Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Person: George Washington

Last Resting Place of Benjamin Franklin
* Memorial to and relief bust of (with quotes from) Benjamin Franklin, Honore Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau, Anne Robert Jacques Turgot and George Washington
* small head
* inscription:
The last resting place of Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790
"Venerated for benevolence, admired for talent, esteemed for patriotism, beloved for philanthropy"
-Washington
"The sage whom two worlds claimed as their own."
-Mirabeua
"He tore from the skies the lightning and from tyrants the sceptre"
-Turgot

* Fencepost. South side of Arch, just East of 5th.
* 39.952450,-75.148250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* See also:
+ushistory.org's The Electric Ben Franklin
+wikipedia.org's Mirabeau page
+wikipedia.org's Turgot page




Upper Burial Ground Memorials
* Relief bust of George Washington
* small head, logos of the DAR and US Daughters of 1812
* inscription:
1 (worn away):
The Upper Burial Ground
Sometimes called Ax's Burial Ground was
[Granted] to the Burrough of Germantown in [1724]
by Paul [Wullf]
[Here are] buried many of the early settlers and their descendants
[Here are the] graves of Major Irwin, Captain Turner
[Lieutenant] Lucas and six other American soldiers
killed in the Battle of Germantown
The wall was built in 1777
The Site and Relic Society of Germantown 1902
2:
1724
1776
1843
3 (long list of names omitted):
To Honor
the Revolutionary Soldiers Buried Here
Placed by Germantown Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
1946
4:
In Memory of Soldiers of the War of 1812
Who lie in Upper Germantown Burying Ground
Philadelphia
William Crout, John Paulson
George Knorr, Frederick Sheetz
Jacob K. Knorr, Edward Snyder
Lewis Lehman, Michael Snyder
John Nell, George Streeper
Jeremiah Trout
Placed by Stephen Decatur Chapter
U.S. Daughters of 1812
1945
* Wall. Northeast side of Germantown Avenue, Northwest of Washington Lane.
* 40.043775,-75.181225 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Upper Burial Ground page




Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1788 - 1791
* Statue of George Washington
* standing person, cane
* Copied from the original marble by Houdon in the state capitol at Richmond by special permission of the General Assembly of Virginia. An eternal flame in front of the tomb, and the flags of the 13 original colonies fly along the walk leading up to it.
* inscription:
wall:
Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.
In unmarked graves within this square lie thousands of unknown soldiers of Washington's army who died of wounds and sickness during the revolutionary war.
The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and success.
- Washington's farewell address, Sept. 17, 1796.
statue:
In memory of John Mclheiny
tomb:
Under this stone rests a soldier of Washington's Army who died to give you liberty
plaque:
The eternal flame dedicated in 1976 by Continental Bank in memory of those who fought and gave their lives that we might celebrate our 200th anniversary as a free people.
* Tomb. West side of Washington Square. South of 7th and Walnut.
* 39.947100,-75.152750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+ushistory.org page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Jean-Antoine Houdon page
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page




George Washington
Joseph Alexis Bailly, 1869
* Statue of George Washington
* standing person, book, cane
* behind the Independence Hall security perimeter, but visible across Chestnut. The first two pictures are from a print taken before the perimeter was established.
* In front of Independence Hall. South side of Chestnut between 5th and 6th.
* 39.949050,-75.150000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1913 picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1929 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Joseph Alexis Bailly page
+wikipedia.org's Independence Hall page




Continental Army Encampment Memorial
1895
* In memory of an encampment by George Washington
* rock, cannon barrels
* inscription:
The main Continental Army commanded by Gen. George Washington encamped on this and adjacent ground from Aug. 1 to Aug. 8 and from Sep. 12 to Sep. 14, 1777. Before and immediately after the Battle of the Brandywine.
Erected in 1895 by the Penna. Society of Sons of the Revolution to perpetuate the memory of the encampment.
* South corner, Fox and Queen.
* 40.018450,-75.183115 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Battle of Brandywine page




The Washington Monument
Rudolf Siemering, 1897 (restored 1997)
* Monument to George Washington
* big fountains, groups of people, standing people, sitting and reclining people, alligator, bears, birds, bison and oxen, elk and moose, fish, horses, snake, plants, shells, weapons, drum, net, hats, Pennsylvania State Seal
* West end of Eakins Oval. Parkway at 24th.
* 39.964250,-75.179150 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Favorites
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1910 picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1959 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Rudolf Siemering page
+wikipedia.org's Eakins Oval page




Battle of Germantown Memorial
1903 (approved by legislature)
* quote from George Washington
* stele, battlefield map with troop positions, idea
* inscription:
Washington to the President of Congress
On the whole it may be said the day was unfortunate rather than injurious. We sustained no material loss. The enemy are nothing the better by the event and our troops, who are not the least dispirited by it, have gained what all young troops gain by being in actions.
-From camp near Pennypacker's Mills, 5th October, 1777
Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in commemoration of the Battle of Germantown fought October 4 1777
* East side of Vernon Park. West side of Germantown, South of Price.
* 40.036300,-75.175750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Battle of Germantown page
+ushistory.org's Vernon Park tour page




Washington Grays Monument
John A. Wilson, 1908
* Portrait on soldier's hat of George Washington
* standing person wearing a hat, rifle
* The base was created by Joseph Wilson in 1872
* inscription: To Our Fallen Comrades 1861-1865
* In front of the Union League. Southwest corner, Broad and Sansom.
* 39.950060,-75.164350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, War
* See also:
+Max Buten's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's John A. Wilson page
+unionleague.org




The Birth of a Nation
Henry Kreis, 1943
* Quote from George Washington
* cannon, group of people standing, eagle, idea
* inscription:
front:
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unaliable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
-Declaration of Independence
back:
The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply as finally staked on the experiment intrusted to the hands of the American people.
-First Inaugural of George Washington
A Nation is Formed
* South Terrace Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial. Kelly Drive, past Boat House Row.
* 39.972750,-75.190490 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* See also:
+medallicartcollector.com's Henry Kreis page
+ushistory.org's Samuel Memorial tour page




St. Mary's School Doors
1970
* Partial representations of John Adams, John Carroll, Katherine Drexel, Michael Francis Egan, Robert Harding and George Washington
* small partial people, hats, staff, ship, weapons, crosses
* Visible through the gate. Designed to echo the stained glass doors. The reference to Katherine Drexel is from the school's website.
* North entrance. Saint Mary Interparochial School. South side of Locust, East of 5th.
* 39.946080,-75.149510 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Religious, War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's John Adams page
+wikipedia.org's John Carroll page
+wikipedia.org's Katherine Drexel page
+wikipedia.org's Michael Francis Egan page
+jstor.org article about Robert Harding
+saintmarys.us




The Bond
Jim West, 2017
* Statue of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington
* two people standing, Masonic emblem
* inscription:
Brother George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, first President of the United States, and member of Alexandria Lodge (Fairfax County, Virginia) shows his Masonic Apron to Brother Benjamin Franklin, diplomat who negotiated French involvement in our independence. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Master of the Loge Les Neuf Soeurs, in Paris. It was a gift from Brother General Lafayette, member of the Loge Contrat Social of Paris, who represented the French government and their commitment to American Independence.
* In front of the Masonic Temple. Northeast corner, Broad and JFK.
* 39.953510,-75.163150 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+jimwestsculptor.com
+ushistory.org's The Electric Ben Franklin
+pamasonictemple.org




Washington Crossing the Delaware
Guangxi Qihe Bronze Studio, Emanuel Leutze, Dr. QiongZhao (Ellen) Schicktanz, 2017 (installed)
* Full figure relief of George Washington
* small people, mostly seated, some standing, hats, weapons, flag, boat with oars, clouds, horses
* inscription: (partial)
This bronze sculpture replicates the famous painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze. It depicts Gen. George Washington leading the Continental Army on a dangerous nighttime crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776 to attack Hessian troops stationed at Trenton. His attack was a final, desperate effort to gain a victory after months of defeats had reduced the Army to a small, exhausted, and demoralized force. Washington's success at Trenton reinvigorated the American cause and kept the Revolution alive.
The painting captures the drama, danger, and desperation of the river crossing, even though a number of details are historically inaccurate, such as the type of boat. The artist, Emanuel Luenze, grew up and was trained in Philadelphia, but created the painting in 1850 after he returned to his native Germany. The painting was a sensation when it was displayed in America the following year.
The sculpture is a donation from Dr. QiongZhao (Ellen) Schicktanz, a naturalized Asian-American artist, in gratitude for her life as an American Citizen.
* North wall. Museum of the American Revolution. South side of Chestnut, East of 3rd.
* 39.948495,-75.145650 [map] [nearby]
* On the Old City tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Emanuel Leutze page
+americangoddessartmuseum.com
+amrevmuseum.org




Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza
WRT, 2018
* Quote from George Washington
* ideas, video flame
* A video eternal flame and text comparing the ideals of the United States and Nazi Germany.
* Built around the Monument to the Six Million Jewish Martyrs
* inscription: (partial):
"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigorty no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support."
-George Washington Letter of New Port Hebrew Congregation
August 18, 1790
* Plaza. Between the Parkway and Arch, West of 16th.
* 39.954925,-75.167200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wwikipedia.org's page for the plaza
+wrtdesign.com's page for this piece
+wrtdesign.com


See Also

+wikipedia.org's George Washington page