Washington Square Park

When city founder William Penn envisioned Philadelphia, he saw a busy, orderly and green town.

As a key part of the city’s civic architecture, Penn established five squares, including Washington Square, as public green spaces.

Today, visiting Washington Square means strolling its tree-lined pathways, observing the clone of Philadelphia’s only Moon Tree and stopping to recognize the memorial to Washington and unknown soldiers of the American Revolution.

The History

The park is just a block from Independence Hall and a popular gathering spot for residents and visitors alike.

The green and lively Washington Square attracts those who want a respite from the city action — picnickers, families, sunbathers and history buffs.

In contrast to today’s beautiful park setting, during its early years, Washington Square was claimed as a burial ground and pasture.

By 1815, however, the installation of a public walk and tree-planting program initiated what would become the modern-day scenic Southeast Square — renamed Washington Square in 1825 — with more than 60 species of trees.

The stately buildings surrounding Washington Square later became the site of the country’s oldest publishing house and many well-respected members of the publishing industry, including The Farm Journal — the oldest farm publication in the U.S. — and the W.B. Saunders Publishing Company.