Philadelphia - Old City: The Bourse
The Bourse, at 111 South Independence Mall East, was built from 1893-95 by the Hewitt Brothers. Brought to Philadelphia in 1890 by George E. Bartol, a prosperous Philadelphia grain and commodities exporter, the Bourse literally means a place of exchange. It was in the country's first commodities exchange, and the first in the world to house simultaneously a stock exchange, maritime exchange, and grain-trading center.
Bartol based the concept on the great Bourse in Hamburg, Germany. In 1891, The Philadelphia Bourse Corporation was formed, with each member subscribing $1,000 to the project, by an issue of stock and mortgage. The Bourse motto was “buy, sell, ship via Philadelphia”.
The building was one of the first steel-framed buildings to be constructed. Three types of masonry were used on the facade: Carlisle redstone, Pompeian buff brick and terra cotta. Inside were large columns and pilasters leading to a balcony surrounding the main floor. Bow-top girders were used to support a skylight at the third floor.
The original tenants included the American Telephone and Telegraphy, Moore and McCormick Steamships lines, grain dealers and export agents. The Bourse was also home to the Commercial Exchange, the Maritime Exchange, Grocers and Importers Exchange and the Board of Trade.
Quotations from all markets of the world and the latest financial news were received by telegraph. Pneumatic tubes connected the Bourse directly with the United States Post Office. A trading clock signaled the end of every business day.
Kaiserman Company, Inc. purchased The Philadelphia Bourse Building in 1979, renaming it “The Bourse” and adapting it as a retail and office complex. The restoration took three years to complete at a cost of $20 million, twenty times greater than the original construction cost. Today, it is one of Philadelphia’s leading commercial complexes, home to 27 retail and food service stores and more than 35 businesses.
Independence National Historical Park preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution. Administered by the National Park Service, the 45-acre park was authorized in 1948, and established on July 4, 1956.
Independence National Park Historic District National Register #66000675 (1966)
Philadelphia - Old City: The Bourse
The Bourse, at 111 South Independence Mall East, was built from 1893-95 by the Hewitt Brothers. Brought to Philadelphia in 1890 by George E. Bartol, a prosperous Philadelphia grain and commodities exporter, the Bourse literally means a place of exchange. It was in the country's first commodities exchange, and the first in the world to house simultaneously a stock exchange, maritime exchange, and grain-trading center.
Bartol based the concept on the great Bourse in Hamburg, Germany. In 1891, The Philadelphia Bourse Corporation was formed, with each member subscribing $1,000 to the project, by an issue of stock and mortgage. The Bourse motto was “buy, sell, ship via Philadelphia”.
The building was one of the first steel-framed buildings to be constructed. Three types of masonry were used on the facade: Carlisle redstone, Pompeian buff brick and terra cotta. Inside were large columns and pilasters leading to a balcony surrounding the main floor. Bow-top girders were used to support a skylight at the third floor.
The original tenants included the American Telephone and Telegraphy, Moore and McCormick Steamships lines, grain dealers and export agents. The Bourse was also home to the Commercial Exchange, the Maritime Exchange, Grocers and Importers Exchange and the Board of Trade.
Quotations from all markets of the world and the latest financial news were received by telegraph. Pneumatic tubes connected the Bourse directly with the United States Post Office. A trading clock signaled the end of every business day.
Kaiserman Company, Inc. purchased The Philadelphia Bourse Building in 1979, renaming it “The Bourse” and adapting it as a retail and office complex. The restoration took three years to complete at a cost of $20 million, twenty times greater than the original construction cost. Today, it is one of Philadelphia’s leading commercial complexes, home to 27 retail and food service stores and more than 35 businesses.
Independence National Historical Park preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution. Administered by the National Park Service, the 45-acre park was authorized in 1948, and established on July 4, 1956.
Independence National Park Historic District National Register #66000675 (1966)