About Frank Furness
Frank Furness (1839-1912) was born in Philadelphia, PA. After completing his apprenticeship in the office of Richard Morris Hunt, he set up his own architectural practice in Philadelphia in 1867.
Influenced by the English Medievalism of Richard Morris Hunt, the writings of John Ruskin and French Classicism, Furness's designs often showed an eclectic blend of these influences. Apart from leaving his marks on the landscape of Philadelphia with such buildings as the Academy of Fine Arts, the University of Pennsylvania Library and the Girard Trust Building, Furness was also known for his designs of some of America's greatest railroad stations.
The largest cluster of Furness-designed railroad buildings still standing are in Wilmington, Delaware and they include:
- Pennsylvania Railroad French Street Station (now Amtrak Station) 1908
- Pennsylvania Building 1905
- Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (West Street Station) ca.1887
Standing at the gateway to Wilmington, these buildings are a part of the city's historical assets and a part of our national heritage to be treasured.
Recently FFRD Helped to establish an exhibit at the Delaware Historical Society entitled Frank Furness and the B&O Railroad. The exhibit is open to the public through the end of February 2013 after which i will become a traveling exhibit to increase education and awareness of Furness' work. You can download a tri-fold brochure about the exhibit HERE. Click on the thumbnails below to see larger photos of the exhibit.
In 2007, Steve Sergi, an intern for FFRD, wrote the below article about Frank Furness for Keystone Magazine.
Click on the image to download a PDF version of the article.
