Rittenhouse Square

Rittenhouse Square is a historic public park in Center City, Philadelphia, serving as the focal point of the eponymous Rittenhouse neighborhood. Originally one of five open-space parks envisioned by William Penn and surveyor Thomas Holme in the late 17th century, it remains a cherished urban oasis.

Together with Fitler Square, Rittenhouse Square, and its surrounding neighborhood, they form the Rittenhouse–Fitler Historic District. The park is maintained by The Friends of Rittenhouse Square, a non-profit organization dedicated to its preservation and upkeep.

The square’s layout interrupts 19th Street at Walnut Street and again just past Manning Street. It is bordered by 18th Street to the east, Walnut Street to the north, Rittenhouse Square West, and Rittenhouse Square South. Locust Street runs along both the eastern and western edges of the park’s midpoint, making it a compact yet significant green space within the city.

Surrounded by high-rise residences, luxury apartments, an office tower, restaurants, and various businesses, Rittenhouse Square is a vibrant gathering place. Its lush green lawns and numerous benches offer a popular lunchtime retreat for locals and workers in Center City. Families with young children often gather around its beloved lion and goat statues, while area residents frequently use the park for dog walking—an aspect highlighted in the film In Her Shoes. Urbanist Jane Jacobs praised the Square in her influential book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

The Rittenhouse neighborhood also boasts a rich cultural scene, home to institutions like the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Ethical Society, the Philadelphia Art Alliance, the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Plays & Players, the Wine School of Philadelphia, and the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum. Just two blocks south, Delancey Place offers a quiet, historic charm with its Civil War-era mansions, often serving as a backdrop for Hollywood films.

Rittenhouse Square is also home to several pieces of public art. Among them is a bas-relief bust of J. William White by R. Tait McKenzie. The bronze goat statue, Billy, was crafted by Philadelphian Albert Laessle, who also created The Penguins at the Philadelphia Zoo.