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

Swann Memorial Fountain

1924

— Alexander Stirling Calder (1870-1945) —

Swann Memorial Fountain Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 2014

1. Swann Memorial Fountain Marker

Inscription.
In the tradition of “river god” sculpture, three bronze figures of Native Americans symbolize Philadelphia waterways. The man represents the Delaware River. The mature woman is the Schuylkill River, and the young woman is the Wissahickon Creek.

The Philadelphia Fountain Society donated this masterpiece to the City of Philadelphia to honor the society’s founder, Dr. Wilson Cary Swann. Architect Wilson Eyre worked with sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder, whose father had created William Penn and other sculptures at City Hall. Notice the large swans – a pun on Dr. Swann’s name.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 39° 57.476′ N, 75° 10.235′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Logan Square. Marker can be reached from Benjamin Franklin Parkway near Logan Square. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Philadelphia PA 19103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Logan Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Logan Square, Logan Circle / The Heart of the Parkway (within shouting distance of this marker); US Sanitary Commission Great Central Fair (within shouting distance of this marker); Pope John Paul II

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(within shouting distance of this marker); 1914-1918 Tribute Trees (within shouting distance of this marker); Parkway Museums District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Connecting People to Nature (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Parkway Museums District (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . .
1. Swann Memorial Fountain. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Swann Memorial Fountain (1924) by Alexander Stirling Calder (1870 - 1945). "Association for Public Art" entry. (Submitted on April 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Swann Memorial Fountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 2014

2. Swann Memorial Fountain

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 266 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 13, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.