The Benjamin Franklin Parkway lies in the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. This scenic boulevard is lined with historic buildings and sites. Starting at the Philadelphia City Hall, it goes around the Logan circle to end at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Made up of fountains, parks, monuments and statues, there is the Fairmount Park, Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Rodin Museum, Free Library of Philadelphia found here. The Love park with a beautiful fountain and the statue of Copernicus, Henry Moore, Thomas FitzSimons as well as the beautiful Swann fountain are also seen here.
This unusually-designed bridge spans the county line between Delaware and Chester Counties over Crum Creek. The last remaining covered bridge in the Delaware County, what is unique about this bridge is its slanted plank portals. Using the Burr-truss design, this historic bridge was constructed using local wood. Bartram Bridge played a huge role since its construction in serving the agricultural needs of the public by providing them with an efficient solution to cross the many streams that pass through the region. The bridge was closed in 1941 but remains a historical symbol of the late 18th Century.
Offering panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline is the newly constructed Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. Launched in 2014, this concrete architectural wonder snakes across the Schuylkill river, connecting the South Street bridge at one end and the Locust Street river trail at the other. The boardwalk continues to be a favorite among the citizens of Philly, with its imposing 2000-foot (610 meters) length and 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide structure. Flanked by the river on both sides, this bridge is ideal for running, biking and even plain city-gazing. Brightly lit with solar-powered lights come evening, the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk provides a modern contrast to this historically-rich city.
Initially chartered in 1791 to combat the debt the United States had incurred from the war with Great Britain, the First Bank of the United States created uniform currency for the 13 original states. This brainchild of then-Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton was erected in the neo-classical style to echo the democracy of Ancient Greece. However, Congress abandoned the use of a national bank in 1811; legislators of the time felt it made the federal government too centralized by not giving enough power to the states. The space is now a portrait gallery featuring the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. There are many fine portraits here, particularly by Charles Wilson Peale. Other exhibits chronicle early currency and the bank's importance in American history are on display. The bank is also one of the first historic sites to use the bald eagle as a national symbol.
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) can best be described as—a large, square space filled with ideas and beauty. Past shows have included retrospectives of Agnes Martin, Robert Morris, Cindy Sherman, Robert Mapplethorpe, Paul Thek and Peter Campus. There's no permanent collection, so check ahead about the current schedule. From July 1, 2008 ICA has become free to all visitors.
Logan Circle features some of the most exquisite flower beds in Philadelphia. Swann Memorial Fountain is a spectacular feature of this circle. In summer, children play in the fountain while adults take a break on the benches. Northwest Square was one of Penn's original city squares and was once used as a burial ground. The last public execution was held in this square in 1823 and two years later, it was renamed for James Logan. In the 1840s, it became illegal for livestock or wagons to enter this area. Hillocks were eventually leveled and graves were moved to other locations. When the Parkway was built in 1925, the fountain was added and Logan Square became Logan Circle.