Things to do nearWashington Square

Washington Square occupies a storied four-acre block in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood, one of five original public squares William Penn laid out in his 1682 city plan. For much of the eighteenth century the square served as a burial ground, and during the Revolutionary War it absorbed the graves of thousands of Continental soldiers and British prisoners who perished in nearby hospitals and prison ships. That somber history is honored today at the square's centerpiece, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution, dedicated in 1954, where an eternal flame and a bronze Washington figure stand over a vault containing the remains of an unidentified Revolutionary War soldier.

Surrounding the memorial, a formal layout of gravel and brick paths winds beneath a canopy of mature London plane trees whose mottled trunks and spreading crowns give Washington Square a cathedral-like quality in every season. Benches along the paths invite long, unhurried stays, and the central lawn draws readers, picnickers, and chess players on fair-weather afternoons.

The square borders Antique Row on Pine Street, and the bookshops, galleries, and cafes of Society Hill are within easy walking distance, making it a natural anchor for a half-day exploration of historic Philadelphia. Washington Square is worth a visit for anyone who wants to connect with the city's founding-era identity in a setting that remains genuinely tranquil.