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

Giovanni's Room

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

1. Giovanni's Room Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1973, the bookstore served as a refuge and cultural center at the onset of the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil-rights movement. The store provided resources to those working to gain legal rights for LGBT people.

Erected 2011 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1973.

Location. 39° 56.701′ N, 75° 9.677′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Washington Square West. It is at the intersection of South 12th Street and Pine Street on South 12th Street. The marker is on the northeast corner. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Philadelphia PA 19107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Peter Claver Catholic Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Louis I. Kahn Park / How this site became Louis I. Kahn Park (about 300 feet away); Brearley's Garden (about 300 feet away); Benjamin Banneker Institute (about 400 feet away); Elizabeth Morris / Morris Animal Refuge

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(about 500 feet away); Alexander Inn (about 500 feet away); Jacob C. White Jr. (about 600 feet away); Standard Theatre (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Additional keywords. LGBTQ

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

2. Giovanni's Room Marker

Giovanni's Room image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

3. Giovanni's Room

Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,255 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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