At A Glance

• John Christian Bullitt drafted the “Bullitt Bill” of 1885, a government-reform measure that became Philadelphia’s City Charter

• He erected the city’s first modern office building

An attorney and civic leader, John Christian Bullitt drafted the “Bullitt Bill” of 1885, a government-reform measure that became Philadelphia’s City Charter two years later. He also erected the city’s first modern office building, which was eventually taken down to make way for Independence National Historical Park.

This bronze was commissioned by the citizens of Philadelphia in 1902. Sculptor John J. Boyle, from an immigrant Irish family of stonecutters, spent most of his career in Philadelphia and New York. His other sculptures include Stone Age in America on Kelly Drive and Benjamin Franklin at the University of Pennsylvania.

Voices heard in the Museum Without Walls: AUDIO program: Mayor Michael Nutter is the former mayor of Philadelphia. He assumed office in 2008 as the 98th mayor of the city. William C. Bullitt is the great-great grandson of John C. Bullitt. He is a partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Philadelphia, the law firm founded by John C. Bullitt. Elizabeth Milroy is Professor and Department Head of Art and Art History at Drexel University. She is a specialist in American art and the history of Philadelphia. | Segment Producer: Rachel James

Museum Without Walls: AUDIO is the Association for Public Art’s award-winning audio program for Philadelphia’s outdoor sculpture. Available for free by phone, mobile app, or online, the program features more than 150 voices from all walks of life – artists, educators, civic leaders, historians, and those with personal connections to the artworks.

This artwork is part of the Around City Hall tour