Preservation on the Memorial in Washington Square

The Memorial to the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War

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Location

The memorial is located in Washington Square, between 6th and 7th Streets, just south of Walnut Street.

Project Overview

The project address preservation concerns on the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War, commonly referred to as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Expert conservators will:

• Repair damaged and deteriorated masonry surfaces
• Repoint mortar joints
• Replace failing patches
• Provide a new protective wax coating for the Washington statue

Washington Square is one of five city squares originally set aside by William Penn for public use. In 1981, the National Register of Historic Places listed Washington Square (including the memorial) on its official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. The National Park Service has managed Washington Square since 2005.

The Memorial to the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War was designed by G. Edwin Brumbaugh in the 1950s and is a key feature of Washington Square. The memorial includes a bronze statue of George Washington, a limestone wall featuring epitaphs to the fallen, and a tomb that represents thousands of fallen Revolutionary War soldiers whose bodies were laid to rest in the square.

Project Timeline

The work is set to take place May 12 through May 16, 2025. The project was made possible by funding from the Philadelphia Foundation and with support in managing the funds from Independence Historical Trust.