Riverfront in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Frank Furness Railroad District

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016

1. Frank Furness Railroad District Marker

Inscription. The B&O Water Street Station (1888), the Pennsylvania Railroad Office Building (1905), and the Wilmington Train Station (1907), comprise a unique campus of railroad architecture by renowned Philadelphia architect Frank Furness (1839-1912). Frequently commissioned by the nation’s leading railroads, Furness left his creative mark at stations large and small throughout the Northeast, though few survive. Over his half-century career, which was interrupted by service in the Civil War, Furness developed a distinctively American style in which architectural elements were manipulated in proportion and scale in order to dramatize a building’s function and character. Oversize arches, muscular moldings, and bold projecting elements distinguish his works, which were further enlivened by his idiosyncratic ornament that combined organic and geometric motifs. His Wilmington commissions included the former Security Trust and Safe Deposit Co. (1885) at the corner of Sixth and Market Streets, and the B&O Delaware Avenue Passenger Station (1886), demolished in 1960.

Erected 2007 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-175.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included

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in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 39° 44.198′ N, 75° 33.092′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Riverfront. Marker is at the intersection of French Street and Rosa Parks Drive, on the right when traveling south on French Street. It's near the NW corner of that intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Railroad Boom (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilmington Station (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Great Railroad Boom (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas Garrett (about 400 feet away); The Big Quarterly (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 29, 2021

2. Frank Furness Railroad District Marker

At left, under tree

B & O Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016

3. B & O Station

Pennsylvania Railroad Office Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016

4. Pennsylvania Railroad Office Building

Wilmington Train Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016

5. Wilmington Train Station

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 29, 2021

6. Wilmington Train Station

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 938 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on February 4, 2019, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on January 9, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 30, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 9, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 6. submitted on October 30, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.