Historically accurate replicas to replace gates to Philly’s City Hall courtyard [photos]

An unsightly part of Philadelphia City Hall is about to be replaced.  

For years, the four entrances to City Hall Courtyard were closed off by cyclone fence gates.  

Public Property Commissioner Bridget Collins-Greenwald said her team dug back into the original blueprints and found architect John McArthur’s 1869 designs for the original gates.

“Dusted off those plans and now we are in the design phase to actually design the gates replicated in McArthur’s drawing,” she said.

Collins-Greenwald said she wants to ensure the new 20-foot high gates can be easily opened and closed.

“We have a metallurgist from the [Philadelphia Museum of Art], and he recommended different metals, so some will be cast aluminum, some will be stainless steel,” she said.

She hopes to install the throwback gates by the end of the year.