Logan Square

Located in the heart of the Museum District of Philadelphia, Logan Square's original purpose was to be used as a burial ground.  In later years, it was used as a pasture for various farm animals and then evolved into a place for public executions.  With the construction of the Benjamin Franklin parkway in 1920, it was turned into a widely used traffic circle (which is why it is also referred to as Logan Circle).

At the very center of the square is an enormous fountain called the Swann Memorial Fountain, built in 1924.  The three statues are there to represent Philly's three main waterway: the Delaware River, the Schuykill River and the Wissahickon Creek.

Today you'll also find various people taking a soak in the fountain to cool off in the summer.  Surrounding the fountain are the Franklin Institute, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Free Library of Philadelphia.