Christ Church Burial Ground - Philadelphia, PA
Posted by: geobwong2k
N 39° 57.148 W 075° 08.877
18S E 487362 N 4422492
The Christ Church Burial Ground where the gravesite of Benjamin Franklin is located.
Waymark Code: WM3C4R
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 03/12/2008
Views: 38
In 1719, Christ Church purchased two acres of land on the outskirts of town at the corner of 5th and Arch Streets. The burial ground became the final resting place for over 4000 members of Christ Church including five signers of the Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Hewes, Francis Hopkinson, George Ross, and Dr. Benjamin Rush. Also buried on these historic and sacred grounds are many of our nations early founders and leaders, prominent lawyers, medical pioneers, military heroes, victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic, and members of the Church from the colonial era up into the last decade.
When Benjamin Franklin died in 1790, he was buried in his family plot in the north west corner of the burial ground along with his wife Deborah and their two children Francis and Sarah. In 1858, Franklin's descendants requested that an opening be placed in the brick wall so the public could see Franklin's grave day or night, and a metal fence was installed. After the opening in the wall it was much easier for Franklin's many fans to show their respect and remembrance of him by tossing a penny onto his grave. "A penny saved is a penny earned."
- From the Christ Church website.
Street address: 5th and Arch Sts. Philadelphia, PA USA
County / Borough / Parish: Philadelphia County
Year listed: 1971
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1700-1749, 1750-1799, 1800-1824, 1825-1849, 1850-1874, 1875-1899
Historic function: Funerary, Recreation And Culture
Current function: Funerary, Recreation And Culture
Hours of operation: From: 10:00 AM To: 4:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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