Furness Library
Academic library in Pennsylvania. Added to the National Register in 1972, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Fisher Fine Arts Library was the primary library of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from 1891 to 1962. The red sandstone, brick-and-terra-cotta Venetian Gothic giant, part fortress and part cathedral, was designed by Philadelphia architect Frank Furness (1839–1912).
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 34th St. below Walnut on University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia, PA |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| Listed | May 19, 1972 |
| Listed for | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Furness Library, School of Fine Arts; Henry Charles Lea Librar |
| Reference number | 72001154 |
| Architect | Frank Furness |
| Type of place | academic library, library building |
| Style | Venetian Gothic architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 34th St. below Walnut on University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia, PA |
| Website | library.upenn.edu/finearts ↗ |
| Coordinates | 39.9516° N, 75.1928° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Philadelphia | 632 listed places in Philadelphia → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site · 2 miles · on Park Atlas |
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Furness Library listed on the National Register?
May 19, 1972. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Who designed Furness Library?
Frank Furness, working in the Venetian Gothic architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Furness Library?
Yes. Furness Library is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.
Source: Official website
Where is Furness Library?
34th St. below Walnut on University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The nearest national park unit is Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, 2 miles away.
Where is the nomination form for Furness Library?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Is there cell service at Furness Library?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 72001154. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.