Logan Square
_crop.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Logan Square is a public square in central Philadelphia, first planted in 1823 and later redesigned as a focal point of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The parkway, completed in 1918 to a plan by French planner Jacques Greber, cuts diagonally across the city grid from City Hall toward Fairmount. Today the square has a large central circle ringed by flower beds, with lawns and walkways to the west, north and east. Its institutions include the Franklin Institute, the Free Library and the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. The centre of the circle holds the Swann Fountain, completed in 1924 by Alexander Stirling Calder with Wilson Eyre, with three bronze river figures above stepped basins. Nearby, a bronze Shakespeare Memorial of 1926 by the same collaborators shows Hamlet and Touchstone. The square is valued for its planned design and for these works, which show the collaboration between Calder and Eyre.
Significance in brief: The square's present design is tied to Jacques Greber's Benjamin Franklin Parkway of 1918, which kept Logan Square as a focal point of the grand vista. The Swann Fountain by Alexander Stirling Calder and Wilson Eyre and the Shakespeare Memorial by the same collaborators are cited as important examples of their work. The square also has a history as a burial ground, execution ground and site of the 1864 Sanitary Fair.
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 81000555, listed September 14, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 18th and Race Sts., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | September 14, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000555 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | c. 1918-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Jacques Greber (planner); Alexander Stirling Calder and Wilson Eyre (fountain and sculpture) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Landscape Architecture, Art, Conservation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 12.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.95794, -75.17055 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 81000555.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q11146030
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.