INFORMATION SHEET on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, site of the Live 8 Concert (July 2)
and Elton John's Philadelphia Freedom Concert (July 4)

The Setting: Stretching a diagonal mile from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia’s grand, tree-lined boulevard is flanked by some of the city’s most acclaimed institutions. Visitors discover a cultural mecca – world-class museums and educational institutions, the magnificent Swann Memorial Fountain and Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Logan Square, and even the famed Rocky steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The History: Completed in 1926, it was originally known as the Fairmount Parkway, and was designed by Beaux-Arts architects Paul Crét and Jacques Gréber.  In 1937, the name was officially changed to honor the city’s most celebrated adopted son, Benjamin Franklin.

The Fountain “Centerpiece”: The Swann Memorial Fountain was completed in 1924, as the centerpiece of Logan Square and the Parkway. The fountain was named for Dr. Wilson Cary Swann, founder of the Philadelphia Fountain Society, and was designed by sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder. The fountain’s three Native American statues represent the Schuylkill River, the Delaware River, and the Wissahickon Creek.

The Draw: The Parkway serves as a vibrant setting for many major events throughout the year, including the US Pro Cycling race each June, 4th of July fireworks, charity walks, and major parades. Philadelphians and visitors alike visit the Parkway to explore the cultural institutions, run beneath a canopy of international flags, and admire the unique outdoor sculptures and fountains.

The Flags: The colorful tradition of displaying flags of many countries on the Parkway began in 1976 as a part of the U.S. bicentennial celebration.  The flags represent countries with significant populations in Philadelphia, and are hung alphabetically, with a few exceptions.

The Calders: Parkway visitors can admire the work of three generations of the Calder family of sculptors in a one-mile span. Alexander Milne Calder designed some 200 sculptural decorations adorning City Hall, and the bronze statue of William Penn that tops its clock tower. His son, Alexander Stirling Calder designed the Swann Memorial Fountain. The third generation sculptor, Alexander Calder, created the 11 outdoor sculptures installed at 22^nd and the Parkway, as well as the ethereal mobile Ghost, which is suspended in the Great Stair Hall of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The Cultural & Educational Treasures:

• The Academy of Natural Sciences, where you can explore four floors of exhibitions and activities centering on the environment and its diverse species. Stroll among dinosaurs and live butterflies, pet a live snake or hissing cockroach, learn about the importance of water, and much more.  Founded in 1812, The Academy also houses 17 million specimens of plants, animals and other organisms, as well as rare library holdings that document scientific discovery from the 1500's to today. (19^th & the Parkway) www.acnatsci.org
   

• The Franklin Institute, an innovator in designing hands-on exhibits before “interactive” became a buzzword.  In the spirit of inquiry and discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin, the mission of The Franklin Institute is to inspire an understanding of and passion for science and technology learning. New, exciting, interactive exhibits, the Tuttleman IMAX Theater, the Fels Planetarium, and more.  Its eminently touchable attractions explore science in disciplines ranging from sports to space. (20^th & the Parkway) www.fi.edu
   

• The Free Library of Philadelphia (Central Library), the jewel of the citywide library system, offering world-class programs and services to the general public and scholars. The Free Library of Philadelphia is a welcoming and inspiring environment for learning, promoting individual enlightenment, community enrichment and economic vitality throughout the region. (Vine St. between 19^th & 20^th) www.library.phila.gov
   

• Friends Select School, the only pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade independent school and the only Quaker school in Center City Philadelphia.  It provides a challenging, college preparatory academic program and a full complement of athletic, art and community service options. Because Friends Select sits on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the curriculum is greatly enriched by the resources of the city. (17^th & the Parkway) www.friends-select.org
   

• Moore College of Art + Design, the first and only women’s art and design college in the country - and one of two in the world.  Moore nurtures women with special talents in the visual arts and prepares them to flourish in their chosen fields.  In its two large, airy galleries (Paley and Levy Galleries), Moore College has set a standard of excellence in its exhibit program. (20^th & the Parkway) www.moore.edu
   

• The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, founded in 1805, is America's oldest museum and school of fine arts.  The Academy collects and exhibits the work of distinguished American artists, and is renowned for training fine artists.  Notable alumni include Rembrandt Peale, William Harnett, Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, Cecilia Beaux, Henry Tanner, Maxfield Parrish, Robert Henri, John Sloan, Violet Oakley, John Marin, Arthur B. Carles, Charles Sheeler, Charles Demuth, Robert Gwathmey, Edna Andrade, Charles Searles, Jody Pinto, Bo Bartlett, Vincent Desiderio, Sarah McEneaney and filmmaker David Lynch. (note: just off the Parkway, at 118-128 N. Broad Street) www.pafa.org
   

• The Philadelphia Museum of Art, among the largest art museums in the United States, showcasing more than 2,000 years of exceptional human creativity in masterpieces of painting, sculpture, works on paper, decorative arts and architectural settings from Europe, Asia and the Americas.  The striking neoclassical building (opened in 1928) stands on a nine-acre site above the Parkway, and houses more than 200 galleries.  The Museum offers a wide variety of enriching activities, including 15 to 20 special exhibitions each year as well as programs for children and families, lectures, concerts and films.  The Museum has wowed visitors in recent years with special exhibitions of the works of Cézanne, Van Gogh, Degas, Manet, Schiaparelli  and, most recently, Dalí. (26^th St. & the Parkway) www.philamuseum.org
   

• The Rodin Museum, which houses the largest collection of works by sculptor August Rodin outside of Paris.  The collection contains over 120 sculptures, including bronze casts of the French master's greatest works: The Thinker, The Burghers of Calais, Eternal Springtime, Apotheosis of Victor Hugo; and the culminating creation of his career, The Gates of Hell. There is also a fascinating collection of the artist’s drawings, paintings and studies. (22^nd & the Parkway) www.rodinmuseum.org

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Sunoco Welcome America! is Philadelphia’s annual celebration of the Independence Day holiday. The nine-day, family-friendly festival, taking place from June 26 through July 4, 2005, is the largest of its kind in America. The celebration features music, entertainment, international cuisine and the best fireworks in the country. For more information, visit www.americasbirthday.com.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) builds the region’s economy and image through destination marketing to increase the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county region. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676

2005

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