Washington Square

Neighborhood:Center City

Address:
6th and Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Significance:
Originally named Southeast Square on William Penn's original plan for the city, Washington Square was also known as "Congo Square" in the 18th century for its connection to the city's African Americans. The square included a potter's field, or public burial ground, and blacks gathered here for funerals and celebrations in the section of the burial ground they were permitted to use.

Type of Historic Resource:park, cemetery

Date Built / Architect:1683, 1911; G. Bridgeport, JohnHaviland

Extant: yes

Philadelphia Historic District:Society Hill Historic District (3/10/1999; 600 Walnut St.)

National Register of Historic Places:National Register (9/14/1981)

National Register Historic District:Society Hill National Register Historic District, status unclear

Listed in PHMC Cultural Resources Database:yes

Other surveys, if applicable:HABS (PA-1489)