Historic Rittenhouse Square Walking Tour

Rittenhouse Square, established in William Penn’s original plan for the city but developed 200 years later in the 19th century, has long been a gathering place for city dwellers of all ages and interests. Featuring public art sculptures set amid designed spaces by architect Paul Cret, the paths and grassy areas attract artists, photographers, families and vendors. Join education staff from the Association for Public Art and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to learn about the early development of the square and the prominent civic leaders and artists who played a significant role in making Rittenhouse square an iconic public park. This walking tour will then continue several blocks east on Locust Street to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, where guests will have the opportunity to see a number of supporting documents and images that demonstrate the process between artists, organizations like Fairmount Park Art Association (now Association for Public Art) and private citizens. The development of public spaces is never without a story.

Hosted in memory of Philip Price, friend to both HSP and aPA.

This tour begins at the northeast corner of Rittenhouse Square, 1800 Walnut Street, near the Evelyn Memorial Price Memorial Sundial and will conclude at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania,1300 Locust Street. This tour involves standing and walking on fairly even terrain, some stairs, and crowded city sidewalks. Light refreshments will be offered at the end of the tour at HSP.

Speakers’ Bios:

Crishana Manigan is the Learning and Engagement Manager for the Association for Public Art (aPA). She oversees aPA’s public programs, educational offerings, and community engagement initiatives to advance aPA’s commitment to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

Justina Barrett is Director of Education and Programs at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, where she oversees the development and execution of public book talks, courses, k-12 tours and teacher workshops.

Selena Bemak is the Programs and Communications Coordinator for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. She develops history-oriented programming related to HSP’s collections and oversees all institutional communications.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, founded in 1824, is one of the nation’s largest archives of historical documents. We are proud to serve as Philadelphia’s Library of American History, with over 21 million manuscripts, books, and graphic images encompassing centuries of US history. Through educator workshops, research opportunities, public programs, and lectures throughout the year, we strive to make history relevant and exhilarating to all. For more information, visit hsp.org.

The Association for Public Art (aPA) commissions, preserves, interprets, and promotes public art in Philadelphia through exemplary projects, programs, digital media and advocacy efforts that connect people with public art. By engaging diverse audiences, the aPA seeks to respond to the conditions of our time, creating a legacy and maintaining a heritage for future generations, while promoting Philadelphia as a premier city for public art.