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| Philadelphia Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park |
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| The Reichstag in downtown Berlin today |
In 1876 - Philadelphia was the site of the Centennial World's Fair. Several large buildings were put up in Fairmount Park on the Schuylkill River to house all the industrial - agricultural - and mining exhibits. The German visitors must have been very impressed. They designed the new capitol in Berlin to look very much like the American hall.
The Memorial Hall has led a gentle life. It has housed a swimming pool and basketball court. It is still in good shape and many passers by wonder what it is.
The Reichstag in 1933 was set afire - some say by Hitler sympathizers. During the turmoil - Hitler arranged an election. Although he did not get a majority - he seized power - and the Third Reich was born. During World War II - the Allies bombed the heck out of the symbolic building. From 1945 to 1990 - the building was an absolute mess - a symbol to a country - divided between East and West.
In 1991 - the two Germany's reunited. They moved the government back into the building. They put a glass dome on the structure. The public can walk up on the roof and peer down on the lawmakers in action. We did it.
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| During the Battle of Berlin - the Reichstag was destroyed. |
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