08/19/2026
The other day I was doing some research into the more substantial light fixtures that existed throughout Hotel Pennsylvanias that were part of the building’s original design. One thing that always stood out to me was the massive torchere candelabrum in the main lobby.
With the help of ChatGPT (controversial, I know, but very effective for research), I was able to identify the manufacturer of many, if not all, of the lighting fixtures in the building as Edward F. Caldwell & Co., a prominent NYC-based company specializing in lighting and decorative metalwork. With this new information, I was able to locate a massive digitized collection within the Smithsonian of thousands of photographs and design drawings from this manufacturer. After spending far longer than I’d like to admit, I found high-resolution images of an illustration and photograph of the exact candelabrum used in the lobby. In fact, the picture in the Smithsonian’s collection was taken inside the hotel. There were two styles used, and I was able to find both.
While searching for the candelabrum, I also stumbled upon a few other lighting fixtures I recognized. I found an illustration of the chandelier that was in the Palm Room right off of the lobby, as well as the floral basket chandeliers that hung in the Roof Garden (later the Penn Top Ballroom) on the top floor. I recognized these by accident… Now I need to dive back in, intentionally searching for other fixtures.
This has become a great way to see the vision McKim, Mead and White had for the hotel’s design up close, in stunning detail. The pictures from the Smithsonian collection are attached as well as pictures of the full rooms for context.
