Dates
in Use: 1809
to present
Location: Northeast corner of 9th and Walnut streets
Major Renovations: converted to theatre in 1812, renovations in 1828, 1920, and 1971
Architect(s): John Haviland (1828 facade), William H. Lee (1920), F. Bryan Loving (1971)
Alternate Names: The Olympic Theatre, the Circus, the New Circus
First built as a circus in 1809, the Walnut Street Theater is the oldest American theater still in use today, although it has undergone several major renovations. In its early days, it was covered by an 80-foot dome which was the tallest structure in the city in its day. Its most recent renovation entailed the return of the theatre's facade to John Haviland's 1828 design (as in the above image), but today's auditorium interior is completely modern.