William Penn Annex East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Philosophical Hall

Independence National Historical Park

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 16, 2022

1. Philosophical Hall Marker

Inscription.
Built 1786-89, Philosophical Hall is the home of the American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in America. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, the society pursued "useful knowledge."

One of the society's early members, artist Charles Willson Peale, operated a museum here displaying natural and man-made curiosities, complete with a noisy outdoor menagerie featuring baboons, panthers, bears, elk, and a bald eagle.

The American Philosophical Society still owns and occupies the building.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Colonial Era • Education • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical year for this entry is 1743.

Location. 39° 56.92′ N, 75° 8.975′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in William Penn Annex East. Marker can be reached from Chestnut Street (County Road 3008) just west of South 5th Street (County Road 2003), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 104 S 5th St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. American Philosophical Society (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named American Philosophical Society

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(a few steps from this marker); A Street Scene in the Capital City (within shouting distance of this marker); In This Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Peale’s Mastodon, 2017 (within shouting distance of this marker); Independence Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Old City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); The Signer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

More about this marker. Multiple identical markers stand around the building.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 16, 2022

2. Philosophical Hall Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 65 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.