No Building Taller than Billy Penn’s Hat

Did you know….

City Hall was the tallest building in the world from its completion in 1901-1908? It is still the largest municipal building in the US.  Locally, though, respect for this beautiful building and its meaning for the city’s history had a huge impact on the Philadelphia skyline.  Until 1987, by a “gentlemen’s agreement” (a voluntary, but strictly adhered-to rule),  no one built a building in Philadelphia higher than Billy Penn’s hat.  Liberty Place, a two-tower shopping and hotel complex was proposed and, amid much controversy concerning its height, was built that year.  The naysayers suggested that it was bad luck to dishonor the memory of William Penn’s contribution to establishing the city.  Coincidentally (or not???), from that year forward, none of the four major Philadelphia sports teams (Eagle, Phillies, Flyers or 76ers) won a championship until after a replica of Penn was mounted at the top of the Comcast center in 2008. The Phillies won the world series that year.