Musical Fund Hall

	Musical Fund Hall
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	Musical Fund Hall in 1976
Location	808Locust Street,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S.
Coordinates	39°56′49″N75°9′18.3″W/ 39.94694°N 75.155083°W
Built	1824
Architect	Multiple
NRHP referenceNo.	71000730
Added to NRHP	March 11, 1971

TheMusical Fund Hallis a landmark building of both architectural and historic significance located at 808Locust StreetinPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania.The hall has hosted many notable speakers and events, including the firstRepublican National Conventionfrom June 17 to 19, 1856.

In 1971, in recognition of the building's historical notability, it was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.

History

Musical Fund Hall in 2024

The building initially housed the First Presbyterian Church; it was converted into the largest musical auditorium inPhiladelphiabyWilliam Stricklandand opened in December 1824.

Noted for its fine acoustics, the Hall was described in a newspaper review of the first concert: "The room is exceedingly neat, and its decoration does honor to the taste of Mr. Strickland, an architect of whom Philadelphia may be justly proud. It is one hundred and six feet long, sixty feet wide, and twenty-six feet high, and is admirably calculated for the conveyance of sound..."^[2]As it continued to serve as the leading concert hall in the city, the building was renovated in 1847 byNapoleon LeBrunand expanded by architectAddison Huttonin 1891.

Internationally notable musical artists, authors, and lecturers have appeared at Musical Fund Hall, including:

1825:Marquis de Lafayette,who aidedGeorge Washingtonand theContinental Armyin theAmerican Revolutionary War,was honored at a reception
1827:Maria Malibran,aSpanishopera singer
1848:Ole Bull,Norwegianviolinist
1842:Charles Dickens,author ofA Tale of Two Cities
1850 and 1851:Jenny Lind,known as "the Swedish Nightingale", andEde Reményi
1852:Henriette SontagandAdelina Patti
1853 and 1856:William Makepeace Thackeray,lectures on the "English Humorists" (1853) and "Charity and Humor" (1856)
1897: poetPaul Laurence Dunbarread selections of his own works

Renowned pianists such asLouis Gottschalk,Kossowski,Sigismond Thalberg,and Wolfsohn also appeared at the Hall.

In 1856, thefirst National Republican Conventionwas held at the Musical Fund Hall.John C. Frémontwas nominated on the second ballot.William L. DaytonofNew Jerseywas the vice-presidential nominee.

With its busy and notable schedule of events, 1856 was the banner year for the Musical Fund Hall. By the end of the year, the 3,000-seat PhiladelphiaAcademy of Musicopened and immediately supplanted the Musical Fund Hall as the premier venue for concerts and lectures in the city. The Musical Fund Society moved its concerts to the Academy of Music in 1868.

After seeing use as (among other things) a bo xing arena and a tobacco warehouse, the Hall was abandoned, then was converted into condominiums. As a result of the conversion, the auditorium no longer exists. The building was removed from the list ofNational Historic Landmarksbut it retains a position on the National Register of Historic Places.

Around 1900, the society was a main proponent in creating thePhiladelphia Orchestra.^[3]In 1982, The Musical Fund Society's document collection including manuscripts of European music as well as music by Pennsylvania composers, went to the library of theUniversity of Pennsylvania.^[4]^[5]