Christ Church Burial Ground
Why it's listed
Christ Church Burial Ground occupies about one acre at the southeast corner of Fifth and Arch Streets in Philadelphia, enclosed by a brick wall. It is the resting place of many prominent figures from the city's colonial and early national past. Among those buried here are Benjamin Franklin and his wife Deborah Franklin, Dr. Philip Syng Physick, and Dr. William Augustus Muhlenberg. Several signers of the Declaration of Independence are interred in the grounds, as are Commodores Truxton and Biddle. The burial ground is owned by Christ Church and is maintained by the congregation. Several of its older gravestones have been refurbished or restored by community organizations. Its importance rests on the concentration of notable graves from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which tie the site closely to the founding generation of the city and nation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the burial ground is significant for the graves of many notable Philadelphians, including Benjamin Franklin, Deborah Franklin, Dr. Philip Syng Physick, Dr. William Augustus Muhlenberg, several signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Commodores Truxton and Biddle. The period of significance is marked as the 18th and 19th centuries.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000062, listed June 24, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5th and Arch Sts., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | June 24, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000062 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Areas of significance | Art, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Well-maintained by Christ Church; several old gravestones have been refurbished or restored by community organizations. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Independence National Historical Park |
| Coordinates | 39.95202, -75.14830 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000062.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5108770
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.