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{{Short description|Public park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{For|the film|Rittenhouse Square (film)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name         = Rittenhouse Square
| nrhp_type    =
| image        = File:Rittenhouse Square - autumn - IMG 6570.JPG
| image_size   =
| caption      = Rittenhouse Square in October 2010
| location     = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| coordinates  = {{coord|39.9495|-75.1719|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin     = Philadelphia#Pennsylvania#USA
| built        = 1683
| architect    = [[Thomas Holme]] and [[Paul Philippe Cret]]
| architecture =
| added        = September 14, 1981
| mpsub        = Four Public Squares of Philadelphia TR
| refnum       = 81000557<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
}}

'''Rittenhouse Square''' is a public park in [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] that is the center of the eponymous '''Rittenhouse''' neighborhood. The square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by [[William Penn]] and his surveyor [[Thomas Holme]] during the late 17th century.

Together with [[Fitler Square]], the Rittenhouse neighborhood and the square comprise the Rittenhouse–Fitler Historic District.

Rittenhouse Square is maintained by the non-profit group The Friends of Rittenhouse Square.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phila.gov/historical/PDF/Rittenhouse_Fitler_Manual.pdf|format=PDF|title=Guide|website=Phila.gov|access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref> The square cuts off 19th Street at [[Walnut Street (Philadelphia)|Walnut Street]] and also at a half-block above Manning Street. Its boundaries are 18th Street to the east, Walnut Street to the north, and Rittenhouse Square West, a north–south boundary street, and Rittenhouse Square South, an east–west boundary street, making the park approximately two short blocks on each side. [[Locust Street]] borders Rittenhouse Square to both its east and west in the middle of the square.

==History==
===19th century===
[[File:Rittenhouse Square, towards 19th and Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA (61947).jpg|thumb|An early 20th century postcard of Rittenhouse Square looking towards 19th and [[Walnut Street (Philadelphia)|Walnut]] streets]]
[[File:Rittenhouse Square - autumn - IMG 6554.JPG|thumb|''[[Lion with a Snake]]'', a statue by [[Antoine-Louis Barye]] erected in 1832]]
[[File:Rittenhouse Square.JPG|thumb|Rittenhouse Square in April 2006]]
Originally called Southwest Square, Rittenhouse Square was renamed in 1825 after [[David Rittenhouse]], a descendant of the first paper-maker in Philadelphia, the [[Germans|German]] immigrant [[William Rittenhouse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://friendsofrittenhouse.org/|title=Friends of Rittenhouse|website=friendsofrittenhouse.org}}</ref> William Rittenhouse's original paper-mill site is known as [[Historic RittenhouseTown|Rittenhousetown]], located in the rural setting of [[Fairmount Park]] along [[Paper Mill Run]]. David Rittenhouse was a clockmaker and friend of the [[American Revolution]], as well as a noted astronomer; a lunar [[Rittenhouse (crater)|crater]] is named after him.

In the early 19th century, as the city grew steadily from the [[Delaware River]] to the [[Schuylkill River]], it became obvious that Rittenhouse Square would become a highly desirable address. [[James Harper (congressman)|James Harper]], a merchant and brick manufacturer who had recently retired from the United States Congress, was the first person to build on the square, buying most of the north frontage, erecting a stately townhouse for himself at 1811 Walnut Street (c. 1840). Having thus set the patrician residential tone that would subsequently define the Square, he divided the rest of the land into generously proportioned building lots and sold them. Sold after the congressman's death, the Harper house became the home of the exclusive [[Rittenhouse Club]], which added the present facade in c. 1901.

From 1876 to 1929, Rittenhouse Square was home to several wealthy families including [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] president [[Alexander Cassatt]], real estate entrepreneur [[William Weightman III]], [[Wanamaker's|department store]] founder [[John Wanamaker]], Philadelphia planning commission director [[Edmund Bacon (architect)|Edmund Bacon]] and his son, actor [[Kevin Bacon]], as well as others.

===20th century===
Elegant churches and clubs were constructed by [[John Notman]] and [[Frank Furness]]. In 1913, French architect [[Paul Philippe Cret]] redesigned parts of the Square to resemble Paris and the French gardens, adding classical entryways and stone additions to railings, pools, and fountains. 

After [[World War II]], Rittenhouse Square's [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] mansions began to be replaced with high-rise residential and office buildings such as Claridge and Savoy. Vacant lots were converted to apartments and hotels. Still, some prominent [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] and [[Art Deco architecture of New York City|Art Deco]] buildings remain,<ref name="merin, jennifer">{{cite news|title=Rittenhouse Square gives Philadelphia style|date=1 June 1986|publisher=Chicago Tribune|agency=Chicago Tribune|last1=Merin|first1=Jennifer|id={{ProQuest|169235714}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=du3ZIZNi-2EC&q=Philadelphia%27s+Rittenhouse+Square|title=Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square|last2=Keels|first2=Thomas H.|date=2008|publisher=Arcadia Pub.|isbn=978-0-7385-5743-4|location=Charleston, SC|pages=7–8|last1=Skaler|first1=Robert Morris}}</ref><ref name="saska">{{cite web|url=http://planphilly.com/articles/2016/05/04/on-rittenhouse-square-perfect-from-then-on|title=On Rittenhouse Square: Perfect from then on|date=May 4, 2016|website=PlanPhilly|language=en|last1=Saska|first1=Jim|access-date=31 March 2017}}</ref> and Rittenhouse Square has changed the least out of the city's initial squares. Journalist and author [[Jane Jacobs]] wrote about two main ideas in Cret's redesign: intricacy and centering.<ref name="saska" />

In the mid-20th century, the park became known as a [[LGBT culture in Philadelphia|safe area for gays and lesbians]] to meet in [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]].<ref name="nickels, thom">{{cite journal|date=September–October 2003|title=Philadelphia Stories|journal=The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide; Boston|volume=10|issue=5|page=25|last1=Nickels|first1=Thom|id={{ProQuest|198663026}}}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
Rittenhouse Square is surrounded by high rise residences, luxury apartments, an office tower, restaurants, and other businesses and residences. Its green grasses and dozens of benches are popular lunch-time destinations for residents and workers in Philadelphia's [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]] [[neighbourhood|neighborhood]], while its lion and goat statues are popular gathering spots for small children and their parents. The park is a popular [[dog walking]] destination for area residents, as was shown in the fictional film ''[[In Her Shoes (film)|In Her Shoes]]''. The Square was discussed in a favorable light by [[Jane Jacobs]] in her seminal work, ''[[The Death and Life of Great American Cities]]''.

The Rittenhouse neighborhood is home to many cultural institutions, including the [[Curtis Institute of Music]], [[Philadelphia Youth Orchestra]], the Ethical Society, the [[Philadelphia Art Alliance]], the [[Rosenbach Museum & Library]], [[Plays & Players]], the Wine School of Philadelphia, and the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum. [[Delancey Place]] is a quiet, historical street lined with Civil War-era mansions and the setting for Hollywood movies, located only two blocks south of the square.

The square is home to many works of public art. Among them is a bas-relief bust of [[J. William White]] done by [[R. Tait McKenzie]]. ''Billy'', the goat was created by Philadelphian Albert Laessle, who also designed the ''Penguins'' statue at the [[Philadelphia Zoo]].

==Education==
Residents are in the Albert M. Greenfield School catchment area for grades [[K–8 school|kindergarten through eight]];<ref>"[https://www.albertmgreenfieldschool.org/ Albert M. Greenfield School]." ''Center City Schools''.</ref> all persons assigned to Greenfield are zoned to [[Benjamin Franklin High School (Philadelphia)|Benjamin Franklin High School]].<ref name=2017admissions>"[http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/3u/OZ/3uOZaCxa60P-JNsu42DbPg/HS-Directory-2017.pdf High School Directory Fall 2017 Admissions]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20161107165127/http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/3u/OZ/3uOZaCxa60P-JNsu42DbPg/HS-Directory-2017.pdf Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. p. 30/70. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.</ref> Previously [[South Philadelphia High School]] was the neighborhood's zoned high school.<ref>"[https://www.albertmgreenfieldschool.org/ Albert M. Greenfield School - Where the Graduates Go]." ''Center City Schools''.</ref>

The [[Curtis Institute of Music]], [[University of the Arts (Philadelphia)|University of the Arts]], and [[Peirce College]] are all in the Rittenhouse neighborhood.

The [[Free Library of Philadelphia]] operates the Philadelphia City Institute on the first floor and lower level of an apartment complex at 1905 [[Locust Street]]; the apartment building is known as 220 West Rittenhouse Square .<ref>"[http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=PCI Philadelphia City Institute]." ''[[Free Library of Philadelphia]]''. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.</ref>

==Transportation==
Rittenhouse Square is accessible via several forms of [[public transport]]ation.

All [[SEPTA Regional Rail]] lines stop at [[Suburban Station]], about six blocks north and east of the Square.

The [[PATCO Speedline]], a rapid transit system connecting Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, has its western terminus at 16th and [[Locust Street|Locust]] Sts., two blocks east of the Square.

The [[SEPTA]] 9, 12, 21, and 42 buses westbound run along Walnut Street. The 17 runs northbound along 20th Street and southbound along 19th Street and Rittenhouse Square West and the 2 runs northbound along 16th Street and southbound along 17th Street.

The [[SEPTA Subway–Surface Trolley Lines]] have a station at 19th and Market Streets, two blocks north of the Square. The [[Walnut–Locust station]] on the [[Broad Street Line|Broad Street Subway]] is four blocks east.

==In popular culture==
==See also==
{{Portal|Philadelphia}}
*[[Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia]]
*[[Delancey Place]]
*[[List of parks in Philadelphia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.rittenhouserow.org Rittenhouse Row website]
*[http://friendsofrittenhouse.org/ Friends of Rittenhouse Square]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070227014214/http://www.fairmountpark.org/RittenhouseSquare.asp Fairmount Park Commission's Rittenhouse Square site]
*[http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ho_display.cfm/791370 Philadelphia Buildings, Rittenhouse Square]
*[http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/greenfield/ Albert M. Greenfield School]
*[[iarchive:rittenhouse-square-documentary-2005|''Rittenhouse Square'' (2005)]] documentary on [[Internet Archive]]
{{Geographic location
| Center = Rittenhouse Square
| North     = [[Logan Square, Philadelphia|Logan Square]]
| Northeast = [[Chinatown, Philadelphia|Chinatown]]
| Northwest = 
| East      = [[Washington Square West, Philadelphia|Washington Square West]]
| Southeast = [[Hawthorne, Philadelphia|Hawthorne]]
| South     = [[Southwest Center City, Philadelphia|Southwest Center City]]
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Fitler Square, Philadelphia|Fitler Square]]
}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{Philadelphia parks}}
{{Center City, Philadelphia}}
{{Philadelphia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia| ]]
[[Category:1682 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1825 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:History of Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Locust Street]]
[[Category:Municipal parks in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Parks in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Squares in the United States]]
[[Category:Walnut Street (Philadelphia)]]

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