Washington Square (Philadelphia)

Washington Square is a public park in Center City Philadelphia and one of the five original squares laid out in William Penn’s 1682 plan for the city. It is a compact historic urban park that serves as a civic and commemorative space.

The square features lawns, tree-lined paths and a central memorial area that honors those buried in the ground during the Revolutionary War and earlier epidemics; visitors often use it as a quiet stop between nearby historic sites. The park is small enough to walk across in a few minutes and is frequently included on routes between Independence National Historical Park attractions.

The square’s use has evolved from colonial-era open ground to a burial and military encampment area during and after the Revolutionary War; it later became a formal public park within the city’s 18th- and 19th-century development. Commemorative monuments and memorial elements were added to mark those historic associations.

Located in Center City Philadelphia, the square sits within a few blocks of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center, making it part of the city’s central historic district.

• William Penn plan: One of the five original public squares laid out in William Penn's 1682 plan for Philadelphia, forming part of the city's historic urban grid.
• Proximity to historic sites: Good viewing and photography opportunities are available from the park perimeter and nearby sidewalks; the square is a short walk from Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center.

What to See #

• Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier: A memorial plaza that contains the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier and associated commemorative elements honoring Revolutionary War dead interred in the square.