Rittenhouse Square Historic District

No, the park is the central public square, while the historic district includes surrounding residences, apartment buildings, hotels, clubs, and institutions. The district's architecture records the area's development into one of Philadelphia's most prominent urban neighborhoods.

The square was one of five public spaces in William Penn and Thomas Holme's plan for Philadelphia. It was later named for David Rittenhouse, the Philadelphia astronomer, instrument maker, and first director of the United States Mint.

The surrounding streets contain late Victorian townhouses, Beaux-Arts apartment buildings, and later high-rise residences. Delancey Place and the blocks immediately around the park are especially useful for seeing the district's residential character on foot.

Yes, its streetscapes and building exteriors can be explored as a self-guided walk centered on Rittenhouse Square and nearby Delancey Street. Most residences are private, so the experience is primarily an outdoor architecture walk.