3. Pennsylvania Railroad Company District Office
200 East Baltimore Street
(1905, Parker & Thomas, architects)

Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Railroad competed throughout the 19th century with the locally owned Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad for control of major rail lines into and out of the city. Although the competing railroads employed the same architects to design their offices following the Great Fire of 1904, the buildings that resulted are strikingly different in scale and style. While the B&O relocated to its state-of-the-art headquarters on Charles Street, the Pennsylvania line stayed on its former site in the heart of the financial and commercial district. In contrast to the 13-story B&O tower, with its monumental entrance sculpture, the Pennsylvania Railroad opted for a restrained brick palazzo resting atop a rusticated concrete base (now obscured by later remodeling). Scrolled corbels, a foliate frieze, bracketed cornice and parapet cartouche with flagpole help maintain the ornamental interest well above pedestrian level, as well as the company's highly traditional corporate image. For more information download the Pennsylvania Railroad Company District Office .PDF file. (288 KB)

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