Artwork Details
- Title
- Matthias William Baldwin
- Artist
- Herbert Adams (1858 – 1945)
- Year
- 1905; installed 1906; relocated 1921, 1936
- Medium
- Bronze, on granite base
- Dimensions
- Height 8′, width 2'6", depth 2'6" (base height 10'8″, width 4'10", depth 4'10")
Artwork Description
During Philadelphia’s reign as a mighty manufacturing center, one of its industrial giants was the Baldwin Locomotive Works. A former jewelry maker, Matthias Baldwin designed the first U.S.-made steam locomotive in 1831. Before his death in 1866, his company became one of the largest makers of locomotives in the world.
A philanthropist and civic leader, Baldwin founded a school for African American children and helped launch The Franklin Institute.
This bronze was a gift of his former company through Association for Public Art (then known as Fairmount Park Art Association). Originally installed at Broad and Spring Garden Streets in 1906, it was brought to City Hall plaza in 1921 and placed on this site in 1936.
Artwork Credits
Gift of Burnham, Williams & Company of the Baldwin Locomotive Works to the City of Philadelphia through Association for Public Art (formerly Fairmount Park Art Association)
Owned by the City of Philadelphia
Artwork Media
Museum Without Walls
Voices:
GEORGE E. THOMAS is an architectural and cultural historian. He is a professor of urban studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
JOEL SPIVAK (1939-2025) was an architectural consultant and Philadelphia transit historian. He was the author of Philadelphia Railroads and co-author of Philadelphia Trolleys.
Producer: Kimberly Haas