Welcome Park

TheWelcome Park monument to William Penn doesn’t begin to rival that of Ben Franklin’s Franklin Court [1], but it’s worth a quick stop on your way to get a drink at City Tavern [2], the watering hole of colonial leaders across the street, or to see a movie at the Ritz East next door.

In 1982 the Friends of Independence National Historical Park created Welcome Park for the 300th anniversary of Penn’s founding of Pennsylvania. Named after his ship, The Welcome, the open-air monument was built on the spot where he lived from 1699 to 1701. A dollhouse-sized replica of the home, the Slate Roof House, is part of the display.

Penn’s original plan for Philadelphia [3] is etched in marble on the ground and a miniature version of the statue of Penn above City Hall [4] occupies the center. Along two walls, a timeline of his life and early Philadelphia history is displayed.