Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors the thousands of soldiers who died during the American Revolutionary War, many of whom were buried in mass graves in the park. Built in 1954, it features an eternal flame and a statue of George Washington.

The plaque upon the tomb of the Unknown Soldier reads: "Beneath this stone rests a soldier of Washington's army who died to give you liberty."

Washington Square was originally called Southeast Square and was one of the original parks created by William Penn in his plan for Philadelphia.

From its very beginning through the Revolutionary War, the square was used as a potter's field, where the poor and unknown were buried.

On the walls of the memorial are inscribed two quotes from Washington's Farewell Address: "Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness"; "The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts of common dangers, suffering and success."

The memorial was designed by architect G. Edwin Brumbaugh.

The memorial was paid for by public donations which also paid for the 1952 redesign of the park.

Location

Washington Square
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
USA

Getting There

Washington Square is located in the heart of Philadelphia and is easily accessible by public transportation. Here are some of the options for getting there:

Subway: The closest subway station is the 5th Street/Independence Hall Station, which is served by the Market-Frankford Line (Blue Line) and the Broad Street Line (Orange Line).

Bus: Several bus routes stop near Washington Square, including Routes 9, 12, 21, 42, and 47. Check the SEPTA website for specific route information and schedules.

Regional Rail: The Jefferson Station is located just a few blocks from Washington Square and is served by several Regional Rail lines, including the Airport Line, Warminster Line, and West Trenton Line.

Bike: Philadelphia has a bike-share program called Indego, which has stations throughout the city, including near Washington Square.
Walk: Washington Square is located in the heart of Philadelphia and is easily walkable from many of the city's other historic sites and attractions.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Pennsylvania that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.