If you’re a fan of amazing architecture and historic artwork, the historic Curtis Publishing Building is a great FREE attraction to check out when visiting Philadelphia!
Constructed in 1910, the Curtis Publishing Building served as the home to famous magazines like The Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal until 1969.
The South 6th street lobby of the Curtis Publishing Building is also where the largest Tiffany glass mosaic in the world, known as “The Dream Garden”, was installed in 1916, and where it continues to be displayed to this day.
Visiting the Curtis Publishing Building
The Curtis Publishing Building takes up and entire city block, and is located directly across the street from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Known today simply as “The Curtis”, the building was the headquarters for a publishing empire created by Cyrus Curtis.
The building features a 12 story covered atrium, considered one of the great public spaces in Philadelphia.
A terraced waterfall and twin staircases in the atrium are are just a few of the eye-catching architectural details inside The Curtis.
From the floors to the ceilings and everywhere in between, you’ll see exquisite details inspired by the French Beaux-Arts architectural movement.
Cover art from the Saturday Evening Post decorates several hallways on the ground floor of The Curtis, an homage to the building’s past.
These magazine covers were created by artists like Norman Rockwell during what was considered “America’s Golden Age of Illustration.”
The Dream Garden at the Curtis Publishing Building
Measuring 15 by 49 feet, the Dream Garden was produced by Louis Tiffany and Tiffany Studios between 1914-1915.
This mosaic, designed by Philadelphia-born artist Maxfield Parrish, is composed of 100,000 pieces of iridescent Favrile glass.
The mosaic is located just inside the South 6th Street entrance to the Curtis Publishing Building, the entrance directly across the street from Independence Hall.
There is no fee to view The Dream Garden, which is now owned by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Visitors to Philadelphia who want to check out The Dream Garden and the amazing architecture inside The Curtis can do so Mon-Fri from 8 am – 6 pm and Saturdays from 8 am – 1 pm.
Nearby Attractions
Independence Hall is the birthplace of the United States, where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed.
The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia uses historic artifacts, dioramas, short films, paintings, and other exhibits to tell the story of the Revolutionary War in America.
Christ Church in Philadelphia is famous for its ties to the American Revolution, with many of the Founding Fathers including George Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin attending services there.
Elfreth’s Alley in Philadelphia is the oldest continually-inhabited residential street in the United States!
The Betsy Ross House is one of Philadelphia’s most popular tourist attractions, said to be the site where Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag in late May, 1776.
Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia is America’s most-historic (and some say most-haunted) prison!
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