Rittenhouse Square
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rittenhouse Square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Originally called Southwest Square, Rittenhouse Square is named after David Rittenhouse, a descendant of the first paper-maker in Philadelphia, the German immigrant William Rittenhouse. William Rittenhouse's original paper-mill site is known as Rittenhousetown, located in the rural setting of Fairmount Park along Paper Mill Run. David Rittenhouse was a clockmaker and friend of the American Revolution, as well as a noted astronomer; a lunar crater is named after him.
Today, the tree-filled park is surrounded with trendy shops, fine restaurants, luxury apartments and two hotels, including a five-star. Its green grasses and benches are major lunch-time destinations for workers in Philadelphia's Center City neighborhood, while its lion and goat statues are popular gathering spots for small children and their parents.
The beauty of the Park is due largely to the efforts of Friends of Rittenhouse Square, a public-private partnership with Fairmount Park. [1] Landscaping, lighting, restoration of fountains and fencing -- even the installation and stocking of doggie bag dispensers -- are all projects of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square.
More broadly, the name Rittenhouse Square is used informally to designate the neighborhood surrounding the square itself, at its greatest extent encompassing most of the western half of Center City, from Market Street in the north to South Street in the south, and from Broad Street on the east to the Schuylkill River on the west. This area of the city, particularly the blocks to the south of the square, contain the most expensive real estate in Philadelphia. Though most popular with the affluent 25-35 year old segment, the residents of the area vary widely in age.
[edit] Art and Culture
The Rittenhouse neighborhood is also home to many cultural institutions, including the Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Art Alliance, the Rosenbach Museum & Library, and the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum. The Square is home to many works of public art. Among them is a bas-relief bust of J. William White done by R. Tait McKenzie.
[edit] External links
- Rittenhouse Square Revue, a monthly publication serving the community since September 2006
- the new Rittenhouse Magazine
- Rittenhouse Row website
- Fairmount Park Commission's Rittenhouse Square site
- Philadelphia Buildings, Rittenhouse Square
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps or MapQuest
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Microsoft Virtual Earth, or WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
| Neighborhoods of the Center City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
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Avenue of the Arts - Callowhill - Chinatown - Elfreth's Alley - Fitler Square - Franklintown - Logan Square - Market East - Old City - Museum District - Penn Center - Penn's Landing - Rittenhouse Square - Society Hill - South Street - Washington Square West |
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Center City - North Philadelphia - Northwest Philadelphia - The Northeast - South Philadelphia - Southwest Philadelphia - West Philadelphia |
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