Parkway Central Library

Logan Square & Fairmount

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Worth visiting for its splendid architecture, this main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia has free tours at 10am on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and the first Sunday of the month, and at 2pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. From Monday to Saturday there's a tour at 11am of the Rare Book Department, with its collection of works and manuscripts relating to Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe and Americana.

Also based in the library is the Culinary Literacy Center, which offers a wide range of programs for those interested in learning about cooking and nutrition.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Carpenters' Hall, Independence National Historical Park.

    Independence National Historical Park

    1.27 MILES

    This L-shaped Philadelphia park, bound by 6th, 2nd, Walnut and Arch Sts, protects and honors the institutions that formed the foundation of the United…

  • Exterior of the Philadelphia Art Museum entrance at night. 181142415 Square, Clear Sky, Architectural Feature, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Night, Dusk, Travel locations, Sky, Art Museum, Star - Space, Building Exterior, Museum, Famous Place, Architectural Column, Architecture, Philadelphia - Pennsylvania, Outdoors, No People, Photography, Star, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, North America, Greek Culture, Neo-Classical, Column, Built Structure, USA

    Philadelphia Museum of Art

    0.71 MILES

    The premier cultural institution in Philadelphia, this epic art museum would stand out even without Rocky's famous antics on the east steps. Every visitor…

  • The Barnes Foundation Art Museum facade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Barnes Foundation

    0.11 MILES

    Since 2012, Dr Albert C Barnes' eye-popping collection of artworks – predominantly focused on French masterpieces from the late 19th and early 20th…

  • Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 276721013 america, usa, park, blue, travel, landmark, sky, pennsylvania, vintage, carriage, old, hall, philadelphia, building, american, historic, tower, national, united, states, independence, clock

    Independence Hall

    1.33 MILES

    The 'birthplace of American government', this modest, early 18th-century Georgian building is where delegates from the 13 colonies met to approve the…

  • NOVEMBER 18, 2016: customers shopping at the Reading Terminal Market. 1143691526 aisle, america, american, attraction, city, crowd, cuisine, culinary, culture, customers, deli, destination, famous, food, grocery, hall, historic, historical, indoors, inside, landmark, market, marketplace, pa, pennsylvania, people, philadelphia, philly, place, reading, sandwiches, scene, scenery, scenic, shop, sightseeing, snacks, stalls, states, store, street, terminal, tourist, traditional, travel, united, urban, usa, vendor, view

    Reading Terminal Market

    0.76 MILES

    Getting the balance just right between food shopping hub and dining destination, Reading Terminal Market opened way back in 1893 and it's been a…

  • The Egyptian Hall at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Masonic Temple

    0.59 MILES

    Although the fortress-like exterior of this 1873 building is pretty impressive, it's the spectacular interiors – which took a further 15 years to complete…

  • Philadelphia City Hall

    City Hall

    0.62 MILES

    Completed in 1901 following 30 years of construction, City Hall takes up a whole block, and at 548ft is the world's tallest structure without a steel…

  • Museum of the American Revolution

    Museum of the American Revolution

    1.53 MILES

    This impressive, multimedia-rich museum will have you virtually participating in the American Revolution; interactive dioramas and 3-D experiences take…

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Nearby Logan Square & Fairmount attractions

1. Barnes Foundation

0.11 MILES

Since 2012, Dr Albert C Barnes' eye-popping collection of artworks – predominantly focused on French masterpieces from the late 19th and early 20th…

2. Logan Square

0.11 MILES

One of the original squares from William Penn's town plan, this public space (named in honor of James Logan an 18th-century major) is centered on the…

3. Franklin Institute

0.14 MILES

You could easily spend the better part of the day touring this world-class science museum. As well as being the venue for temporary blockbuster science…

4. Academy of Natural Sciences

0.16 MILES

You'll find plenty of kid-pleasing exhibits at the country's oldest natural-history museum, including a hot and humid butterfly room with live specimens,…

6. Rodin Museum

0.24 MILES

This is the only institution outside of Paris dedicated to the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The superb collection is based on works amassed by Jules E…

8. Comcast Center

0.36 MILES

This glass-clad 58-story tower is one of the tallest 'green' buildings in the US. It's 140ft-tall atrium lobby is the location of Humanity in Motion, a…