A stroll through the small park will take you down tree-lined walkways and to the park’s main monument, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War, which features an eternal flame. Forming part of Independence National Historical Park, Washington Square is often visited as part of history-focused tours of Philadelphia along with nearby Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, and other sites connected to the Revolutionary War and the founding of the US government. Biking, walking, and Segway tours of the landmark-packed Old City often stop here.
Washington Square also served as a burial site for the victims of the Revolutionary War and the 18th-century yellow fever epidemic, as well as for Philadelphia’s poor. For this reason, it’s often visited as part of ghost tours of the city.
Washington Square Park is in Center City, Philadelphia. If you’re coming by public transit, take the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) train to 8th and Market Street. Washington Square is about a 5-minute walk from there.
Go in summer or early fall when the weather is best for outdoor strolls and picnicking. Though it’s in a busy part of town, Washington Square Park remains relatively peaceful.
Washington Square Park is only a block away from Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed, and just two blocks from the Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence. Many other notable attractions, including the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution, are also within easy walking distance from the park.
