Logan Circle, Philadelphia

Logan Circle takes its name from James Logan, a mayor of Philadelphia in the 19th Century. The area is also known as Logan Square from one of William Penn’s four green gardens which served as the four corners of Philadelphia.

Today homes sit alongside of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a flag adorned Parisian-styled Boulevard that reminds many of the Champs d’ Elysees. City Hall anchors one end and the Art Museum anchors the other. The Central Library sits equidistance. The new Barnes Museum will be a part of the museums lining the parkway.

In the center of the parkway is an enormous circle with a large water fountain. Traditional has it that graduates of Hallahan High School, a Catholic School for girls, run through the fountain on the last day of school.

The row homes are charming with window boxes of flowers lining the block. Recently, the Schuylkill River walkway has provided recreation space for runners, bikers, dog walkers, and skaters.
Located in close proximity to University City and Center City, it is a pleasant walk or bike ride.

It is home to the Cherry Street Tavern, the first licensed tavern in Philadelphia in 1905. North of the parkway are the Kite & Key and Sabrina’s Cafe both lovely eating establishments.

I can’t count the number of hot summer nights I have gone to Logan Circle, also known as Logan Square, to cool off in the Swan Fountain. And never have I been the only one, people of all ages can be found swimming or just hanging out near it. It’s a popular attraction for residents and tourists alike.

Logan Circle is pretty much a park, though there are areas around that you can live in, they’re mostly high-rise apartments and condominiums. All of these places are of course, expensive but you’re really just paying for the location and the view. They’re not that great otherwise.

Expensive housing aside there are lots of areas of interest in Logan Circle. The Academy of Natural Science and the Franklin Institute, Moore College of Art and Design, and the Free Public Library are within walking distance of each other.

Of course because all of these great places are in one spot the traffic is often ridiculous in this area. And forget about parking, it is impossible most days, unless you want to park in one of the garages that are around. Otherwise you’re better off taking public transportation which will drop you off in a number of spots in the neighborhood.

Logan Circle, also known as Logan Square, is a neighborhood located in the Center City section of Philadelphia. It is bound by the banks of the Schuylkill River to the east, Spring Garden Street to the south, Broad Street to the west and Market Street to the north. The area is named after Logan Square, which is one of five parks that were central to William Penn’s design for the city.
The main draw of Logan Circle is the open-space park that is found at the heart of the neighborhood. The park includes some of the most beautiful and historic fountains found in Philadelphia as well as large pauloenia trees.
Due to Logan Square being an appealing place to live for both families and young professionals, the housing prices in the area are expensive. Logan Circle offers some of the most architecturally beautiful homes in the city including large, historic brick row homes.
It is one of the safer neighborhoods located in Philadelphia and offers a large selection of restaurants, shops and bars. This makes Logan Circle attractive to a younger group of citizens too, including college students. If you like history, Logan Circle is the perfect area for you.