Old City Hall | |
Nrhp Type: | cp |
Nocat: | yes |
Location: | Chestnut Street at 5th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Coordinates: | 39.9478°N -75.1481°W |
Built: | 1790–91[1] |
Architect: | David Evans, Jr.[2] |
Architecture: | Federal |
Added: | October 15, 1966 |
Partof: | Independence National Historical Park |
Partof Refnum: | 66000683 |
Old City Hall, located at Chestnut and 5th Streets in the Independence Hall complex of Independence National Historical Park in Center City Philadelphia, was built in 1790–91 in the Federal style. The architect was David Evans, Jr.
Originally intended as Philadelphia's City Hall, it housed the U.S. Supreme Court from the completion of its construction in 1791 until 1800, when the national capital was moved to Washington, D.C. Three chief justices, John Jay (Jay Court), John Rutledge (Rutledge Court), and Oliver Ellsworth (Ellsworth Court), officiated the Supreme Court from this location.
After the national capital moved to Washington, D.C., the building continued to serve as Philadelphia's City Hall until 1854. It is a contributing property to Independence National Historical Park and is owned by the City of Philadelphia, which leases the building to the National Park Service.[3]