William Penn Annex East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Franklin Square
Franklin Square (7.6 acres) is one of the original five squares laid out by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas Holme in the Plan for the City of Philadelphia in 1682. First designated as Northeast Square, it was renamed Franklin Square in 1825 in honor of Benjamin Franklin, a foremost American public servant, inventor and patron of the arts.
During the American Revolution, Franklin Square served as a burial ground, a horse and cattle market and an ammunition storage site. It has remained as open space public parkland since 1815 as have three of the other original squares—Logan, Rittenhouse and Washington. Center Square at Broad and Market Streets is now the site of Philadelphia's landmark City Hall.
Erected by The Fairmount Park Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1682.
Location. 39° 57.293′ N, 75° 8.992′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in William Penn Annex East. Marker is at the intersection of North 6th Street and Race Street, on the
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Francis Hopkinson (Philadelphia Home) (a few steps from this marker); Ralph Modjeski (within shouting distance of this marker); History of Franklin Square (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Franklin Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Chinatown / Tai Chi (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Historic Burial Grounds (about 300 feet away); Pennsylvania Hall (about 300 feet away); History of the Fountain (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 2, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
