Reading Terminal

Reading Terminal

The Reading Terminal is a complex composed of three parts: the Reading Terminal Headhouse, the Reading Terminal Trainshed, and the Reading Terminal Market. The station opened on January 29, 1893.

At the time it was constructed, the trainshed was one of the largest single-span arched roof structures in the world. It is now the world's oldest such structure, and the only one left in in the United States.

In 1993, the complex was purchased by the city's Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia. After renovations as part of the new Pennsylvania Convention Center, the headhouse became the center's main entrance, while the trainshed became its Grand Hall and ballroom, some meeting rooms and a hallway.

The remaining space on the concourse levels of the headhouse became retail space, anchored by the Hard Rock Cafe. The former Reading Railroad offices on the headhouse's upper floors were converted to meeting and ballroom facilities. It also contains more than 200 rooms for the adjacent Marriott Hotel, to which it is connected by a skywalk and for which it serves as a secondary entrance.

Several films have had scenes shot at the Terminal, including the 1981 Brian De Palma film Blow Out, the 2004 film National Treasure, and the 1995 film Twelve Monkeys. The Reading Terminal Market is where the murder scene took place in Witness, which stared Harrison Ford.

Location

1136 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
USA

Getting There

There are several options for public transportation to get there:

Subway: Take the Market-Frankford Line to the 11th Street Station or the Broad Street Line to the City Hall Station, and walk a few blocks west to 12th and Arch Streets.

Bus: Various bus routes stop near Reading Terminal Market, including routes 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, and 124.

Regional Rail: Take any Regional Rail line to the Market East Station, which is a few blocks east of Reading Terminal Market.

Trolley: Take the 10 or 11 trolley to the 13th and Market Streets stop, and walk a few blocks west to 12th and Arch Streets.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Pennsylvania that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.