Willceau Illo News

12th and Market Streets in Philadelphia, PA

• Construction began in 1891 and was completed in 1893, with the headhouse officially opening as part of the Reading Terminal in 1893.
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  Francis H. Kimball

  Designed by Francis H. Kimball, a prominent New York-based architect known for his work in the Italian Renaissance style.

• The headhouse was built in the Italian Renaissance style, characterized by its use of brick and terracotta on the exterior, with ornate detailing.
• Interior features include marble finishes, molded plasterwork, and cast-iron decorative elements, reflecting the grandeur of late 19th-century railroad architecture.
• Commissioned by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad to serve as the main passenger entrance and administrative hub for the Reading Terminal, a major rail station.
• The headhouse was part of a larger complex that included the train shed (designed by Wilson Brothers & Company) and the Reading Terminal Market, built to replace an earlier open-air market on the site.
• The headhouse, along with the entire Reading Terminal complex, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its architectural and historical importance.