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

A Fashionable Promenade

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, July 5, 2008

1. A Fashionable Promenade Marker

Inscription. In the 17th century, when the Square first appeared in the city plan, streams drained into a deep gully in front of you. Then, beginning in 1833, geometric paths invited visitors into a leveled square planted with hundreds of trees.

By 1846, Washington Square, with its seats, lamps and ornamental fence, had dramatically changed from the "offensive nuisance" of the 18th century into "a beautiful and fashionable promenade" where adults strolled and children played marbles.

In 1853, American landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing's Rural Essays praised Washington Square, reporting that it had "more well grown specimens and different species of forest trees than any similar space of ground in America."

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.

Location. 39° 56.842′ N, 75° 9.109′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Washington Square West. Marker can be reached from Walnut and 6th Streets. Marker is on the path from the northeast entrance to the center of Washington Square Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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. The Capital City (here, next to this marker); Sorrow and Joy

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(here, next to this marker); Congregation of the Dead (a few steps from this marker); Linked in Memory (a few steps from this marker); The Society of Little Gardens (a few steps from this marker); Tom Foglietta (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of the Many American Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); Bicentennial Moon Tree (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Other Washington Square markers.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 18, 2022

2. A Fashionable Promenade Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,188 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 9, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on November 20, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.