Logan Square in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

William Penn

1886-1892

— Alexander Milne Calder (1846-1923) —

William Penn Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 2014

1. William Penn Marker

Inscription.
More than 250 sculptures adorn City Hall – all designed by Alexander Milne Calder. Calder made clay models that his studio of artisans translated into bronze or stone. The crowning glory, William Penn, stands more than 36 feet tall and weighs over 53,000 pounds. When installed in 1804 atop the tower, this sculpture of Philadelphia’s founder was the largest and heaviest statue ever cast in bronze.

Facing northeast toward Penn Treaty Park, the figure holds a copy of the charter of Pennsylvania in his left hand. Calder’s son and grandson, Alexander Stirling Calder and Alexander “Sandy” Calder also created major sculptures for Philadelphia.

Erected by Museum Without Walls. (Marker Number 110.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1804.

Location. 39° 57.218′ N, 75° 9.835′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Logan Square. Marker is on John F Kennedy Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Philadelphia PA 19102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Government Of The People (here, next to this marker); "Government of the People." (a few steps from this marker); Public Sector Collective Bargaining

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(within shouting distance of this marker); General George B. McClellan (within shouting distance of this marker); General George McClellan / Major General John Fulton Reynolds (within shouting distance of this marker); Philadelphia (within shouting distance of this marker); Matthias William Baldwin (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Matthias William Baldwin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . . William Penn (1890, cast 1892) by Alexander Milne Calder (1846 - 1923). "Association for Public Art" entry. (Submitted on April 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

"William Penn" as seen from the street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 1, 2014

2. "William Penn" as seen from the street.

"Model for the Statue of William Penn" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 2014

3. "Model for the Statue of William Penn" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Statue of William Penn on the Tower of the new City Hall, Philadelphia image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

4. Statue of William Penn on the Tower of the new City Hall, Philadelphia

from D. H. Montgomery The Beginner's American History, 1891.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 470 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on August 22, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 16, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on December 1, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.