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

Philosophical Hall

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, July 5, 2008

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: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Education • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1743.

Location. 39° 56.93′ N, 75° 8.901′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in William Penn Annex East. It can be reached from Chestnut Street. Marker is on the grounds near 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 432 Chestnut St, Philadelphia PA 19106, 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: Old Custom House (here, next to this marker); Portrait Gallery in the Second Bank of the United States

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(a few steps from this marker); Philadelphia Bank Building (a few steps from this marker); The Signer (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Signer (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Signer (within shouting distance of this marker); The Second Bank of the United States (within shouting distance of this marker); Gilbert Stuart House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. It is to a marker about a lesser-known founder of the Society.

Philosophical Hall Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, July 5, 2008

2. Philosophical Hall Plaque

The
American Philosophical Society
Founded by
Benjamin Franklin
1743
Outgrowth of the Junto 1727 Reorganized 1769
The first learned society in
the British Plantations in America
This Building was erected 1786 - 1789

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,421 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 16, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on July 17, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.

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