of the Schuylkill, and owes its origin
to the improvements which have been made upon that stream."
X. Eaglesfield
"Among the various country seats along the banks of the Schuylkill
for some miles above Philadelphia, no one surpasses in beauty of situation,
that of which we have present in view."
Y. Sedgeley Park
"Sedgeley Park is situated on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill, at
the distance of three miles from the city of Philadelphia, and upon an elevation
of eight feet above the tide waters of the river."
Z. Academy Of Natural Sciences
"It is a quadrangular edifice, surmounted by a dome."
