Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Year: 1789

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 George Washington page
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page

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Benjamin Franklin
Francesco Lazzarini, 1789 (original)
* Statue of Benjamin Franklin
* standing person, staff, books
* Replica of Benjamin Franklin
* Pediment. Library Hall. 105 S. 5th St, West side of 5th, South of Chestnut.
* 39.948425,-75.149190 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* See also:
+ushistory.org's The Electric Ben Franklin
+ushistory.org's history of the Library Company

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Benjamin Franklin
Francesco Lazzarini, 1789
* Statue of Benjamin Franklin
* standing person, staff, books,
* Behind dark and very reflective glass.
* The replica in the original location at 5th and Chestnut: Benjamin Franklin
* inscription:
Philadelphia merchant William Bingham commissioned this marble statue to honor Franklin. It was carved in Carrara, Italy and installed in 1792 in a niche above the entrance to the Library Company's first building on Fifth Street South of Chestnut Street. As seen in William Birch's 1800 engraving, above.
Exposure to the elements at its original site and in later years has produced the evident deterioration.
The dedication stone below the statue reads:
This statue of Dr. Benjamin Franklin was presented by William Bingham, Esq. MDCCXCII
* Front window. Library Company of Philadelphia. South side of Locust between 13th and Juniper.
* 39.947975,-75.163065 [map] [nearby]
* On the Gayborhood tour
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+ushistory.org's The Electric Ben Franklin
+librarycompany.org