Did you know that over 45 million people live just a 5-hour drive away from Philadelphia? Also referred to as the City of Brotherly Love, Philly is not only famous for being the capital of the world's most delicious cheesesteaks, but also for its fascinating history.
One of the most integral aspects of Philadelphia is the five iconic parks or “squares” scattered across the city. Each of the five squares in Philadelphia has an intriguing story.
When William Penn created a landmark plan for the five focal points of Philadelphia, he envisioned a utopian "green county town." These spaces served as community parks and meeting points for city block dwellers and today stand proof of Philly's rich History!
Follow along to learn more about the five squares in Phildelphia.
Centre Square is easily referred to as the heart of Philadelphia. When William Penn was putting it to paper, the plan was to make the space a central point for Philadelphia.
Unlike the other four squares intended as green parks, the Centre Square hosted a marketplace, a Quaker meeting house and the state house. William's vision was to make it home for government buildings.
Although that did not unfold as planned, Centre Square, later renamed Penn Square, became the site for City Hall, which has stood there for over 100 years.
This park is located on the northeastern side of Centre Square. It was later renamed to Franklin Square in honor of Benjamin Franklin, a famous scientist known for the kite and key experiment. However, the square's existence has been threatened severally.
In the 19th century, the construction of the Benjamin Franklin bridge rendered it into isolation, and decades later, in the 80s, it faced the risk of demolition for the construction of the I-676. The park was rededicated into a full recreational center filled with family-friendly activities, including Philly Mini Golf, the Parx Liberty Carousel, and several playgrounds.
Northwest Square boasts a lot of character and remarkable sights thanks to impressive architectural buildings. It also features a picturesque boulevard that diagonally paves from LOVE Park and across to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The square was renamed Logan Square in honor of William Penn's colonial secretary, James Logan, who once became the Mayor of Philadelphia. The square is the easiest to catch in Philly, thanks to its conversion into a circle.
French architect Jacques Greber designed the new front. He transformed it to feature boulevards and traffic circles, similar to common sites in places like Paris. It also features an interesting fountain designed to represent the city's major water features; The Delaware River, the Wissahickon Creek, and the Schuylkill River.
The Southwest Square, later renamed Rittenhouse Square, is named after famous astronomer and first director of the U.S. Mint, David Rittenhouse. It is perhaps one of the most luxurious places in Philadelphia. With larger-than-life high-rises, high-class dining options, and very active cultural spots, you will be forgiven to think it was always so.
Previously, Rittenhouse Square was one of the most sparsely populated of the five squares. It was later re-designed by a Frenchman, Paul Phillippe Cret, to include diagonal walkways leading to an oval center. It is also home to the admission-only deluxe Rittenhouse club, Harper's house, and a lush neighborhood of Victorian homes.
The story of Southeast Square depicts a place for the forgotten or troubled. It served as a grazing ground for livestock, and a burial ground for poor soldiers and victims of the yellow fever epidemic, making it quite ghostly.
The square was later renamed Washington Square after President George Washington. It continues to enjoy less bustle and a lot of quiet with large shade trees and surely a lot of history buried underneath its grass. Regardless, the square does not come short of interesting finds, including the Sycamore Moon Tree, whose seeds were once carried to the moon.
Philadelphia's rich history and beautiful public parks make it a great place to live and work.
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