Swann Memorial Fountain

Swann Memorial Fountain is a monumental water sculpture in Logan Circle with three bronze figures positioned around a central geyser that shoots water up to 50 feet high. The structure integrates sculpture with water movement, creating a dynamic composition that commands attention from multiple viewpoints around the plaza.

Artist Alexander Stirling Calder and architect Wilson Eyre created this fountain in 1924 as a memorial to Dr. Wilson Cary Swann. The work emerged during an era when monumental public fountains were central features of urban civic design.

The three main figures represent the Delaware River, Schuylkill River, and Wissahickon Creek, grounding regional waterways in the city's public landscape. This choice reflects Philadelphia's connection to its surrounding water systems and their importance to the community's identity.

The fountain sits at the intersection of 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, making it easy to locate and serving as a central landmark in the downtown area. The open plaza around it provides clear viewing angles and photo opportunities from different distances.

Bronze sculptures of frogs and turtles are integrated into the fountain, spraying water toward the main figures and creating layered water patterns. These details give the monument a playful quality that visitors often miss while focusing on the central spray.

Location: Philadelphia

Inception: 1924

Creator: Alexander Stirling Calder

Website: https://associationforpublicart.org/artwork/swann-memorial-fountain

GPS coordinates: 39.95794,-75.17059

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40