Penn's Landing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Penn's Landing
Neighborhood of Philadelphia
The neon Penn's Landing sign in May 2024
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Philadelphia
City	Philadelphia
Area code(s)	215, 267, and 445

A tugboat off Penn's Landing in the Delaware River near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in August 2007

Penn's Landing (foreground), the Delaware River, and the USS New Jersey in Camden, New Jersey (background) in February 2009

Penn's Landing is a lively waterfront area in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It sits right along the Delaware River. The name "Penn's Landing" celebrates William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. He landed here in 1682. The actual spot where he landed is a bit further south in Chester.

This area is managed by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. This is a special group that works to improve the public spaces along the waterfront. They started in 2009.

Fun Things to Do at Penn's Landing

Penn's Landing is a popular spot for many events, especially in the summer. The main public area is called The Great Plaza. It's a large space right by the Delaware River.

Explore Historic Ships

You can find several amazing historic ships docked at Penn's Landing.

• The Moshulu is a large sailing ship that is now a floating restaurant.
• The USS Becuna is a World War II submarine.
• The USS Olympia (C-6) is a cruiser from the Spanish–American War. Both the Becuna and Olympia are part of the Independence Seaport Museum.
• You can also see the Gazela, another historic sailing ship, and the Jupiter tugboat. These are cared for by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild.

Take the RiverLink Ferry

The RiverLink Ferry connects Penn's Landing to the Camden Waterfront in Camden, New Jersey. It's a fun way to cross the river.

Skating Fun: RiverRink WinterFest and SummerFest

The Blue Cross RiverRink is a cool outdoor spot at Penn's Landing.

• In the winter, it becomes an ice skating rink. It hosts the Blue Cross RiverRink WinterFest. This event has winter decorations, fire pits, and outdoor food.
• In the summer, the ice rink changes into a roller skating rink. It's called SummerFest.

Relax at Spruce Street Harbor Park

Spruce Street Harbor Park is one of the most popular attractions at Penn's Landing. It has a boardwalk along the Delaware River. You can relax in chairs, at tables, or even in hammocks. The park is open only during the warmer months of the year.

Important Monuments and Memorials

Penn's Landing is home to several important statues and memorials. They honor different groups and events.

• The Irish Memorial tells the story of the Great Famine and Irish people moving to the U.S. It was dedicated in 2003.
• The Monument to Scottish Immigrants was dedicated in 2011. It honors the contributions of Scottish immigrants to the United States.
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1987.
• The Korean War Memorial was first dedicated in 2002.
• The Christopher Columbus Memorial is an obelisk. It was dedicated in 1992 to mark 500 years since Columbus arrived in the Americas.

Old Carpenter's Wharf History

Samuel Carpenter's Store, House and Wharf, c. 1718

In 1683, a man named Samuel Carpenter bought a large piece of land here. On the side facing the Delaware River, he built a wharf. This was the very first wharf in Philadelphia. It was known as "Carpenter's Wharf." It was big enough for ships weighing 500 tons or more. Over time, it grew and was updated. Today, this historic spot would be under Interstate-95, near Penn's Landing.