Philosophical Hall

Just before the federal government returned to Philadelphia from New York City in 1790, three structures were added to the square. The only private building on State House Square (PH12.6) houses the American Philosophical Society. It is another of Benjamin Franklin's creations whose circular entitled “A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge among the British Plantations in America” (1743) suggested that Philadelphia should become “the centre of the society because of its position nearest to the centre of the continent colonies.” The organization was meant to disseminate useful knowledge, from canals to steam engines, and was to have an international membership; some of these are documented in its important collection of portraits. Founding members included the celebrated botanist John Bartram. Pure research, then as well as now, was not especially remunerative, so Franklin had to dig into his own pockets for a second major gift before the society could take advantage of the gift of public land. The resulting austere brick building with plain wood cornices and trim is not unlike a Federal-style house in plan and elevation. Its designer, Samuel Vaughan, was a member and for a time a tenant. Other tenants included Charles Willson Peale and Thomas Sully.