Taking in the view from atop Penn Mutual’s observation tower on the Bicentennial, 1976 | Courtesy of the George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries
The French firm Montparnasse 56 Group plans to open a public observation deck on the 57th floor of One Liberty Place this summer. The news immediately brought to mind the old public observation deck of the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company Tower at Sixth and Walnut Streets. Although the enclosed deck at the top of City Hall’s 548-foot tower is better known today, Penn Mutual’s view overlooking Independence Hall–the most historic square mile in the nation–was a full-fledged Philadelphia attraction in its day that enchanted tourists and city dwellers alike for almost 20 years. I took a field trip to the Penn Mutual deck during the Bicentennial in 1976 while attending Baldi Junior High School in Northeast Philadelphia and it left me with an indelible memory of the enduring grandeur of our city.
Mutually Beneficial
The new Penn Mutual Tower, 1975 | Courtesy of the George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries
Penn Mutual was founded in 1847. Their headquarters shifted around frequently within Old City and Society Hill. The firm eventually settled into a cast-iron structure at the southeast corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets, about ten years before the Civil War. The location was one block from Independence Hall, naturally inspiring Penn Mutual’s corporate slogan: “Behind Your Independence… Stands the Penn Mutual.” The company eventually replaced its HQ with a ten-story structure designed by Edgar Viguers Seeler.
An addition was added to the structure’s east side in the early 1930s. The add-on and the older structure came close to demolition in the 1950s when plans for Independence National Historical Park were beginning to materialize. The park’s designers didn’t fancy Independence Hall being framed against the dark background of these two 20th century buildings, though they managed to survive.
A glass and concrete tower designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Associates completed the Penn Mutual compound in the early 1970s. The 375-foot tower at 510 Walnut Street displayed Guirgola’s fascination with the intersection of glass curtain walls and concrete surfaces and won an American Institute of Architects Honor Award in 1977. The redesign of the building included the preservation of architect John Haviland’s white marble Egyptian Revival façade–the remains of the Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Company Building that once stood at that site. The reconstructed 1836 façade still serves as a stand-alone screen to the newer building’s entrance courtyard today.
Eyes In The Skies
On the 18th floor of Penn Mutual | Courtesy of the George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries
Penn Mutual’s original open-air observation terrace was on the 18th floor of the 1930s structure. The attraction opened in 1963 and was free to the public during the warm months. The outdoor deck was marketed as a good way to explore the city and its historic district, as it offered a superb panorama of Independence Square, Society Hill, Old City, the Delaware River, the Ben Franklin Bridge, and even Camden, New Jersey–almost all of Philadelphia and the surrounding area could be seen. Visitors had access to telescopes that were fixed onto specific landmarks, like Headhouse Market and the steeple of Christ Church. The terrace also featured platforms with maps and recorded messages that interpreted the views.
In June, 1976, a large visitor center opened atop the new Penn Mutual Tower in anticipation of the Bicentennial. The new addition connected with the open-air deck of the 1930s building. Enclosed by tall windows, the visitor center offered 10,000-square-feet of exhibit space. It included two theaters that continuously presented two slide shows: “Penn’s Promise,” which examined the man, his ideas, and how they influenced the nation’s history and “Philadelphia—Contemporary Theater,” which highlighted the city and its unique blend of citizens.
The new exhibit center also had seven walk-through areas that highlighted several topics, including a salute to the Mummers, Philadelphia “firsts,” the city’s colonial and contemporary arts and crafts, and a history of the city’s architecture and urban design. A seven-foot pretzel and a twelve-foot ice cream cone rounded out the center’s attractions.
Two glass-enclosed elevators lifted visitors high above Walnut Street to get to the visitor center and observatory. The elevator ride, as I recall, was especially thrilling and it was quite fascinating to see Independence Hall getting smaller and smaller as we rose higher. The glass elevator ride alone was worth the cost of admission.
Losing Sight
Brochure for Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company’s observation deck | Author’s collection
Penn Mutual closed the doors of the observation deck and visitor center in 1983. The popular local attraction may have lost its appeal following the Bicentennial or Penn Mutual simply needed the exhibit hall for additional office space–the closing was unfortunate, regardless. Thousands of area children took in their first panoramic view of Philadelphia from high atop the Penn Mutual complex, as did visitors from all around the country and world.
Today, little trace of Penn Mutual can be found in the 850,000-square-foot office complex. An arson fire damaged the eighth and ninth floors in 1989, causing the evacuation of some 1,500 Penn Mutual employees and building tenants. The windowless records storage room where the eight-alarm fire began was one-third the size of a football field and contained thousands of insurance files. Firefighters had to jackhammer holes into the tenth story’s concrete floor to send water down into the blaze. Torrents of water cascaded through the complex for two days. More than 120 firefighters suffered eye problems caused by acrid smoke from chemically-treated paper. Philadelphia fire officials regarded it as the most intense high-rise fire they ever fought. Toxic chemicals made the offices uninhabitable for a year and is likely the reason Penn Mutual left Independence Square for good.
Rubenstein Partners recently purchased the three building compound and large-scale renovations are in the works. The old Penn Mutual complex is now called One Washington Square.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
On July 6th, 1976, the City of Philadelphia hosted Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, after an exciting Bicentennial weekend. Like so many tourists at that time, the British royals took a ride up Penn Mutual Tower’s glass elevator to get a bird’s-eye view William Penn’s “City on the Delaware.” Later that day I watched as the Queen presented the Bicentennial Bell to the citizens of the United States as a gift from Great Britain. It is a memory I will always cherish.
The spectacular views that I took in as a child at Penn Mutual still tug at my heartstrings today. I look forward to the opening of the observation deck planned for One Liberty Place and hope that those same citywide vistas will inspire and enchant the next generation of Philadelphians.
We loved the observation deck and the exhibit, too. Frankly I think the Mitchell/Giurgola building was a good thing – a period piece to be sure, but a good example of its time.
I feel that I was robbed of this treat as a child. My parents never took me there. First I have ever heard of the observation deck at Penn Mutual. I want a redo of my childhood.
Great memories…not only of the observation tower (which was awesome) but of the queen’s visit – as a kid I stood at the far end of Penn’s Landing and watched her ship come up the river and then on Chestnut Street as her entourage made its way to Independence Hall.
Our dad had a Penn Mutual policy, homeowners I think?, and he called his agent who always got us free passes. The view was amazing and the light / sound show impressive. The formal gardens of Independence Mall outshine today’s mess of a Mall.
The Penn Mutual Visitors Center was the signature part of my family trips to Philadelphia from northern NJ in the late 70s through the early 80s. I can still remember the music underscore for the “Penn’s Promise” slideshow and I also found how the observation deck helped orient the location of the different museums to me so that after we were done I always had a greater appreciation for where to go to next. When I discovered the Visitors Center was closed in 1983, it dampened my enthusiasm for making trips to the city sadly and I never really went back with the same fervor again.
I live in Virginia now, after moving from New Jersey, to and from New Hampshire.
As a baby my Mother worked at Penn Mutual cleaning the offices. When I graduated from High school I went to work as an office employee and in 1975 became the first woman security guard at Penn Mutual.
The job change to Security guard came about when as a joke I completed a job application for a security guard application an someone sent the application to Guenn Jones in personal! When I was called for an interview I told Miss Jones it was a joke and miss Joan said she would love to hire the first woman security guard !
I was present on the observation deck when Prince Phillip and the Queen stepped off the elevator, and “right out of my school history book”! I was also there for Mayor Ruzzos visit and Peter Graves, the actor, and his wife.
A great career experience.
I was surfing the internet to see if Penn Mutual Life Ins. was still downtown in Phila. I worked there in the 1950’s. (It was my first job.) I still have a special place for the building and now condos are going in. Amazing.
I currently work in this building. The observation floors are no longer open to the public. They are tenant occupied spaces, but since I work for the building I get the priveledge of having this view of Philadelphia on a daily basis. The view from our roof and from the higher floors has to be one of the best in the city. 360 degrees, the view into New Jersey, of the river, and of the bridges is amazing as well. I take pictures almost daily.
I went to the Penn Mutual observation deck in May of 1976 as a 12-year old. There were “Spirit of ’76” signs all over the city. I remember the glass elevator, the wonderful views of Philadelphia and the Mummers costumes they had on display.
When I was 17 years old, I had a “summer job” at Penn Mutual working as a “security” guard. The building itself is a piece of art; but taking the elevator to the(observation Deck) was a trip every American should be able to take. The building sits right behind “Independence Hall”.
Penn Mutual’s slogan was “Back of you Independence stands the Penn Mutual”. From the “Observation Deck” you got a “360”degree view of the entire “Delaware Valley”from (I believe) about “400 ft”. It gave you a panoramic view of Independence Mall, as well.
I feel so bad that The new owners of this building have closed it.
Continuing from the previous comment…
MY father was the “Food Services” manager for the whole building. The 7th and 8th floor were dedicated to “Food” services. The eighth floor was the “Company” Dining room. Every employee was entitled to a “free” sit down lunch in this dining room(which was as nice as some of the most expensive restaurants… Sad how times have changed, in some respects… I believe they shut down the observation deck due to suicide attempts and possibly because of its vulnerability to “terrorists” and “suicides”.
The Observation Deck should be opened again for everyone visiting Philadelphia.
It is a shame that we do not have the courage to preserve an experience that would move the hearts that would experience it.
I know… because it moved me to realize how fragile our independence.
After all…Back of “your” Independence stood the “Penn Mutual”… This was the company’s slogan in its golden days.
One more comment…I pray that (some how), the city would be able to obtain the deck as a historic site..I know it is privately owned, but if some how the city could lease it from the current owners and open it again… I believe it could be an important tourist attraction again. It gives you a “special” view of the Delaware valley…I also realize some other “newer” buildings may have better views, but none display “Independence Mall” (which seems to be getting buried) ant better.
My apologies for grammatical errors in my previous messages. I get emotional thinking about how the experience of working summer jobs at Penn Mutual affected my outlook and my perspective of the origins of our country.
Looking down on Independence Hall for four summers, cemented history lessons in my head. I believe our history (as a country) is something that has been lost to our “self centered” modern Times. Especially around “Philly”…
Maybe… who ever owns this structure now, will realize how important a place it really is in our country’s history… as well as that of the Delaware Valley…and resurrect it as a “Historical” Tourist Site again.
It is truly breathtaking, and worth seeing.
I had two friends that worked there in the 1970’s. Told me first few years the daily free lunches were great but cut way back. Heard that rich company in 1970 would not allow people to join company pension until age 25 due to too many young ladies only working a few years then quit to raise a family.Went up to observation deck back in 1981. Did have great views.
In, 1974 I was entrusted with the assignment to head a team todevelopthe museum atop the Penn Mutual tower. Then board chair Charlie Tyson saw an opportunity for a private sector role and contribution to the Bicentennial. Hobbie Caywood, Independence Park Superintendent, and U of P were helpful to pulling this off. I often think about the collection that was assembled for the museum and what eventually happened to it, including the restored model of THE USS Pennsylvania. BillBrooks
I have heard that Penn Mutualinsured slaves; and that copies of those insurance policies were in the building as recently as twenty years ago. Is any of this true? If so, what happened to the policies? Thank you.