![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.erlita.com%2Falbums%2Fphiladelphia-corners%2Fcontent%2Fspring-rittenhouse-square%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.erlita.com%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F072%2Ffalling-cherryblossom1%2Flarge.1603175943.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.erlita.com%2Falbums%2Fphiladelphia-corners%2Fcontent%2Fspring-rittenhouse-square%2F" title="Spring @Rittenhouse square"%3ESpring @Rittenhouse square%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhen+William+Penn+founded+Philadelphia+in+1682%2C+he+designed+the+first+planed+city+in+America.+Coming+from+the+crowded+and+disease+ridden+city+of+17th+Century+London%2C+Penn+sought+to+create+a+city+that+was+more+green+and+inviting.++Penn+designed+five+public+squares+into+his+city+plan%2C+one+of+which+was+Rittenhouse+Square.++Originally+called+Southwest+Square%2C+the+square+was+renamed+after+David+Rittenhouse+in+1825.%0ADavid+Rittenhouse+was+a+descendant+of+a+prominent+early+Philadelphian+family+that+had+established+and+operated+Philadelphia%E2%80%99s+first+paper+mill.++Rittenhouse+became+a+renowned+astronomer+and+inventor+who+was+respected+by+the+likes+of+Benjamin+Franklin+and+Thomas+Jefferson.++Rittenhouse+would+frequently+meet+with+Franklin+and+would+become+the+President+of+Franklin%E2%80%99s+American+Philosophical+Society+upon+his++Rittenhouse+was+also+involved+in+early+American+politics%2C+becoming+the+treasurer+of+the+newly+independent+state+of+Pennsylvania+in+1777+and+later+the+first+director+of+the+United+States+Mint.%0A+%0AFor+much+of+Rittenhouse+Square%E2%80%99s+early+history%2C+things+were+very+quiet+in+Rittenhouse+Square.++While+Penn%E2%80%99s+other+city+squares+became+the+centers+of+historic+Philadelphian+neighborhoods+and+were+even+used+as+public+burials+grounds%2C+hardly+anyone+even+lived+near+Rittenhouse+Square.+The+square+was+never+used+as+a+public+burial+ground+and+even+after+Philadelphia+was+over+a+century+old%2C+most+of+the+land+surrounding+the+square+remained+undeveloped.++Finally%2C+by+the+mid-19th+century%2C+the+city+of+Philadelphia+expanded+to+the+point+that+Rittenhouse+Square+was+suddenly+surrounded+by+newly+constructed+buildings.++Rittenhouse+Square+quickly+evolved+into+one+of+the+most+desirable+places+to+live+in+Philadelphia+and+the+square+became+surrounded+by+stately+Victorian+mansions.++%0A%28+theconstitutional.com%29%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Spring @Rittenhouse square
When William Penn founded Philadelphia in 1682, he designed the first planed city in America. Coming from the crowded and disease ridden city of 17th Century London, Penn sought to create a city that was more green and inviting. Penn designed five public squares into his city plan, one of which was Rittenhouse Square. Originally called Southwest Square, the square was renamed after David Rittenhouse in 1825. David Rittenhouse was a descendant of a prominent early Philadelphian family that had established and operated Philadelphia’s first paper mill. Rittenhouse became a renowned astronomer and inventor who was respected by the likes of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Rittenhouse would frequently meet with Franklin and would become the President of Franklin’s American Philosophical Society upon his Rittenhouse was also involved in early American politics, becoming the treasurer of the newly independent state of Pennsylvania in 1777 and later the first director of the United States Mint.
For much of Rittenhouse Square’s early history, things were very quiet in Rittenhouse Square. While Penn’s other city squares became the centers of historic Philadelphian neighborhoods and were even used as public burials grounds, hardly anyone even lived near Rittenhouse Square. The square was never used as a public burial ground and even after Philadelphia was over a century old, most of the land surrounding the square remained undeveloped. Finally, by the mid-19th century, the city of Philadelphia expanded to the point that Rittenhouse Square was suddenly surrounded by newly constructed buildings. Rittenhouse Square quickly evolved into one of the most desirable places to live in Philadelphia and the square became surrounded by stately Victorian mansions. ( theconstitutional.com)