NOTE TO THE VISITORS OF THE PHILADELPHIA MINT.
Reading edition
As there are many places of interest in “Penn’s Favorite City,” the publisher of this work would respectfully suggest that visitors, who have the leisure, should see some of the well-known institutions of “The City of Brotherly Love.” Among the rare places of interest, after the United States Mint, is 1st.—THE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS (in same square), known as the NEW CITY HALL, the Largest and Finest in the World, surpassing even the Capitol at Washington. 2d.—FAIRMOUNT PARK, the largest and most beautiful public pleasure ground in the United States, embracing nearly three thousand acres, on both sides of the Schuylkill River, from Fairmount Water Works to Indian Rock, on the romantic Wissahickon. 3d.—GIRARD COLLEGE, where eleven hundred and fifty Orphan Boys are maintained, clothed and educated through the bountiful munificence of Philadelphia’s great benefactor, Stephen Girard. 4th.—WANAMAKER’S GREAT STORE, East of and almost adjoining the Mint. This immense establishment (the largest of the kind in the World) has grown to such vast proportions during the past decade that we feel compelled to give it a brief notice, as it has become one of the features of our city, and an object of interest to our visitors. The building itself is unique; it occupies an entire square, viz:—from Thirteenth to Juniper and from Market to Chestnut Streets—entrance on each of the four streets. The flooring space occupied in the interior, including first floor, basement and galleries, embraces more than twelve acres, and all this immense space is occupied with such goods as everybody, at some time in life, feels the necessity of purchasing. The general arrangement and classification of goods from all nations (there being over fifty separate and distinct departments), suggests a reproduction of the Main Building of our late great Centennial Exposition, with the Department of Public Comfort added. One of the great features of this Mammoth Bazaar is that visitors are made to feel at home, every provision being made for their convenience. There are commodious Retiring and Reading Rooms on either floor. One’s Satchel and Parcels are checked without cost, and no one is importuned to purchase. Visitors will find it hard to resist the Tempting Offers and Low Prices marked on the goods. 5th.—INDEPENDENCE HALL, (The Nation’s Birth-place) Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets; National Museum, in same building, containing many interesting relics of the Revolution and of Washington’s Camp Life; The Old Liberty Bell hanging in the hallway leading to Independence Square, where the Declaration of Independence was read to the people, July 4th, 1776. 6th.—ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, Broad Street (west side) between Arch and Race Streets, should be visited by all lovers of the Fine Arts. 7th.—The NEW MASONIC TEMPLE, Northeast corner Broad and Filbert Streets. Visiting days every Thursday. 8th.—The NEW POST OFFICE and U. S. COURT BUILDING. This is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the country, and well worthy of a visit; also, the NEW “RECORD” BUILDING, adjoining. 9th.—The BURIAL PLACES OF BENJAMIN and DEBORA FRANKLIN can be seen at South-east corner Fifth and Arch Streets. 10th.—There are other notable places of interest in the City Of “Brotherly Love,” among which may be mentioned CARPENTERS’ HALL, UNION LEAGUE, DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND ASYLUMS, LAUREL HILL CEMETERY, PENNSYLVANIA AND WILL’S HOSPITALS, and the hundred and one other benevolent institutions for which Philadelphia is justly celebrated.
