Explore the Parkway    

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway was designed to connect the urban city center of Philadelphia with the greenery of Fairmount Park. There is much to behold on this diagonal mile as some of the city's most notable destinations flank this grand, flag and tree-lined boulevard. Here's a look at some points of interest on or just off the Parkway starting on the eastern end by JFK Plaza.

On the northeast side of City Hall you will find JFK Plaza (also known as LOVE Park), home of the iconic LOVE sculpture designed by Robert Indiana. JFK Plaza is also home to the Fairmount Park Welcome Center and the LOVE gift shop. An underground parking garage is situated beneath the Plaza so this is an ideal place to begin this journey. Don't forget to take a photo!   

Head northeast on the Parkway towards Logan Square. Along the way you will pass some notable sculptures including works by Henry Moore and Alexander Calder. Philadelphia has more outdoor sculpture than any other American city and the collection of public art and sculpture is extensive along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Kelly Drive. A great way to experience this collection is to utilize the free, interactive Museum Without Walls audio tour. Listen to the stories behind 51 outdoor sculptures in three minute audio segments spoken by more than 100 people all with personal connections to the pieces of art. You will gain a new appreciation of these art works that often go unnoticed.   

Logan Square, the midway point of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is one of the five public squares that William Penn planned for Philadelphia. It is in the center of this beautiful, open-space park, that you will find the magnificent Swann Fountain, also known as the Fountain of Three Rivers, designed by Alexander Stirling Calder. The center geyser is designed to shoot more than 50 feet in the air. As you sit here awhile and rest, look around. The impressive sites surrounding Logan Square also reflect different styles of architecture. You will see the Basilica Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in the Roman-Corinthian style; in the French style are the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Municipal Court Building which are facsimiles of twin palaces on the Place de le Concorde in Paris; Greek architecture is reflected in the facade of the Franklin Institute. The Academy of Natural Sciences and the Moore College of Art and Design also border Logan Square.   

You'll want to explore the inside of these buildings too! The Basilica has much to behold with its ornate main altar, eight side chapels, vaulted ceiling, bronze chandeliers, marble shrines and stained glass windows; the Parkway Central Library has over 7 million items including a rare book department which includes special collections of Charles Dickens and Edgar Allen Poe; the Franklin Institute is a world-class science museum with hands-on exhibits including the popular walk-through heart and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial can be found in the rotunda of this Beaux Arts building; wander among dinosaur bones or an indoor tropical butterfly garden at the Academy of Natural Sciences, the oldest natural history museum in America celebrating its' bicentennial this year; and, the Galleries at the Moore College of Art are open to the public and free of charge and feature a diverse range of exhibitions.