Between September 2017 and November 2018, all of Philadelphia will be celebrating the centennial of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Since 1917, this grand avenue has connected Philadelphia’s City Hall with the entrance to Fairmount Park, linking the heart of our city to the natural wonders of Pennsylvania.

The Free Library of Philadelphia is honoring our home on this historic boulevard along with our past and current neighbors by featuring photographs, artwork, and memories of the creation and use of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway over the past century. In this exhibition, we explore moments from the history of the Parkway, touching on examples of the art, faith, science, and community that reside together on Philadelphia’s grand corridor of culture.