Delancey Place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a series of nine mostly unconnected side streets in the Rittenhouse area of the city between Seventeenth Street and Twenty-sixth Street. It is known for its visual appeal and historical association with the upper class of Philadelphia society. This is especially true of the 1800 and 2000 blocks, lined with American Civil War–era mansions that have changed little in appearance over the years. There are similar mansions on other streets in the Rittenhouse area, but many have converted to apartment buildings and those streets have become more urbanized. Delancey Place, on the other hand, is not so busy as they are and is considered to be the most prestigious address in Philadelphia. Some notable residents have included General George Meade who defeated Robert E. Lee’s Confederate forces at Gettysburg, the Rosenbach brothers who played a central role in developing the most important collections of rare books in the United States, as well as presidents and CEOs of some of the largest companies in the city and country. The 2000 block of Delancey Place, is the ‘most filmed residential block’ of Philadelphia.
Sidewalk on south side of the 1800 block of Delancey Place
The 2000 block of Delancey Place, with Rosenbach Museum in foreground
Earliest illustration of Delancey Place - view of 2000 block, looking east (Pennell, 1914)
Rittenhouse Square is a neighborhood, including a public park, in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rittenhouse Square often specifically refers to the park, while the neighborhood as a whole is referred to simply as Rittenhouse. The park is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas Holme during the late 17th century.
Rittenhouse Square in October 2010
An early 20th century postcard of Rittenhouse Square looking towards 19th and Walnut streets
Lion with a Snake, a statue by Antoine-Louis Barye erected in 1832
Rittenhouse Square in April 2006