text: seven walking tours through historic philadelphia

Musical Fund Hall

Returning to 8th and Locust Streets, turn right toward 9th Street. At Locust and Darien Streets is the Musical Fund Hall, 806 Locust Street, designed by William Strickland in a rather severe style. The present facade is a much later one by Addison Hutton grafted onto Napoleon Le Brun's rebuilding on the front in 1847. William Makepeace Thackeray, who referred to the city as "grave, calm, kind old Philadelphia," gave six lectures here on the "English Humorists" in 1853 and a second series on "Charity and Humor" in 1856. Dickens lectured here in 1842. Among the others who performed in this hall were Ole Bull, the Norwegian violinist and Jenny Lind, the "Swedish Nightingale," whom Barnum brought to America. In June, 1856, the first Republican National Convention held its sessions in Musical Fund Hall, nominating the Pathfinder, John C. Fremont, as their candidate. The Hall has been converted into condominiums.



Washington Square and West