text: seven walking tours through historic Philadelphia

Samuel Memorial

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The Preacher
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Spirit of Enterprise

Mrs. Samuel, who died in 1913, left a sum of money for this memorial, an impressive collection of statuary expressing different elements of American history.

The South Plaza theme is the initial founding and settling of the nation: Birth of a Nation, The Puritan, the Quaker, the Revolutionary Soldier, Settling of the Seaboard and the Statesman.

The Central Plaza theme is expansion, immigration, and hard work, with Spanning the Continent and Welcoming to Freedom on either end, Spirit of Enterprise in the center, and the Miner, the Ploughman, the Slave, and the Immigrant crouching at the corners of the side entrances.

The North Plaza theme is diversity and achievement of a mature nation, with standing figures of the Laborer, the Poet, the Preacher and the Scientist, and the J. Wallace Kelly relief, Hand and Eye, which shows a hand, an eye, and the tools of an artisan.

Continue north about a quarter mile along the river to see some more statues — this time it's angels playing.



Fairmount Park