National Register of Historic Places

Franklin Square

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
September 13, 1981
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000556

About this property

Franklin Square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn when he laid out the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1682. It is located in the Center City area, between North 6th and 7th streets, and between Race Street and the Vine Street Expressway (I-676). Penn included this piece of green space in his original city plan as one of five squares, although the park was slow to develop because it was a marshy land. Originally, the park was a place for settlers to meditate and set a virtuous behavior to set a proper example. The park was supposed to be landscaped to have settlers understand the value of nature. In the 1920s, the park was abandoned and the surrounding area became known locally as the tenderloin with an entertainment district featuring taverns and bordellos, and became a place for individuals experiencing homelessness to sleep on the park's benches, resulting in its reputation as Philadelphia's skid row. In 2003, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. renovated the park, restoring the park back to its original plan, as William Penn wanted the park to be used. Historic Philadelphia, a non-profit organization, now manages it. Franklin Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1981.

Location

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95562, -75.15041

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREARTCONSERVATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Boekel Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
St. Augustine's Catholic Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
General Electric Switchgear Plant
Industrial
0.2 mi
Lits Department Store
Industrial
0.2 mi
St. George's Methodist Church
Colonial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
3.7 mi
Battle of Gloucester (NJ) 1777
1777Revolutionary War
4.6 mi
Fort Mercer siege Oct-Nov 1777
1777Revolutionary War
5.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Franklin Square listed on the National Register?

Franklin Square was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1981.

What type of historic resource is Franklin Square?

Franklin Square is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Franklin Square?

The period of significance for Franklin Square is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Franklin Square?

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