The Spirit of Transportation

A passer-by checks out a large 3-dimensional relief sculpture by Karl Bitter inside the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Photo by Jim Murphy, author of Real Philly History, Real Fast.

A triumphant procession of progress

While waiting to meet a friend from New York City at 30th Street Station in Philly, I wandered around for a bit and discovered this powerful 30-foot relief by Karl Bitter.

Installed there in 1933, the work is seen today only by people on the way to the nearby men’s room, says the Wall Street Journal.

In an earlier life at Philadelphia’s Broad Street Station designed by Frank Furness, it was situated more prominently in the main waiting room

From what I can gather from sources shown below, the work shows youths holding newer (at the time) modes of travel: a paddle steamer, a train and an airship.

Ironically, says the Wall Street Journal, Bitter, “who prophesied and hailed new modes of transportation,” died after being hit by a car after attending a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Too bad.

Some Sources:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/147377

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-prophetic-paean-to-progress-11551462966

https://www.phillyvoice.com/art-30th-street-station-transportation/

https://whyy.org/articles/first-new-sculpture-in-70-years-for-phillys-30th-street-station/