Benjamin Franklin Parkway Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
"Plan for the Fairmount Parkway", published in 1917 by Jacques Gréber
Namesake	Benjamin Franklin
Maintained by	City of Philadelphia
Length	1.0 mi (1.6 km)
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
West end	Eakins Oval in Fairmount Park
East end	16th and Arch Streets in Logan Square

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, often called the Parkway, is a famous road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It runs through the city's main cultural area. This mile-long boulevard is named after Benjamin Franklin, one of the important people who helped create the United States. He was very connected to Philadelphia and the American Revolution.

The Parkway cuts diagonally across the checkerboard-like street pattern of downtown Philadelphia. It starts near Philadelphia City Hall, goes around Logan Circle, and ends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

History of the Parkway
- Building a Beautiful Road
- Recent Events on the Parkway
Attractions Along the Parkway
Gallery
See also

History of the Parkway

Building a Beautiful Road

Benjamin Franklin Parkway with the Franklin Institute in the foreground and the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the background

Philadelphia is known for its city planning. The Parkway is one of the first examples in the U.S. of making a city area better. This road was built to help with heavy traffic and to make Philadelphia more beautiful. It was part of a movement called "City Beautiful," which aimed to improve cities with grand designs.

The idea for a big, impressive road came from a store owner named John Wanamaker. Plans for the Parkway were first made around 1906. In 1907, a group called the Fairmount Park Art Association asked architects to design it. Construction finally began in 1917. A French landscape architect named Jacques Gréber created the final design.

Gréber designed the Parkway to look like the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. The road was planned to connect Philadelphia City Hall to the hill where the Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands. Just like the Champs-Élysées ends at the Arc de Triomphe, the Parkway ending at the Art Museum makes it feel like "a piece of Paris in Philadelphia." You can also see flags from many countries along the Parkway.

The large traffic circle at the western end of the Parkway, near the Art Museum steps, is called Eakins Oval. It's named after a Philadelphia painter, Thomas Eakins. This oval shape was changed in the 1960s. Now, parts of it are used as special areas for different events.

Recent Events on the Parkway

The Parkway is a popular spot for big events. On July 2, 2005, the steps of the Art Museum hosted Live 8, a huge concert with bands like Dave Matthews Band and Linkin Park.

In 2012, a new museum for the Barnes Foundation opened on the Parkway. It holds a famous collection of Impressionist art. The Parkway has also been the home of the Made in America Festival several times. This music festival has featured artists like Jay-Z and Pearl Jam.

In September 2015, Pope Francis visited Philadelphia. Over a million people gathered on the Parkway for a special celebration and a Holy Mass.

People have been working to make the Parkway even better for walking and public use. Traffic has decreased since a new highway, Interstate 676, was built. The sidewalks around Logan Circle have been made wider. In 2023, the city released a plan to make the Parkway greener and more friendly for people walking.

Attractions Along the Parkway

The Parkway is often called Philadelphia's Museum District. Many of the city's most famous places are located here. These include the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the Swann Memorial Fountain, and the Parkway Central Library. You can also find the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. From the Parkway's northern end, you can easily reach Fairmount Park and the Schuylkill River Trail.

The Parkway is also like an outdoor sculpture garden. You can see many amazing artworks here. Some famous sculptures include The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, LOVE by Robert Indiana, and the three River figures in the Swann Memorial Fountain by Alexander Stirling Calder. Other sculptures honor important figures like Joan of Arc and Benjamin Franklin. The famous Rocky statue is also located near the Art Museum.