PHILADELPHIA — The interior of Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station has been added to the local historic register by the Philadelphia Historical Commission, a move protecting the space from modification.
It becomes just the fourth interior space in Philadelphia so protected. The interior was nominated, philly.com reports, by a consultant to the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, in consultation with Amtrak, the building’s owner. The consultant, Ben Leech, cited the interior’s historical and architectural significance, and its status as one of Philadelphia’s “most iconic and trafficked public spaces.”
The station was built between 1929 and 1933 by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Amtrak’s Great American Stations website notes that the building was designed by Alfred Shaw of the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, and that the building itself has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.
Amtrak is currently preparing a major update to the station, which in turn is part of a project, the 30th Street Station District Plan, to develop the area around the structure.
That congressman did absolutely nothing for Amtrak or 30th Street station. The naming was a political payoff from a crony who is now in the slammer.
The Solari Board is now (or soon will be) at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at Strasburg, where it will be safely stored and preserved until further action is decided upon. There has been discussion about re-activating it at the Museum but the cost of a new computer to run it, plus the entire re-wiring of it, may preclude that from ever happening, unless a generous donor steps forward.
With a bit of detective work, some by car, one can scope out the engineering marvels of both this station and Zoo interlocking, apparent despite the decrepitude. As to the station’s interior, some deep cleaning and refinishing of woodwork and benches would up the spif aspect.
David: From Wikipedia – In August 2014, a federal law was passed that will change the name of the station to William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in honor of the late congressman.
This station was featured in the movie “Witness” from the mid-1980’s – Kelli McGillis and Harrison Ford starred. Personally I’ve never been there, just on trains passing through. Hope I get a chance to check it out someday.
As I recall that timetable board in the middle of the station was working when I was last there five years ago. Is that the Solari board mentioned in a previous post? Anyway, does anyone know if that iconic board will be renovated or whatever has to be done to get it operating again?
@Al what more recent name?
Magnificent station. Been there many times. Love the statue dedicated to fallen PRR soldiers. Also, a commercial was filmed there with a shot of the now defunct Solari board.
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/72l3/bdo-accountants-and-consultants-allegations
This architectural gem has been thoroughly desecrated by the hanging of huge advertising banners (various banks, Penn State, etc.) from its walls. I guess it illustrates Amtrak’s total lack of artistic sense and taste. And BTW, thanks for having the good taste to call it by its historically correct name, not the other more recent abomination.
This is my favorite major station in the NEC. However, getting downtown by cab during rush hour can be quite the challenge, My hotel is too far to walk with luggage and I don’t take public transportation so I guess I’ll have to schedule my trips differently.