Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
25 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
25 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
25 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
25 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Pennsylvania Philadelphia Dickens and Little Nell

Dickens and Little Nell

The oldest of only three existing statues of the great novelist stands in a city he did not care for.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Added By
Jordan St. Stier
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The statue in situ in West Philadelphia’s Clark Park.   Smallbones/public domain
The statue in situ in West Philadelphia’s Clark Park.   Smallbones/public domain
Charles Dickens, from the side.   Smallbones/public domain
Little Nell   Smallbones/public domain
  JulsMaya / Atlas Obscura User
Charles Dickens and Little Nell   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Charles Dickens, in his will, stated that he did not want any statues or other representations of himself to be made memorializing him. Nevertheless, there are currently three statues of Dickens in existence, one recently discovered in Sydney, Australia, one recently erected by his hometown of Portsmouth, England, and this one in West Philadelphia.

This last statue, located in Philly's leafy Clark Park, has an interesting history. Created in 1890, it is the oldest of the three Dickens statues and the only one to depict the writer with one of his characters, the beloved Little Nell from his novel The Old Curiosity Shop. Before moving to its present location, the statue won two gold medals at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and crossed the Atlantic twice. The sculptor, Francis Edwin Ewell, eventually sent it to Philadelphia, and it remains there to this day.

The Dickens and Little Nell statue has since become a symbol of the neighborhood. The pair, especially Nell, are featured in many of the area's ventures and Nell and Dickens are frequently crowned with flower wreaths, including on Dickens's birthday each year, when a party is held with readings and dancing.

The most interesting thing about the statue, however, may be the fact that nobody wanted it. Its original sponsor, Stilson Hutchins, the founder of the Washington Post, could not raise sufficient funds. So the sculptor took it to Britain, where it was sourly treated after Dickens had explicitly mentioned in his will that he did not want any memorials.

After all the wasted effort, it was taken back to the United States, and up until 2011 it was the only known statue of the novelist in existence as well as the only public statue of a Dickens character. In fact, Philadelphia has an unusually large amount of Dickens memorabilia—amusing for a city that Dickens hated, cheerfully calling it "dull and out of spirits." Well, the joke is now, perhaps, on him.

Related Tags

Literature Authors Writers Books History Statues

Know Before You Go

Clark Park is officially open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and is free to the public. There should be no trouble getting around, and the park is accessible by the 34, 13, 36, and 11 Trolleys. The statue itself is located on the corner of 43rd and Chester, however, the rest of the park is worth visiting as well, especially the Farmers Market (only on Saturdays) and the Gettysburg Stone.

Community Contributors

Added By

Brady Santoro

Edited By

JulsMaya, blimpcaptain

  • JulsMaya
  • blimpcaptain

Published

April 19, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Dickens and Little Nell
4301 Chester Ave
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
39.948646, -75.209321
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Grave of Thomas Wiltberger Evans

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Newkirk Viaduct Monument

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Places 75
Stories 40

Nearby Places

Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Grave of Thomas Wiltberger Evans

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Newkirk Viaduct Monument

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Places 75
Stories 40

Related Places

  • Maryborough, Australia

    The Story Bank

    A museum dedicated to the legacy of writer P.L. Travers and her most beloved character, Mary Poppins.

  • The house where H.G. Wells lived.

    Sandgate, England

    House of H.G. Wells

    In a small Kentish seaside stands the former home of one of the greatest science-fiction writers.

  • George Orwell’s Grave.

    Sutton Courtenay, England

    George Orwell's Grave

    In a sleepy village in Oxfordshire, the visionary English writer's gravesite attracts a yearly pilgrimage.

  • Consuegra, Spain

    Consuegra Windmills

    This line of 12 tower mills described in the story of Don Quixote is among the most iconic landscapes in Spain.

  • The Orchard House.

    Concord, Massachusetts

    Orchard House

    Louisa May Alcott based “Little Women” on her experiences growing up in this house with her sisters.

  • Historical markers at Willa Cather Memorial Prairie.

    Red Cloud, Nebraska

    Willa Cather Prairie

    Over 600 acres of idyllic open grassland honor Nebraska’s georgic storyteller.

  • Kafū Nagai’s study is preserved in Ichikawa City Hall.

    Ichikawa, Japan

    Kafū Nagai’s Study

    In an unassuming corner of the city hall sits the restored study of a local author.

  • Dostoevsky’s Desk inside his former home, now a museum.

    Semey, Kazakhstan

    Dostoevsky's Desk

    The Russian author's writing desk remains inside the house where he spent part of his Siberian exile.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.