Old City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Keys To Community

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017

1. Keys To Community Marker

Inscription. Benjamin Franklin 1706 – 1790

Titled: Keys To Community,
by Philadelphia sculptor James Peniston,

Dedicated October 5, 2007
Peniston’s one-ton bronze sculpture is textured with casts of 1,000 keys collected from local schoolchildren. Its alloy contains several brass nameplates representing Philadelphia firefighters fallen in the line of duty since 1736.

It was partially funded by the Fire Department and by more than 1.8 million pennies donated by schoolchildren from 500 area schools.

Keys to the Community replaced the beloved, but deteriorated, 1971 sculpture of Franklin, Penny Franklin, a.k.a.Penny Benny, by sculptor Reginald E. Beauchamp.

Erected 2007 by James Peniston, Philadelphia sculptor.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Patriots & Patriotism. A significant historical year for this entry is 1736.

Location. 39° 57.145′ N, 75° 8.779′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Old City. Marker is on Arch Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 325 Arch St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within walking distance of this marker. History of the Philadelphia Fire Department Mural Project (a few steps from this marker); Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); Philadelphia Conference (within shouting distance of this marker); About the Meeting House / A Master Builder / Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker); Arch Street Friends (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Arch Street Meeting House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017

2. Keys To Community Marker

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017

3. Keys To Community Marker

Ben Franklin Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017

4. Ben Franklin Sculpture

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2017, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 210 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 27, 2017, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.