Rittenhouse square has a long and noteworthy history and design. Once upon a time Rittenhouse Square was known as Southwest Square, but in 1825 it was renamed after David Rittenhouse, who was an astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, and the first director of the U.S. Mint. Rittenhouse square is located between Walnut and Pine Streets, from 15th Street to 24th Street, in the southwest quadrant of downtown Philadelphia, or as commonly referred to—the city of brotherly love. The design for this square was originally devised by William Penn, who formed Philadelphia and was the governor of Pennsylvania and his surveyor Thomas Holme in 1682. Although the plans had been completed for this square it was not until the year 1816 that any manner of design had been implemented. This turned out to be a fence around the square, which was paid for by the local residents in a loan to the city for the production of this fence.
Rittenhouse square has a compelling physical presence that includes—the main walkways that are diagonal, beginning at the corners and meeting at a central oval; here the central plaza possesses a rectangular reflecting pool symmetrically opposite a large planter bed, with a centralized, little, glass pavilion anchoring the space. The plaza is surrounded by a circular path and a balustrade that interconnects with the diagonal pathways. At the entrances and around the square are classical Greek urns on low pedestals showing personages of ancient Greeks, along with other unique sculptures that have been implemented throughout the years. Flower beds, shrubs, and various diverse varieties of tress including sycamore, horse chestnuts, maples, elms, and oaks are also found throughout the square; this added a splatter of color and con...
... middle of paper ...
...g to give a place for recreation, for the betterment of human welfare and how this was accomplished, just like many of the lessons we have gone covered in this course. Rittenhouse square was intended to be used for recreational purposes and that is the exact thing it is used for, whether it be a family picnicking in the park, a business man escaping from work for a quick lunch on a nearby bench, or just a general visit to look at the wonders this square holds and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This is one place I do not believe needs any improvements, the local people have done so much to make this a great place throughout the years. This square has even been referenced as the “perfect urban neighborhood because of its excellent balance of residential and commercial uses, beautiful nature and flora, and diverse architectural styles” by Jane Jacobs.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, several factors contributed to the growth and expansion of cities in the United States. The 1850s saw a fantastic peak in the immigration of Europeans to America, and they quickly flocked to cities where they could form communities and hopefully find work1. The rushing industrialization of the entire country also helped to rapidly convert America from a primarily agrarian nation to an urban society.
The emerald jewel of Brooklyn, Prospect Park is often called the borough’s backyard and has been a serene and idyllic retreat for Brooklynites for well over a century now. In fact, the park recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with great fanfare, attesting its historic importance and role it’s played in city life for generations. Few people, however, know the true history of the park, such as its connection to Central Park and the role it played in the development of Brooklyn real estate in the late 19th century. To that end, here’s a quick look at the hidden history of Prospect Park and the key role it’s played in the city’s history over the years.
In the essay, “Boston and New York in the Eighteenth Century” by author Pauline Maier describes the duties and personalities to the American colonial cities and what made New York and Boston so exclusive and distinctive from one another by the point of the eighteenth century. Maier comes to an end of the cities that are being observed and concentrated functions of the Boston and New York were the local capitals and important to the cultural centers of newspapers and pamphlets being advertised, deliberated, and delivered. In the seventeenth century, the Boston merchants had encountered with their colony’s Puritan leaders to separate Massachusetts from the Old World contamination to verify the demands of commerce. New York and Boston have their differences not only in the people or legislation, but the feelings and character that surrounded culture. They did a request of the characteristics of how they establish and continue over the time also their effects in the American history.
Opening to the first page, George Washington is quoted, “perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.” setting the stage for David McCullough’s book, “1776”, a historical narrative that avoided academic debates. His thesis being a tight narrative focused around the Continental Army and their leader George Washington. McCullough continued his popular writing techniques of character building by tracing the roads, reading the books, and seeing the houses of his key characters as they would have in their lifetimes. These techniques can be seen in his many list of books such as: “Path between the Seas”, “Truman”, and “John Adams”. His books have been written in ten languages and are all still in print today. I feel that McCullough’s book “1776” was an adequate companion piece, not only because of its popularity or author, but because of its quality references and resources.
The Sons of Liberty was a group of men fighting for their independence. They were fighting before the continental congress or the beginning of the Revolutionary War. They were called out as being disobedient. They were believed to be political radicals at the time; doing what they felt was right for their town and their colonies. The Sons of Liberty were everyday men that expanded from New England all the way down the thirteen colonies. However, the high activity political gang started to appear with aggressiveness in Boston, Massachusetts. This paper will demonstrate the origins of the Sons of Liberty in Boston, their manifest, leading actions, and development within their first year.
Throughout the semester I have grown accustomed to my surroundings. Well, at least for the most part. There is still one building that intrigues me to this very day. As I’d walk past it on my journey to Baruch College, I’d stare the entire time. The building seems like a simple rectangular building. However, some aspect of the architectural design captivates me. Strangely enough, army trucks are always parked alongside the building. However, upon attempting to research the building, I could not find it. I was too intimidated to venture in and inquire for the name. None of the bystanders I asked knew the name of the building, nor cared to.
William Penn founded Pennsylvania. King Charles II of England had a large loan with Penn's father, after whose death, King Charles settled by granting Penn a large area west and south of New Jersey on March 4, 1681. Penn called the area Sylvania, Latin for ...
Because of the amount of overdeveloped areas that are now vacant, the desire to renovate old vacant properties and land plots has all but disappeared. What if there was a beneficial solution to unused land plots in need of rehab and redesign? What if, instead of paving over every leftover inch of grass and dirt in urban areas to make room for more parking for our daily commuting polluters, we instead reinvent that land for a purpose that is both beneficial to our
The Wells Fargo building was built in 1928 located on the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As indicated on the Information sheet provided by our instructor, the Wells Fargo building was originally built as the Fidelity- Philadelphia Trust Company building, created by the architectural firm of Simon and Simon. For example, the Information sheet also states that, commerce represents a male figure with Mercury’s staff, creation is female figure with sword and scales. The building is embellished with twenty-four panels representing civilization and commerce. In addition, the Wells Fargo building has allegorical figures carved in limestone and bronze doors for three entrances.
The rezoning of 125th street has been a topic of controversy and has yet to be approved. The Department of City Planning believes rezoning of 125th street will bring positive economic changes. I personally believe that these changes would negatively affect the residents and business owners of Harlem. According to the New York City’s Planning Commission, the rezoning will bring new business and housing. Residents and business owners disagree because they believe this plays a bigger role in promoting further “gentrification.” I believe that Harlem should be able to keep its cultural heritage while still promoting and modifying economic growth.
In the downtown area of Madison, Indiana, sits an extraordinary structure that seems to capture attention from all walks of life. The Broadway Fountain was created by a French artist named J.P. Victor Andre. Andre obviously knew what he was doing when he was asked to construct this fountain because of the impressive composition it has and with its mesmerizing size. “Some have suggested that Andre’s neo-classical design was inspired by the famous fountain in Place-de-la-Concord in Paris, or by a fountain exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851” (Wright).
William Penn, an English entrepreneur, had an unforeseen impact on the history of the United States of America. In the late 1600’s and early 1700’s, Penn was already a champion for democracy, religious freedom, and anti-slavery movements. Through his good relations both the nobility of England, and the Indians of Pennsylvania, Penn was able to secure an entire state for many years to come. Credited with establishing the city of Philadelphia, name after his ideal of ‘brotherly love’, William Penn left a lasting impression on the United States of America. He was one of the first to propose a unification of the American English colonies into one State. Though he is not often remembered today, Penn is often honored as a man ahead of his time. French philosopher Voltaire credited many times, saying:
The first images of the garden are seen through the exaggerated imagination of a young child. “” are as “ as flowers on Mars,” and cockscombs “ the deep red fringe of theater curtains.” Fr...
In 1681, just one year before William Penn founded Philadelphia, Betsy Ross's Great-grandfather Andrew Griscom, a carpenter by trade, emigrated from England. He settled in the Philadelphia area and became an early member of Penn's "holy experiment." As it was in those days, his trade of carpentry was passed down to his son and then to his grandson, Samuel, Betsy Ross's father. Both of whom have their names inscribed on a wall at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, home of the oldest trade organization in the country, and there is evidence that Samuel helped build the bell tower at the Pennsylvania State House better known as Independence Hall.
There is no better feeling in this world than to be outdoors with nature, especially when there are numerous activities to dabble in. Often times people take for granted the sentimental value that they can experience by simply walking through a park. God created the Earth to be beautiful and peaceful, and people need to keep it that way. I have always shared a love of the outdoors with my dad and my brother. We have gone on numerous camping, hiking, fishing, and star-gazing trips ever since I can remember. It was no surprise to me when my dad decided to buy a lake house on Hyco Lake, right outside of Roxboro. We got a really good deal on the house, so my dad decided that Hyco Lake was the perfect spot.