Historic Architect Frank Furness Highlighted on Website of Local Group

A newly launched Website - www.FriendsOfFurness.org - celebrates the largest extant cluster of buildings designed by noted 19^th-century architect Frank Furness, and they are located  right here in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, on the Christina Riverfront.    They  include:

•·   The Pennsylvania Railroad French Street Station (now Amtrak Station) 1908

•·   The Pennsylvania Building 1905

•·   Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (West Street Station) ca.1887

The Website site draws attention to the work of the architect who is famous for creating architecturally unique buildings in the Philadelphia area, including stations for three major American railroads:  the Pennsylvania, Reading, and Baltimore & Ohio lines. The Website is promoting this local treasure by providing downloadable lesson plans for teachers and others interested in learning about this local treasure. The site also features a three-minute professionally-produced overview video about the Wilmington Station and Furness.  Furness - pronounced "furnace" - is the only architect to have won the Congressional Medal of Honor. He lived from 1839 to 1912 and won the medal for heroic action under hostile fire during the Civil War.

The Friends of the Furness Railroad District is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization established in 2006 to plan for and celebrate the Wilmington Station's 100^th anniversary in 2008. FFRD continues its support of these historic buildings and draws attention to their local and national importance.