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Academy of Music

It would be quite a tale if the walls of this old theater, nicknamed "the Grand Old Lady of Locust Street," could talk. Built in 1857, the Academy of Music is the oldest grand opera house in the United States, and today is just as active as it ever was putting on performances throughout the year. Ever since the first performance of Verdi's opera, Il trovatore, was performed in 1857, the theater has regularly displayed some of best talent from around the world. The Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Philly Pops with Peter Nero all use the building to put on productions of dramatic opera and concert performances. Today the building is owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, who since the 1950s has worked on restored the Federalist architecture and opulent interior decorations with art deco lamps and velvet cushions. One of the crowning pieces to the interior is a huge crystal chandelier that is 50 feet in circumference, 16 feet in diameter, and 5,000 pounds in weight. For the first fifty years or so, there were 240 gas burners that illuminated the hall until it was electrified in 1900. The Academy of Music truly is a jewel of Philadelphia and American opera and orchestral music. More »

Academy of Natural Sciences

Come find over 30 Mesozoic dinosaurs roaming the halls of the Academy of Natural Sciences among the 17,000,000 specimens collected since the museum was first created in 1812. The dinosaur exhibit here only accounts for a small fraction of things you can see here, including over 35 dioramas showing what habitats look like from around the globe, and even a live animal exhibit. In the early nineteenth century, Philadelphia was a mecca of culture and innovation for the new nation that still huddled on the east coast. Recognizing the need to study the chaos of the natural world for "useful learning," the museum opened to serve two purposes--to educate Philadelphia's youth, and also to catalog the creatures and species of wild America. The Academy of Natural Sciences was the first natural sciences institution built in the western hemisphere, and was officially opened in 1828 to the general public. Over the years the museum has adapted to include educational programs as well as an incredible number of varies exhibits focusing on a specific topic. More »

African American Museum in Philadelphia

This museum is dedicated to showcasing the intellectual culture of African Americans throughout the generations. It opened during the nation's bicentennial in 1976, and since then it has gathered more than half a million artifacts including woodcarvings, photographs, folk art, documents, and other items. Permanent and rotating exhibits highlight poignant moments in African-American history in such areas as civil rights, medicine, politics, sports, and others. More »

All Wars Memorial To Colored Soldiers and Sailors

Located in the heart of Logan Square is a tribute to all the men that served in American wars during the American Revolution and Civil War to the less popularly known Indian Wars, Spanish American War, Phillipine Insurrection, and finally to the insurmountable World Wars of the twentieth century. The All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors is as symbolic as it is remarkable, featuring a "torch of life" guarded by four eagles. On the front of the memorial you find six soldiers and sailors standing at the side of the figure of 'Justice,' representing 'honor and reward.' The memorial was designed in 1934 by Swiss sculptor, J. Otto Schweizer, however the memorial was opened in a remote location in Fairmount Park where it didn't receive nearly the attention it deserved. In 1994, the memorial was move to a prominent space in Logan Park where it is a permanent fixture of Central Philadelphia. More »

American Helicopter Museum

To see the nation's premiere collection of helicopters you only need to travel to West Chester to check out the American Helicopter Museum. With over 35 military and civilian helicopters, you'll get a up close look at the various number of helicopters used for different purposes in both civilian and military professions. It is fitting that the museum is located in this area outside of the city as two of the major helicopter manufacturers really 'took off' from their base in the Philadelphia suburbs. There are a whole range of helicopters here that display a particular piece of helicopter aviation history from the 1928 Pitcairn autogiro, to the Bell TH-IL Huey, the workhorse of Calvary for the Vietnam War, and finally the sub-hunting Sikorsky S-61 / HH-3 Sea King, known for its long-range rescues and speed records. See if you can land a trip on a helicopter ride to get the most out of your visit. The museum also has an extensive library with documents, artifacts, films, memoirs and research to learn about these impressive flying machines. More »

American Swedish Historical Museum

Situated in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in South Philadelphia, the American Swedish Historical Museum serves as a resource center and introspective into Swedish life in America. Designed after a combination of both George Washington's famous home at Mount Vernon and a seventeenth century Swedish mansion, the building was erected to provide a permanent base for Swedish Americans. The museum was designed by Swedish-American architect John Nyden in 1926, and the museum was honored with the presence of Sweden's Crown Prince, who would later become King Gustav VI Adolf, who placed the museum's cornerstone. Currently the building is the oldest Swedish Museum in the United States and is an active center for enrichment and research. The museum has 12 permanent galleries and one changing exhibition gallery that focus on Swedish-American cultural ties, and a library that is equipped with Genline, a digitized web application of church records and other important documents used in tracing family history. More »

Arch Street Friends Meeting House

The Quakers do not have formal "churches" in which they attend. Instead they have meeting houses, and the meeting house on Arch Street (which is also sometimes referred to as a Friends Meeting House) is the oldest Friends Meeting House still in use, dating back to 1804, as well as the largest meeting house in the world. The simple square building typical of a Quaker meeting house with simple earth-tone colors and wooden pews surrounding the central point in the room. Quakers do not have any spiritual leader, and instead allow members of the congregation to move to the center and share a prayer or thought inspired by an "inner-Christ." The building is largely the same as it was during the early nineteenth century including a 1811 enlargement via a wing used for women meetings and gatherings. Today you can learn more about the history and faith of the Quaker religion at the Arch Street Friends Meeting House, where the history is conveyed through a number of Quaker artifacts and stories about Philadelphia's connection with its Quaker residents. More »

Arch Street United Methodist Church

The architecture lining Broad Street up to City Hall is a little overwhelming puzzle of Gothic, French Renaissance Revival, and Norman architectures. The Arch Street United Methodist Church is located on the edge of this puzzle representing the Gothic character to the street with its massive north spire, pitched roof, and narrow Gothic windows, the church is visually as impressive as the neighboring Masonic Grand Lodge and City Hall buildings. The church was the first of the three buildings to lay claim to Broad Street, being built in two stages-- the Chapel in 1865 and the Sanctuary in 1870. As the first large project of his career, architect Addison Hutton designed the building with its white Italianate marble facade. At the time of its completion, the building was only the second Gothic style Methodist Church built to date. On of the prominent features inside the church is the enormous Standbridge, the last of its namesake's creations. While being architecturally impressive, the Arch Street United Methodist Church also has a prominent legacy involved with helping the community through a series of outreach programs and ministries. More »

Athenæum of Philadelphia (The)

The Athenæum was created in 1814 with the ideal purpose of collecting items that are "connected with the history and antiquities of America, and the useful arts, and generally to disseminate useful knowledge." Since then, the Athenæum has been a point where researchers and academics can gather to peruse through the extensive collection of material on architecture and this history of interior design, which is unsurpassed to any other library. In 1845, the Athenæum found its permanent home, an Italianate Revival Style building designed by prominent Philadelphia architect, John Notman. While the exterior of the building is fairly simple and plain, the interior includes spacious reading rooms and is decorated with fine American furniture of the early nineteenth century. The building is also noted to be one of the first brownstone buildings built in Philadelphia. In 1977 the Athenæum was formally introduced as a National Historic Landmark. More »

Atwater Kent Museum

Before the museum here got its namesake for the radio mogul, A. Atwater Kent, it was the longtime home of the Franklin Institute. Founded in 1823 by Samuel Vaughn Merrick, the institute was designated to be a school for engineering (originally called 'mechanics') and quickly became one of the leading facilities for research and study of science and industry. The building was designed by famed architect John Haviland, who built a building inspired by the Greek-Revival style. It was opened three years later in 1826, where it would serve as the institute's home for the next 109 years. Two years after the Franklin Institute moved into its new home in 1933, the 1935 City Planning Commission considered demolishing the vacant building to be used for parking spaces, but that idea was soon dropped in favor of plan that would incorporate the building as part of Philadelphia's civic service as a history museum. The former Mayor S. Davis Wilson and Frances Wistar, president of the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks, approached radio innovator, A. Atwater Kent to invest in transforming the building into Philadelphia's newest history museum about the city. Today the museum continues that purpose with exhibits and artifacts that take a deeper look at the city. More »

Awbury Arboretum

In the historic East Germantown area of Philadelphia is 55 acres of beautiful scenery designated as a local arboretum and gardens to be enjoyed by the general public, as they explore the spoils of the natural world. A Quaker merchant by the name of Henry Cope built his Victorian summer home here in 1852, and extended members of the Cope family eventually moved in between the 1960s and 1920s. Awbury was named after the village in England called Avebury, where the family immigrated from. In 1916, the land was officially declared an arboretum, preserving the unique landscape of the area for prosperity. Today the headquarters of the Awbury Arboretum Association are held in the majestic looking Francis Cope house. The arboretum is a great way to expose inner-city kids to nature through the number of programs and nature walks provided to the public. The Awbury Arboretum is a great way to learn about the environment and get in touch with Philadelphia's wild side. More »

Barnes Foundation

Born in a Philadelphia neighborhood in 1872, Albert C. Barnes would later go on to become a doctor and individual engrossed in the pursuit of learning and education. Taking the success he garnered as a medical innovator and businessman, Barnes turned his interest to the arts and set up an endowment to back his newly created Barnes Foundation in 1922. Soon after he and his wife purchased a 12 acre arboretum from a Civil War veteran and horticulturist, Joseph Lapsley Wilson, in nearby Merion, PA. The Barnes Foundation contains some of the world's best works of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings found anywhere. With famous works by artists such as Renoir, Picasso, Matisse, and Cézanne, there are plenty of different styles and influences that reflect the different movements in Impressionism. Also found at the Barnes Foundation is a large collection of African art, which Barnes held in high regard as opposed to his critics of the time. In 1929, Barnes sold his company to focus on the foundation full-time until his death. The Barnes Foundation is a tremendous legacy to a man who hoped to share the joy of fine art for all in his native Philadelphia home. More »

Bartram's Garden

In 1728, John Bartram bought a 102-acre farm near Philadelphia where he subsequently came across a daisy while plowing his field. Struck by its simplicity, the curious Bartram took pause to examine it, and thus the nation's first botanist, naturalist, and explorer was born. Today only 45 acres of the original site remains, but it is filled with various plants and flowers creating a spectacular landscape of nature and beauty. Largely uneducated, John Bartram took to observation and discussions with others to study his new found love. He and his son took to the open road and worked on collecting and cataloging the various number of native plants from Florida all the way to Ohio. By the time Bartram and his son came back to the farm in the 1830s, they had cataloged and cultivated 200 of native plants found during their exploration. In 1765, Bartram's work took notice abroad when King George III honored him as a Royal Botanist. Continuing the work of his father, the younger William Bartram continued studying and collecting plants, and in 1783, six years after his father's death, he issued the first printed plant catalog in America that contained approximately 4,000 species of native and exotic plants. Bartram plants soon were planted at various estates and buildings around the newfound country including Independence Hall, George Washington's Mount Vernon, and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. With the city skyline in the background, many can still enjoy this spacious garden and former farm as they appreciate the beauty and history of Bartram's plants and flowers. More »

Benjamin Franklin National Memorial

This memorial to one of America's greatest patriots casts Franklin as the larger-than-life figure that he was to our collective history. The 20-foot tall, 30-ton white marble memorial is operated not by the federal government, but as part of the Franklin Institute, which is a unique operating arrangement given that nearly all national monuments are within the purview of the National Park Service. It was named by Congress as a national memorial in 1972, nearly 40 years after it was completed in 1938 (the sculpture, by James Earl Fraser, was finished by 1911--it took many more years to complete the hall it sits within). It's certainly an impressive monument and a great reminder of Franklin, the Renaissance man's impact on America. More »

Betsy Ross House

Legend has it that during the spring of 1776, a secretive committee of Continental Army General George Washington, colonial financier Robert Morris, and Mrs. Betsy Ross' uncle George Ross were tasked by Congress to create a new flag. George Ross naturally brought the three men to his niece's sewing and upholstery shop on Arch Street. In his basic sketching, Washington wanted a red and white stripes surrounding a blue area, and inside the blue area were to be 13 six-pointed stars that would each represent an American colony. Ross, the tale goes, showed the men how easy it would be to make a five-studded star as opposed to six--she could make them with a neat folding job and one cut of the scissors. Washington, Morris, and Ross agreed with Betsy and some weeks later, she produced a flag out of Washington's sketch, and on June 14, 1777, the flag was unveiled, a day we still celebrate in the US as Flag Day. Some historians doubt whether Ross was indeed the flag's creator as it was only in the latter portion of the 19th century that some of her family asserted Ross was responsible, describing this meeting with Washington as dictated directly by Betsy Ross herself (the family did so in sworn affidavits, no less). She continued to operate her shop for decades after the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, and was doubtless a great patriot. Whether useful civic legend or true history, it's all fascinating and worth exploring on your own here. More »

Bishop White House

Built in 1786, this was the former home of Bishop William White, the first Episcopalian clergy in Pennsylvania. Bishop White is said to have chosen this location at 309 Walnut St because it lay equidistant to the two churches he served as rectors in the Christ Church and St. Peter's Church. It has been lovingly restored to reflect how it looked during Bishop White's time in the home, which overlapped with Philadelphia as the American capital. As such, he was the chaplain to the Continental Congress and friend to many of the Founding Fathers. The house is now part of the Independence National Historic Park and operated by the National Park Service. More »

Boathouse Row

Boathouse Row, as it is descriptively named, consists of 10 boathouses along the Schuykill River overlooking the city's skyline. All of the boathouses are functional boating clubs and members of the Schuykill Navy, a local boating association in existence since 1858 and the longest running amateur athletic association in the country. The views of the skyline are wonderful, but also wonderful is the eclectic architecture of the boathouses, which encompass Gothic to Italianate stylings. It's also part of Fairmount Park, if you're hoping to get some exercise and recreate a bit. Whether you're inclined to come down for the boating or the buildings, it's hard not to be impressed. More »

Camden Waterfront

Facing Penn's Landing on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, Camden Waterfront features many attractions and venues the whole family can enjoy. The RiverLink Ferry transports visitors from Penn's Landing to Camden Waterfront and back. Popular attractions include an IMAX Theatre, Aquarium, the Battleship New Jersey, the Camden Children's Garden, and the Tweeter Center. More »

Carpenters' Hall

Built in 1770 to house the local carpenters' gatherings, it was also used to host the First Continental Congress, the American Philosophical Society, the First and Second Banks of the United States and was also a hospital during the American Revolution. The carpenters' guild, known as the Carpenters' Company, has been in existence since 1724, which makes it the oldest trade guild in the United States. Inside you'll see the lists of members who built much of the historic city of Philadelphia, colonial-era tools, and building methods way back when,among other displays. It's still a gathering place for the Carpenters' Company, and this guild gall is a true link back to the days of Pennsylvania, the colony. More »

Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul

The head church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which serves one of the largest Catholic communities in America, numbering some 1.4 million Philadelphians. The imposing cathedral was built over a period of 18 years from 1846-1864 by John Notman and Napoleon Le Brun in a Roman-Corinthian architectural style, and is as ornate as can be. The cathedral's most impressive feature, its dome, was painted by Constantino Brumidi, who is also the artist that decorated the dome of the US Capitol building. Interestingly, there are no side windows on the cathedral due to fears that they would be destroyed as anti-Catholic, Know Nothing sentiment raged in the mid-19th century at the time of construction. More »

Chestnut Hill Historical Society

Chestnut Hill, a neighborhood a few miles northwest of downtown, is one of the city's best displays of Colonial and Victorian residential architecture from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Chestnut Hill Historical Society is tasked with preserving this architectural tradition that has created such a picturesque community. The historical society also keeps a very expansive collection of pictures and documents related to the Chestnut Hill community dating back hundreds of years to the 17th century, when Philadelphia was still not yet much more than a colonial outpost. Architecture lovers will delight in the map of Chestnut Hill homes and their architects, which makes for an afternoon of fun exploration (available at the CHHS for a small fee). More »

Chinatown

Philadelphia's small but popular Chinatown neighborhood dates from the 1860's and is a great place to find traditional Asian food and crafts. The beautiful ornamental entrance on 10th and Arch Streets should not be missed. More »

Christ Church

Although the Christ Church of Philadelphia was established on November 15, 1695, this building dates back to 1754. This Episcopal Church is famous for being the place of worship for Benjamin Franklin, Betsey Ross, and George and Martha Washington. The church welcomes out of town visitors to Sunday services. More »

Christ Church Burial Ground

Christ Church's cemetery dates back to 1719 and is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin and his family, as well as several signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is customary to toss coins on Franklin's grave for good luck. More »

City Hall

Rising 40 stories above Philadelphia, the gothic City Hall building is one of the city's most beautiful. It remained dominant over the city's skyline until the late 1980s, when the handshake agreement not to build above the 491-foot tall turn-of-the-century building was put to bed. Construction on City Hall originally began in 1871 and didn't finish until 1901, and in the time it took to build, architecture had moved away from the stone masonry construction that architect John MacArthur used, opting for lighter, steel-reinforced facades like those found in Chicago's renaissance. As such, the City Hall is the tallest stone masonry building in the world, meaning that the walls bear all of the load of the building. The enormous statue of William Penn that caps off the building was designed by Alexander Milne Calder, who also sculpted all of the works on the building's exterior. There is a free guided tour offered by the city every weekday at 12:30pm, which will show you the building as well as the tower with it's magnificent views of the city. More »

City Tavern

Come eat at the recreated tavern that was once the haunting grounds of some of America's Founding Fathers including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, among many, many others. It was originally built in 1773 and served as an post-meeting gathering place for many important Americans; it is said that Thomas Jefferson ate here nearly every day as he drafted the Declaration of Independence, while George Washington was feted at City Tavern on his way to congratulate his victorious men at Yorktown. In the mid-19th century, the historic tavern was destroyed by a fire, and the memories of the place seemed all but lost to the dustbin of history when the National Park Service rebuilt and recreated the tavern to look as it did during the Revolution--just in time for the Bicentennial Celebration of 1976. Today, the tavern offers authentic late-18th century era food and drink, including beers they brew in house using recipes believed to have been brewed by Washington and Jefferson themselves. The wait staff dresses in costume and acts in character, so despite the campy nature of a place such as this, it's great fun. More »

Civil War & Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia

History buffs rejoice! This museum, founded in 1886, is the oldest Civil War museum in the US and has exceedingly fascinating collections of documents, artifacts, and other miscellany related to the Civil War and the abolitionist movement. The museum includes some fascinating stuff including memorabilia from General George Meade, the commander at Gettysburg, as well as that of Generals George McClellan and Ulysses S. Grant, and last but hardly least, President Abraham Lincoln. A great collection and a fascinating period in history. More »

Cliveden

Cliveden sits smack in the middle of the battleground of a key skirmish during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Germantown of the 1777. As the British took over the American capital throughout the summer and fall following a series of defeats for the Continental Army, General Washington saw an opportunity in October to outmaneuver a smaller force led by British General William Howe and sting the Redcoats badly before each army battened down the hatches for winter. The ragtag Continentals were not quite as successful as Washington hoped, and although they lost narrowly at Germantown, the crucible of war was forging a formidable army--ears perked throughout Europe. Cliveden, built by Benjamin Chew from 1763-67, a prominent Philadelpian and later the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, was used by the armies as cover and so you can see the markings where musket balls hit the house. You can almost imagine the exquisite Georgian architecture being the backdrop for pitched battle. Cliveden was held by the Chew family until the 1970s, when it was donated to the National Historic Trust, and its interaction with American history cannot be missed if you love either architecture or history. More »

Commodore Barry Statue

Commodore John Barry, immortalized as "the Father of the American Navy" for his valor and leadership commanding the nascent naval forces against Great Britain during the American Revolution, is cast in bronze here in front of Independence Hall. Barry was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1745, and received his commission as a captain on the Lexington in 1776. He would go on to be one of the most celebrated seamen in American history, and even served on land with Washington's Continental army while the ship under his command was under construction in 1778. He was also the first captain to capture a British ship and captured over 20 during the war, the author of a signal communications manual, and put down three mutinies, which were common in the days where pirating paid better than the Navy. His legend exploded after he was able to direct the capture of two British ships despite sustaining multiple wounds on the deck of the frigate Alliance. Be sure to take a gander and pay tribute to Barry while you're at Independence National Historic Park. More »

Congress Hall

This two-story, mostly plain-looking building on Chestnut Street may seem nondescript, but it is where the nascent United States Congress gathered from 1790-1800 while the swampland of Washington D.C. was transformed into the nation's capital. It saw some of the most enduring events in the nation's history take place, such as the enshrinement of the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, the second inauguration of the first president, George Washington, the first inauguration of John Adams, our second president, and the ratification of Alexander Hamilton's central banking system and currency mint. The lower floor was the US House of Representatives chamber, while the upper floor housed the so-called Upper Chamber, the US Senate. It's a highly interesting little edifice. More »

Contributionship

Founded in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin and a group of well-heeled Philadelphians, the Contributionship is the nation's oldest property insurance company. It was developed as Franklin's firefighting bridge, the Union Fire Company, met with other fire companies to devise ways to prevent a massive fire from taking Philadelphia. It was in reference to fire prevention that he wrote in his Philadelphia Gazette, "an Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure," one of his most classic aphorisms. Homes and buildings protected by the Contributionship policy had a "fire mark" plaque with four fists signifying the full faith of the company to fight the fire and rebuild the damage. Amazingly, the Contributionship Companies are still operating, and offer a museum that is open to the public. If you're fascinated by Benjamin Franklin--and it is hard not to be--this is another stop following his most incredible life. More »

Curtis Center and Dream Garden Mosaic

This building is where publisher Cyrus Curtis founded his first magazine in 1883, the "Ladies Home Journal," consequently launching his publishing empire. The building's most striking feature is inside the lobby -- a 50 foot by 15 foot mural named the "Dream Garden Mosaic," which depicts a landscape scene. Artist Maxfield Parrish combined more than 100,000 pieces of colored glass to complete the mosaic. More »

Dental Museum

Visit this museum if you like the strange and quirky--it was started in 1863 thanks to an oddity that required the founding of a dental school to be accompanied by a library and a museum. Included in the collection is Josiah Flagg's Revolutionary War-era dental chair and gimmicky West Coast celebrity dentist and Temple graduate "Painless" Parker's "bucket of teeth" and other artifacts related to his dentistry. There are lots of other items that may instill a sort of gratitude you never knew you had before. If you're into dentistry--and who isn't, really?--this must the place. More »

Deshler-Morris House

Like so many places in Philadelphia, the intersection with history is profound. This house, owned by the Deshler and Morris families until it was donated to the National Park Service in 1948, was the headquarters for British General William Howe as he fought the Continental Army in the Battle of Germantown of 1777. Later, in 1793 it served as the "White House" for Howe's adversary at Germantown, President George Washington and First Lady Martha as they decamped from Philadelphia proper during a prolonged outbreak of yellow fever. Washington would return the following summer, as well. The Deshler-Morris house was built in 1752 and has been excellently preserved over the years. More »

Drexel University

The Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry, as it was originally named, was founded by Anthony J. Drexel in 1891. Drexel dreamed of a public institution that would provide practical knowledge in the arts and sciences for men and women alike. The college became a university in 2002, after uniting with MCP Hahnemann University. It has nine colleges under its name, including the College of Information Science and Technology, a new law school, the College of Arts and Sciences, and a prestigious engineering school. More »

Eakins Oval

Eakins Oval, with its centerpiece equestrian statue of President George Washington, is within a traffic circle just opposite the grand entrance and stairway to the Museum of Art. This small plaza was named after famous Philadelphia artist Thomas Eakins (1844-1916). The centerpiece also includes fountains and mythical-like statues with an assortment of wild animal sculptures representing four of the country's major rivers: the Mississippi, Hudson, Delaware, and Potomac. More »

Eastern State Penitentiary

A classic case of social engineering gone wrong, the Eastern State Penitentiary was built in 1829 and designed by prominent Philadelphia architect John Haviland. It was a massive building and hugely expensive, one of the largest, and most expensive in the entire US, and Haviland's design would influence other countries as they develop their own prisons. It was built to house prisoners in solitary confinement, which they believed would inspire reflection and penance--it was a Quaker-inspired construct, that through lack of contact with others, they would look to God for salvation and reform thy hearts. But because of the strict rules of interaction and lack of contact with other people, many of the prisoners simply went insane. Nevertheless, the prison was used until 1971 and had many famous inmates, including gangster Al Capone, bank robber Willie Sutton, and Pep the Dog, whose wrap sheet included killing the Pennsylvania governor's cat. Charles Dickens, who visited the prison in 1842 thought it was a terror. Of his visit, he wrote, "I am persuaded that those who designed this system of Prison Discipline, and those benevolent gentleman who carry it into execution, do not know what it is that they are doing." Today, it's a National Historic Landmark and markedly creepy, though very interesting and the tours are unforgettable. More »

Edgar Allan Poe House

Baltimore may be considered the city most connected to the famous dark literary writer, but in Philadelphia Poe established himself as a prominent writer, completing a majority of his treasured life works. Poe moved quite frequently throughout his life, but found a base in Philadelphia where he enjoyed one of his lengthiest stays. Poe moved to Philadelphia in 1837 after marrying his wife Virginia in Baltimore in 1835. The "master of the macabre" lived in Philadelphia for six years, which Poe deemed to be the happiest years of his life. Poe wrote many of his famous works while in Philadelphia, including "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," and "The Black Cat," which he wrote in this house. Of the six years that Poe lived in Philadelphia until 1844, this house was the last one and also the last remaining Poe residences still in existence today. Poe lived in the house for less than a year, however it is one of the last remaining homes between here, Baltimore, and New York. More »

Elfreth's Alley

Providing Philadelphia with a real 'Salt of the Earth' neighborhood, Elfreth's Alley has been the home to hundreds of working class men and women for three hundred years. The tight-knit alleyway of homes and buildings were built as early as 1702 by John Gilbert and Arthur Wells. Through the Revolutionary War and the rise of the Industrial Revolution, the alley became a popular enclave for immigrant families that arrived from Europe and elsewhere. The number of working craftsmen and small merchants flocked to the area largely for its location close to the waterfront and nearby industries that sprang up. The alley was named after Jeremiah Elfreth, and is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the entire nation. A visit to Elfreth's Alley is a reminder of what old Revolutionary Philadelphia looked like when it was still the second largest city under control of the British (behind London). Many of the houses, although inhabited by private residencies, have been meticulously looked after to ensure their survival. You can visit the museum in House 126 (where Elfreth himself built and lived in) to see special events and tours of the house. More »

Fabric Workshop and Museum

Fabric seems an unlikely candidate to be transformed into pieces of art through various forms of sculpture, print, and costume to name a few samples. However at the Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM), you'll see that it really is possible to take something as simple as fabric and transform it into something remarkable. The Fabric Workshop and Museum was founded in 1977 by Marion Boulton Stroud with the intention of providing an opportunity for newly emerging and internationally renowned artists to put to practice their creative vision with a wholly new media-- fabric. Through her attention and devotion to the workshop and museum, the FWM has become a respectable institution worldwide, particularly through its efforts in creating the prestigious Artist-in-Residence Program. The museum has over 3,500 objects in its permanent collection, some of which have also been presented around the world on loan. Artists and textile aficionados will share the same enthusiasm with the casual visitor at the wide range of colors and styles portrayed at the Fabric Workshop and Museum. More »

Fairmount Park

Named after Philadelphia's first park, Fairmount Park, the Philadelphia park system is one of the oldest municipally-operated park systems in the United States. The 9,200-acre park system spans over 10% of the land throughout the city and provides a plethora of different activities and sights in the serene cover of grasslands and forested groves. Fairmount Park was originally the first park adopted by the city after the 1790s yellow fever epidemic that arose concern for clean water. A waterworks was established in 1815, and finally in 1855, Fairmount was officially dedicated to the city after it was converted from the Lemon Hill estate. Today the old park has been divided into West Fairmount and East Fairmount (or Old Park) although the namesake is referred to the entire system comprised of 63 city parks. East Fairmount is one of the most popular parks lining next to the Schuylkill River, however the park at Ben Franklin Parkway is probably one of the most recognized for its appearance in the Rocky movies in the famous stair-running scene. Enjoy the maze of historical monuments, trails, sport fields, and streams scattered throughout the city as you enjoy Philadelphia's natural side. More »

Fairmount Waterworks and Interpretive Center

This 19th century building with a Greek temple-like façade housed the city's original water pumping station to supply residents with drinking water. Although it stopped pumping in 1909, the building still has its original stone walls and some of the old pumping equipment. Today, the facility is home to an interpretive center with interactive exhibits about the city's water resources. More »

Fireman's Hall Museum

This museum details the history of firefighting in Philadelphia beginning with colonial times. The building, which served as an actual fire station from 1902-1952, still has the original brass pole used by firefighters to slide down from their quarters upstairs to the fire engines below. On hand are a variety of firefighting artifacts and 20th century fire trucks, as well as 18th and 19th century handpumpers. More »

First Bank of the United States

Succumbing to the huge nation debt following the Revolutionary War, the newly formed United States began considering how they were going to about to relieve their debt and centralize their monetary funds. The widely disputed solution was put forth by Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton's draft of a new United States Bank and charter, which the Senate passed on February 25, 1791. The idea was first purposed during the first session of the First Congress in 1790 in a way of establishing credit through providing stocks, and to centralize the forms of currency used through a single coinage (at the time, each state devised their own form of currency, which added to the instability of the new American market). The bank was fiercely objected by the Southern agrarian societies for its proposal of an excise tax on hard liquor and disbanding southern currencies, however the twenty year charter ultimately passed. Congress elected not to renew the charter in 1811, in which the bank was considered a failure, however it did pave a way for subsequent federal banks and the U.S Mint. The building is a striking Classic-Revival building that evokes the spirit of democracy from ancient Greece. An image of a bald eagle is found in the portico of the front facade, an example of the new symbol adopted only 14 years prior. It was announced that the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia would move into the vacant building to be reopened in 2010. More »

First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia

The First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia is literally just that, the first Presbyterian congregation formed in 1698. Pennsylvania is largely considered the home of William Penn and the Quaker movement, however he'll have to move over to make room for the FPCP that was formed a mere 16 years after Penn's arrival. Almost fifty years later in 1743, a second Presbyterian Church was created to reflect a change in the church's demographics. The second church built several churches including the one that stands today on 21st and Walnut Streets that was erected in 1869-72 after the Civil War. After nearly 200 years of separation between the First and Second Presbyterian Churches, the two congregations decided to merge in 1949 to create a single unified congregation that would move into the Gothic building of the Second Presbyterian Church. The building is a leading example of Gothic Revival architecture that emerged from the nineteenth century. A mix of both French and English Gothic architecture implementing the use of Richmond granite and Trenton stone, the church is one of the fascinating examples of Gothic design in all of Philadelphia. More »

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia

This congregation is the first in the United States to declare itself "Unitarian" and has continued to be innovative and a head of its time while still remaining tied to its historical roots. The congregation was founded in 1796, but the building was constructed in 1886 by Frank Furness, son of this congregation's first minister, William Henry Furness. Frank Furness was influenced by Gothic architecture and had gold stenciled details added to the ceilings as well as several stained glass windows designed by John La Farge and Louis Tiffany & Co. William Furness was one of the first ministers to preach against slavery and encouraged members of the church to join against it. Some of the more famous members of the congregation include the first African American female to be published in the United States, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. If you are a music connoisseur, check out the live music, which often features Indie Rock bands, in the basement of this historical church. More »

Fleisher Art Memorial

For decades since the formation of the Graphic Sketch Club in 1898, as it was known back then, the enrichment of lives young and old through art has been a central focus to the program. Renamed after his death in 1944, the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial was his devoted gift to the community to allow people of all ages, economic, and social backgrounds to explore and practice in the world of art. The memorial is a tuition-free visual arts school that also includes, among the classrooms and workshops, a sanctuary formed in the old Church of the Evangelist. Fleisher believed in the spiritual quality that art has and some of his own personal collection of art can be enjoyed in serenity of the Romanesque revival style church to "let the beauty within speak of the past and ever continuing ways of God." Over 100,000 adults and children can thank the Fleisher Art Memorial for providing the number of special programs and shows to the Philadelphia community. More »

Fort Mifflin

Originally called Fort Island Battery, Fort Mifflin was one of the oldest continuously operated forts in the United States until it was decommissioned. The Fort was first constructed in 1771 after evaluating a weakness in the security for the city of Philadelphia by the mouth of the Delaware River. British engineer Captain John Montresor was assigned with drawing up the plans which initially included 32 pieces of cannon, 4 mortars and 4 royal howitzers. When the costs of the fort exceeded what was affordable, construction lagged for five years and Montresor abandoned his post, disgusted with the progress. In 1776, after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Benjamin Franklin was assigned the task of setting up the defenses for Philadelphia where he completed the construction of the fort and sured up the vulnerabilities of the city. Fort Mifflin was an important battle during the Revolutionary when the British bombarded the fort in 1777. In a particularly ironic twist, the British Captain Montresor who was enlisted to build the fort six years prior, would ultimately be assigned to its demise under orders of the British Army. Much of the fort was destroyed, however you can still see pockmarks from cannonballs in the remaining white walls that still stand after reconstructing the base. While the British ultimately defeated the defenses at Fort Mifflin, the American resistance allowed the Continental army to make formations at important points, and allowed the retreat to Valley Forge. After the Revolutionary War, the fort was used for various other military uses including a confederate jail during the Civil War and an anti-aircraft post during World War II until it was finally closed in 1954 in favor of a new base and facility being built nearby. More »

Franklin Court

Franklin Court is the location of the former home for Benjamin Franklin. Although it was lost in 1812 and completely razed to the ground, a modern structure was put in place and a museum that examines some of Franklin's many accomplishments during his life. There were no indications of what the exterior of the building looked like, which prompted the now prominent "Ghost Structure" designed and erected in 1976 by famous architect Robert Venturi in the place where the house would have stood in the eighteenth century. Inside the 'basement' of the "Ghost Structure" takes a closer look at Franklin's advancements in printing, writing, and innovation, as well as artifacts retrieved from his privy pit. Among his many inventions, Franklin was also an avid printer, and a working scale of an eighteenth century print shop is available to present to the public what it was like back then. Make sure you make it over to the Post Office at 316 Market Street, which commemorates Philadelphia's fist Postmaster General (Franklin) while also serving as an active branch. Franklin Court is a great way of getting a taste of Benjamin Franklin's life while learning about his many accomplishments. More »

Franklin Institute Science Museum (The)

The Franklin Institute Science Museum keeps the inquisitive spirit regarding science just as its famous namesake did. In the number of permanent and temporary exhibits that fill the Franklin, people of all ages get a hands on exploration of science within their own lives. From the Franklin...He's Electric exhibit that takes a look at Franlkin's famous electricity experiment which lead to the invention of the lightning rod, to The Giant Heart exhibit that looks at a large scale model of how the heart works, visitors get a broad look at how science is all around us. Established in 1824, The Franklin Institute was opened in Independence Hall by Samuel Vaughn Merrick and William H. Keating. After the museum outgrew its building, it moved to its current location in 1934 located next to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Later added in 1990 were the Mandell Center and Tuttleman IMAX Theater, where you can catch a larger than life screening of an IMAX film. The Franklin Institute Science Museum is considered the nation's best science museum and is visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Make sure you come with an inquisitive mind and a few hours to spend to find out why it's one of Philadelphia's most beloved museums. More »

Free Library of Philadelphia

Not to be confused with Benjamin Franklin's Library Company (the first official library ever established), the Free Library of Philadelphia was introduced to the public much later in the last part of the nineteenth century. Initially chartered in 1891 by Dr. William Pepper through a $225,000 bequest of his uncle, the Free Library of Philadelphia didn't officially open to the public until 1894 following a legal dispute that debated the allocation of the money for existing Philadelphia libraries. It was opened to be "a general library which shall be free to all," and was originally housed in the old City Hall building, which was deemed unsuitable for the long term success of the library. Nearly 30 years later a massive new facility to be called the Central Library was opened on June 2, 1927 on Logan Square. Today the Free Library of Philadelphia provides the largest circulation of public books within 54 library locations around Philadelphia. Among the 6 million items on-hand in the collection, there are some peculiarities including Charles Dickens' first pet raven, Grip, that was stuffed after its death and subsequently donated to the third floor "rare books" section many years later. There also is a number of different programs that cater to adults, children, teens, and families, providing engaging seminars and activities. More »

Free Quaker Meeting House

Quakers are a pacifist group, and those wanting to bear arms during the American Revolution were often expelled from the main Quaker community. This Georgian-style building was therefore built as a meeting house for Quakers who wanted to fight during the war. Since closing in 1834, it has served as a school and library. In recent years, it has reopened with actors giving presentations about the building's history. More »

Gayborhood

From 11th to Broad Streets, and Chestnut to Pine, beats the heart of Philly's LGBT community, the Gayborhood. No matter whether you're straight or gay, though, all are welcome here, and there's no shortage of things to do in this nine-block area. Located just southwest of City Hall in the middle of Center City, the area is packed with restaurants, nightclubs, and chic shopping, and within easy walking distance to many of the cities best historic and cultural sites. While the Gayborhood has existed as an area for years, in April of 2007 the City of Philadelphia and Mayor John F. Street dedicated 36 new street signs to the area, all affixed with the rainbow flag, making it official. More »

Germantown

German settlers founded this neighborhood in 1683, lured to the area because of William Penn's vow for religious freedom. Followed by an array of other immigrants from Dutch and Swiss ancestry, Germantown quickly grew into the multi-cultural community that it is today with the ideals and beliefs for citizens. Just as Philadelphia was involved in the Revolutionary War, Germantown too shares an important date in that war. Its famous Cliveden colonial home was the site of the 1777 Battle of Germantown, which some believe would have brought the war to an end sooner had the new American army been trained efficiently and not been defeated. In 1793, the Deshler-Morris House was used by President Washington to escape the yellow fever epidemic raging in Philadelphia. Germantown also includes other famous and well preserved homes, including Grumblethorpe, Johnson House, Upsala, and others, as well as a rich history of one of Pennsylvania's unique townships. More »

Germantown Historical Society

If you head to the red brick building on Germantown’s original Market Square, you'll find the Germantown Historical Society that records the history of this incredibly unique community found in northwest Philadelphia. Germantown was first settled in 1683, when the European immigrants from Germany fled to the American colonies that welcomed all from religious persecution and hardships back home. Germantown officially was the first German settlement in the New World although it is just as much an important place for American history. While its German heritage is traced in its roots and namesake, Germantown provided a haven for immigrants of Irish, African, and Italians. Germantown was home to the first written protest against slavery, as well as an important battlefield in the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Germantown, which is often considered a cause for prolonging of the war. George Washington often made his way here to spend the weekend while Philadelphia was still the nation's capital. The Germantown Historical Society was founded in 1901 and is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the rich history of the town. If you're not exploring the "Great Road" of Germantown, then the next best way to look into the town's past is to check out the museum, archive, and library that helps visitors sift through the years to reveal personal connections and local history. More »

Germantown Mennonite Church

Long before the American nation would be founded, Germantown was a haven for European immigrants of German and Dutch roots. Germantown was dubbed "The Gateway of American Mennonitism" for its influx of Dutch Mennonites that settled as early as 1683. Comprising of thirteen families that traveled to America aboard the "Concord," Pennsylvania made a desirable destination for its freedom from religious persecution and the sentiment adopted by Pennsylvania's Quaker community. The early Mennonite families would join Quaker families in private worship until around 1690, when they were able to begin worshiping on their own. Around 1708 with the arrival of the Palatine Mennonite of Swiss-German heritage, the first Germantown Mennonite Church gathered publicly in a log cabin meeting house. Later in 1770, the log meeting house would be replaced by a permanent stone meeting house which would last until the mid 90s of the twentieth century when a new facility was constructed. For nearly all of the 325 years of the Germantown congregation, they have been somewhat isolated from the offshoots of the USA Mennonite by adopting and following their own creed within the Mennonite faith. The large tenet of the Germantown Mennonite faith is to be welcoming of all people and backgrounds irregardless of sexual preference, color, or social status. More »

Gloria Dei Church

Before William Penn ever knew that America existed (several years before his birth) a Swedish missionary by the name of Johannes Campanius of the Swedish Church was active in the 1640s serving for the local native peoples. In fact he translated Martin Luther's Small Catechism into Algonquin, the first book published in that language, to spread the Gospel to the native people living in modern day Pennsylvania. Gloria Dei Church can trace themselves back to Campanius' work on Tinicum Island which he dedicated to the church in 1646. By 1677, an old blockhouse was consecrated to serve as one of the first churches for the congregation until a permanent structure was built in 1700, the same building that serves today. Gloria Dei Church is the oldest church still in existence in Pennsylvania and is still in use. It is a fascinating testament to seventeenth century Swedish church architecture. In 1845 the church left the Swedish Church and joined the Episcopal Church, which is the current denomination of the congregation. In the adjacent graveyard, visitors can wander through the old headstones discovering men and women of both before and after the Revolution, including John Hanson, "President" of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. More »

Graff House

The Graff House, also known as the Declaration House, is a 1975 reconstruction of the original home where, from June 11th to June 28th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson rented the two rooms upstairs and, for three short weeks, put the ideas espoused during the Second Continental Congress into work; the result: one of the most important documents of all times.
The Georgian-style home of bricklayer Jacob Graff was razed in 1883, but was recreated in 1975 by the National Park Service. Although the artifacts in the rooms today are not the ones used by Jefferson, the house has been decorated with antique furniture and dressings to mimic its original appearance. Visitors to the house can not only explore Jefferson's bedroom and parlor (where he wrote the document), but can also see a bust of the author and copies of Jefferson's rough drafts. More »

Grumblethorpe

This peculiarly named building was the summer country home of wine importer John Wister. Named after from an excerpt of a comedic 19th-century book, Thinks I to Myself, Grumblethorpe managed to stick. The Wisters had an extensive property extending beyond the home that included a woods and a quarry, and the materials used in the 1744 construction of the house came from their own. Largely because of its size and multi-level grandeur, the house was originally named "John Wister's Big House." Not long after the house was built the family ended up making the home its permanent residence year round. The house is a great example of eighteenth century domestic Pennsylvania German architecture. The Wister family made many contributions to the growing nation in fields of American literature, horticulture, historic preservation, and astronomy during the 175 plus years that the family lived at the home. The family did leave for a short reprieve during the winter of 1793 when a yellow fever plagued the city of Philadelphia. However it was the family's absence during the Battle of Germantown in 1777 that gained Grumblethorpe attention. During the battle British General James Agnew was shot by a civilian sniper Hans Boyer, and was subsequently brought into the house where he bled to death in the front parlor. One of Grumblethorpe's most notable attractions is the blood stain that still remains today from the battle that occurred over 240 years ago. More »

Headhouse/Shambles

Referring to an English word meaning "butcher shop or meat stall," and not the current condition of the buildings, the Headhouse/Shambles is an interesting aspect of the American marketplace. Built around 1745, these "sheds" and "Headhouses" were an essential place for merchants to meet in the same location and sell a wide variety of fresh meats, fish and vegetables. At the end of the sheds were the Headhouses, which served as a fire station of sorts allowing quick access to any fires that broke out in the public areas. The Headhouse built here in 1805 is considered to be the oldest volunteer fire station in the country. Today you're not bound to see any trading of food, but you might be able to catch a glimpse at some local art and crafts. In the 1960s, the Shambles were renovated and used as an artisan market in the summer. More »

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Dating back to its founding in 1824, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is considered to be one of the oldest historical societies in the United States. The building was built in Philadelphia and contains over 19 million manuscripts and items, as well as the largest family libraries in the entire nation. The building itself was designed by Philadelphia architect Addison Hutton, and later would be added to the city's Register of Historical Places. If you're looking for somewhere with an extensive number of resources on regional and local history, then the Historical Society of Pennsylvania should be at the top of your list for places to visit. There are hundreds of thousands of information and documents from the seventeenth, eighteenth, and twentieth century that detail the history of one of our nation's most prominent cities. While a large bulk of the documents at the society are informational documents, that's not to say there are some very important documents including the first draft of the United States Constitution, an original proof of the Declaration of Independence, and the earliest surviving American photograph. In addition to the printed items in the archive, the society also puts on a series of exhibits that closely examine life in Philadelphia through different vantage points that explore Philadelphia's diverse nature. The exhibits are primarily the responsibility of the society's Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies, which offers one of the best programs examining ethnic cultures in America. More »

Horticultural Center - Fairmount Park

In the year of the nation's Centennial celebration in 1876, Philadelphia hosted a Centennial Exposition, also known as the first World Fair Exposition in the United States, with the intention of showing off the country's industrial and innovativeness. Part of the exposition was the Horticulture Hall built in Old Fairmount Park, which featured a host of different plants, flowers, and trees from not only around the United States, but also from around the world. After another 100 years and with the upcoming celebration of the Bicentennial celebration, the former site of the Horticulture Hall was replaced with the newly created Horticultural Center. The ideas and themes of the original exposition are the same now as they were in the past, featuring all different kinds of flowers and trees, as well as a small pond, a creek and a wetland area. Also been added to the Horticultural Center is a whole array of specialized gardens such as the Perennial Gardens, a butterfly garden, and Puryear Pavilion. Some of the beautiful sights here date back to the Centennial Exposition, such as the 20 acres of the Centennial Arboretum that contains trees well over a hundred years old from North America and beyond. Get a taste of Asian decadence at the Japanese House and Garden and the collection of Japanese Maples. There's plenty to see as you stroll amidst the grounds scattered with statues and peaceful surroundings in Philadelphia's oldest park. More »

Independence Hall

Though it was originally constructed as the Pennsylvania State House between 1732 and 1753, Independence Hall wass the chief home of the Second Continental Congress from 1775-1783, and as such, the walls of the building have seen the most amazing things. The Assembly Room has seen, among other things, the appointment of George Washington as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, to the signing of a revolutionary petition of grievances against King George III known as the Declaration of Independence, to the drafting of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, this is a place unlike any other on this planet, so imbued with American history. It is indeed so important that UNESCO, the United Nation's cultural board has named it a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service, which operates the grounds of Independence National Historic Park, offers free, informative tours that start on the East Wing of the building (from March-December, you'll need to pick up a free ticket that will allot you a particular tour time). If you have the slightest inkling towards history, you must stop here. More »

Independence Seaport Museum

To learn all about Philadelphia's maritime past, head to the Independence Seaport Museum. Located on the Delaware River, the museum not only houses various artifacts and exhibits, but also displays a few water-going vessels, including a steel warship named Olympia (flagship from the Spanish-American War), and a World War II submarine. This museum also focuses on the science of boats, and has fun, interactive exhibits about how boats float, gravity, displacement, and buoyancy. There's even a "Workshop on the Water" at the museum; it's a fully functioning workshop that restores and sails wooden boats, some as old as the late 1800s. More »

Institute of Contemporary Art

This large institute was founded in 1963 and is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. It is a leader in the support and presentation of contemporary art and puts on various educational programs, conferences, exhibitions, and publications throughout the year. The institute is focused on helping promote new artists in the field and, over the years, has seen the wild successes of various artists who have established humble beginnings there. Such famous artists as Andy Warhol and Laurie Anderson exhibited some of their original pieces at the Institute. All exhibits here are rotating, so be sure to call ahead (or visit online) to see what's being shown before you go. More »

Italian Market

A classic ethnic marketplace, the Italian market of South Philadelphia was immortalized in Rocky as Sly Stallone begins a long training run that culminates on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. There are shops and shops selling Italian meats, cheeses, seafood, and of course, fresh produce--mostly family-run establishments line the strip. The marketplace began around the turn-of-the-century as the waves of Italian immigrants moved to American cities like New York and Philadelphia. Amazingly fresh and inexpensive is the draw here, but it's worth a trip for the sights and smells alone, even if you don't buy anything. More »

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

Encompassing 1200 acres, this refuge provides safe habitats for over 280 species of birds and countless other animals and plants. It is the largest freshwater tidal preserve in Philadelphia and has been protected since 1955, when 145 acres were donated to the City of Philadelphia. The small preserve served to protect wildlife and give people a place to view and respect nature. In 1972, the refuge was given the go-ahead to acquire a total of 1200 acres, thanks to legislation by Congress, and the refuge began to grow rapidly. Although acquisition is not entirely complete yet, the refuge has many amazing features currently in place, including miles of trails and boardwalks, an environmental education center, and plenty of wildlife-watching platforms. More »

Johnson House

This historic house was once a stop on the Underground Railroad and is one of the only sites of its kind in Philadelphia. Located in Germantown, the home stands as a reminder of America's tumultuous past and ability to change for the good. The house has been preserved and restored to its original state, including its simple hardwood floors, stone and brick work, and an attic that used to house runaway slaves. The Johnson family inhabited the home from 1770 until 1908, and the group that was active in the Railroad were leading abolitionists; they were members of various antislavery groups, including the American Anti-slavery Society and the Germantown Freedman's Aid Association. They offered their home (and themselves) for use in the Underground Railroad during America's antislavery movement of the 1850s. More »

Kelly Drive

This winding road stretches for four miles along the bank of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park. The park is a very popular recreation area for residents and visitors of the city, and Kelly Drive adds to the park's accessibility and is a favorite local trail for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. It was originally named "East River Drive", but was renamed "Kelly Drive" for John B. Kelly Jr., a former Philadelphia City Councilman (and brother of the former movie star and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly). Start your Kelly Drive excursion at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, go past the beautiful "boathouse row", and end at East Falls Bridge. More »

Kimmel Center (for the Performing Arts)

This new performing arts complex is home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philly Pops, chamber music, theatrical shows, and more. The Kimmel Center's main venue is the acoustically superior Verizon Hall, which is shaped like a cello and seats 2,500. The smaller Perelman Theater has a round, rotating stage with room for more than 600. Both venues sit in separate halls under the complex's sprawling glass roof. More »

Laurel Hill Cemetery

This early 19th century cemetery sits atop Laurel Hill and overlooks the Schuylkill River, giving it gorgeous scenery and picturesque views. The cemetery is home to many famous figures from America's past, including Civil War icons such as General George Meade, six passengers from the ship Titanic, Thomas McKean (signer of the Declaration of Independence), and Frederick Winslow Taylor (industrial magnate). Today, the cemetery offers visitors 78 acres of winding pathways, breathtaking views, and a historic tour of the past. Even if you're not there for the history, take a cue from the locals and ride, walk, or jog the pathways--they provide an unparalleled peaceful venue for exercise in the city. More »

Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is a national symbol of freedom and unity in America and is also associated with the Declaration of Independence and the abolition of slavery. It has a rich history that, for most people, is not well known. At the Liberty Bell Center, which opened in 2003 on the grounds of President Washington's home, you will learn the details of how the bell came to hold such significance for Americans. The bell was commissioned in 1771 by William Penn, one of the first "Americans" to fight for democracy and a unified country. After being completed in London, it was shipped to the States in 1752 and hung for the public to see and hear in March, 1753. It was here that the first crack in the bell, caused by the strike of the clapper, was first discovered. The bell was recast by locals, John Pass and John Stow, who accidentally made it too thick. It was recast a third time before being used to summon the locals to the center of town to hear urgent announcements. If you love learning about American history, and also desire to know more about how this country came to be, it is definitely worth it to stop by and see the bell in person. More »

Liberty Museum

The Liberty Museum strives to educate, inspire, and ignite hope for positive change against violence and bigotry in American citizens by celebrating freedom in the United States. There are over 76 exhibits to explore, spread out over eight extensive galleries and nearby spaces. Using glass as the main medium of expression, the museum's exhibits include the Let Freedom Ring Gallery, where you can learn about 200, 20th century Americans who fought for change and acceptance for all races, color, and ethnicities. Other exhibits include the Coming to America Gallery, which focuses on the reasons why people in search of freedom, over the last 300 years, chose to come to America. You can follow their stories which includes their struggles, successes, and outcomes. More »

Library Company of Philadelphia

Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731, the Library Company of Philadelphia has become one of the most historically significant research centers in the United States. It houses over 500,000 books and over 2,000 items that were made or used by Franklin himself. The library started with 40 members who wanted to fill the void of free education to the poor and working class citizens of America. Together, each member donated 40 shillings to purchase books, manuscripts, photographs, and works of art that would be enjoyed for free by the public. Each year another 10 shillings was paid by members to maintain and update the collection. The library specializes in rare books, prints, and art that range from science, to history, to architecture and beyond. More »

Library Hall

Library Hall housed the first public library in the United States, which helped the uneducated and poor to have access to information that was once only accessible to the wealthy. Although the building you see today is a replica of the original Library Hall, which was built in 1790, it still houses over 300,000 volumes of books, eight millions manuscripts, and over 100,000 images that date back to the 1600s. This library is considered one of the most significant research centers in the nation, as it has several first edition books on physics, astronomy, Indian language and culture, natural history, and more. Some of what you may find includes the first edition of Charles Darwin's book, Origin of Species, and Thomas Jefferson's hand written copy of the Declaration of Independence. If you are an adventurer, you may enjoy reading from the journals of Lewis and Clark. More »

Logan Circle

What became Logan Circle in the 1930s was once called Logan Square, and before that, Northwest Square in the early 1800s. It is one of the five original town squares in the City of Brotherly Love and was used as a burial ground, a grazing pasture for cows, and an execution yard. After removing the graves, it became a gathering place for people in 1825--cows, horses, carts, and wagons were prohibited from entering the square's boundaries. Today, it is a popular place to spend a few hours dipping your toes in the famous Swann Fountain. If you are visiting the city at the end of the school year, be prepared to share the fountain space with sophomores, juniors, and seniors who celebrate the start of summer by taking a dip the water, a J.W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School tradition since the 1960s. More »

Love Park

Built in the 1960s, Love Park has become a symbolic park that is recognized all over the world for its infamous statue and its association with skateboards. The statue, created by American artist, Robert Indiana, spells out in giant red letters L-O-V-E and was a gift to the city for the bicentennial birthday of the United States in 1976. Though you may have seen the giant piece of art replicated in Manhattan and in other places around the world, the original remains in this park, so be sure to take time to check it out while taking a quick stroll through this area. More »

Main Street Manayunk

This street was once in the heart of an industrial area that has been revitalized into a trendy shopping district with cafes, restaurants, galleries and more. A canal built off the Schuylkill River, that once powered mills here, is now the backdrop of a scenic hike and bike trail. This is a popular spot on weekends. More »

Mario Lanza Institute and Museum

Mario Lanza was a world-famous tenor and actor who grew up in South Philadelphia, just two blocks away from this former church building that now houses a small museum. Through old photographs, clippings, and movie posters, the museum highlights his career that resulted in more than a million albums sold and several movie roles. Lanza died of a heart attack in Rome in the 1950s. The gift shop sells CDs of his recordings as well as his movies. More »

Masonic Temple

Regardless of what you know or think about the Freemasons's philosophical and metaphysical ideologies, this Masonic Temple is worth seeing while visiting the city. The building was built in a Romanesque architectural style in 1873, but members of the fraternal organization started meeting around this area in 1786, making their chapter the oldest Grand Lodge in the United States. You can visit their temple, the seven ornate lodge rooms--filled with Doric columns, Grecian Architecture, and Tennessee Marble--and also the historic library and museum. There are over 75,000 items housed in the library, including the first print of the Constitutions of the Free-Masons, written in 1734 by Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States. If you love learning about American history, then a visit to this National Historic Landmark is an absolute must while in Philly. More »

Mikveh Israel Congregation (and Cemetery)

This synagogue, built in 1976, now houses the city's oldest Jewish congregation that was founded in the early 18th century. The building has relics including silver Torah finials and letters written by presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In Society Hill, the Mikveh Israel Cemetery is the oldest Jewish burial ground in Philadelphia and includes graves of notable Jewish colonists. More »

Moore College of Art & Design

Moore College was founded in 1848 and is the first (out of two in the world) women's only art and design college. Over 155 years ago the first degree available to women was in textiles, which was an important degree to have during the Industrial Revolution. The college's sole purpose was to support women in becoming financially independent in a male dominate world. Today, women can major in everything between fine art, photography, graphic and interior design, and much more. Their creations are on display at the Goldie Paley Gallery and the Levy Gallery for the Arts in Philadelphia--each are free to the public. Both galleries host art exhibits from established and emerging artists, but the Levy Gallery only features artists from the local area. Some of the student's exhibits, which are shown at the end of the semester, are true masterpieces, so be sure to schedule time during your stay to visit and support these talented women. More »

Morris Arboretum

In the late 1880s, brother and sister, John and Lydia Morris, began to transform their 92 acre parcel of land into an intricate garden that would one day become the official garden of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. John Morris had an eye for Asian gardens, so the arboretum that opened to the public in 1933 was full of Asian inspiration and exotic plants and trees that come from Korea, Japan, and China. Today, this botanical garden is owned by the University of Pennsylvania and used to teach students about the connection between plants, trees, humans, science, history, and art. You can walk through the Victorian landscaped park and see 17 species of trees that are some of the oldest and largest of their kind in North America. Along with having an Asian influence, the arboretum features a Cottage Garden, which has roses, perennials and annuals on display, and the Hardy Fern Garden/Stumpery, which features massive tree stumps and root systems that are now used as art and as benches to sit on and reflect over what you have seen. The Morris Arboretum is a great place to spend the day with the one you love, but it is also a place to learn about history and other cultures. More »

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

This church's history dates back to the early 1800s, when Richard Allen, an African slave who taught himself to read and write, began preaching the message of the Lord and preaching against slavery. He was able to convince slave owners (including his own) that slavery was evil and unlawful. After buying the freedom of his family and own life, Allen founded this church as a separate entity from the Protestant and Methodist church which he has been attending because, at the time, it would not allow Africans to pray and worship in peace. Today, the church continues to be a place where all are accepted, regardless of race or background. It is the first Methodist Episcopal Church in the country to be founded by an African-American and it continues to support and fight against adversity. More »

Mummers Museum

If you happen to be visiting the City of Brotherly Love during new years and you come across Broad Street, expect to find elaborately costumed dancers, whimsical musicians, and merry citizens taking part in the Mummers Parade. The parade has been a Philly tradition since the middle of the 17th century and was a way for the city to help unite and blend the varying cultures that lived here. If you can't make it to the parade, plan a visit to the museum, where you will see and touch the intricate costumes--some which cost thousands of dollars to make and weigh over 100 pounds. There's no telling what will be worn each year, but this is the best place to see what has won the gold medal in years past.

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Museum of Mourning Art

This museum uses the act of mourning to educate the public on America's history. Exhibits show historical acts of mourning that date back to the death of our nation's first President, George Washington, all the way to present day. You will be able to see what was traditionally worn to mourn the loss of a loved one, both clothing for the mourner and for the deceased. You can also see a 100 year old hearse and objects associated with death, like skulls, cross and bones, and angels, that were used in households that were mourning. More »

Mutter Museum

It's sometimes hard to believe that the often crude instruments, wax anatomical and pathological models, and preserved specimens displayed in the Mutter Museum were the primary educational tools used to expand our knowledge of medicine. Before live specimens were available, these physical manifestations had to be used by instructors and students at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia from 1787 until the mid-1800s. In 1858, professor of surgery Thomas Mutter donated over 2,000 specimens he had used for teaching and today the bizarre, macabre, and fascinating collection spans 20,000 artifacts, including nearly 9,000 fluid-preserved pathological and anatomical specimens, more than 10,000 medical instruments that date from 1750, around 400 wax, paper mache, plaster and plastic anatomical and pathological models, and thousands of slides, scientific papers, diagrams, and prints. There is also a gallery that displays portraits, coins, and medicinal medals and awards. Although the squeamish might turn away from this museum, its unique exhibits and interesting artifacts are not to be missed! More »

National Archives Branch

The National Archives Branch holds historical records of court documents, census records, and more that date back to the late 1700s, during the first Continental Congress. The exhibits are continuously changing, so there is always something interesting and educational to see. The archives include information from Pennsylvania and surrounding states like Delaware, Virgina, and Maryland. More »

National Constitution Center

This Center was opened in 2003 as a way to help visitors better understand and appreciate the American Constitution. The idea for the Center stems back to 1988, when former President Reagan established the Constitution Heritage Act. Many of the exhibits are interactive and can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. More »

National Museum of American Jewish History

This museum is the only one of its kind in the Unites States, as no other Jewish museum exclusively focuses on the American Jewish Experience. Since opening in 1976, the museum has collected over 20,000 artifacts and regularly experiences high volumes of visitors from all over the world. The staff encourages everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion to take a walk through history; when Jews first started coming to America all the way to the present day. The exhibits are continuously changing, but past exhibits have featured Jewish artists, suitcases and personal items that were brought on the journey to America, food containers and bins that were sold at Kosher stores over 100 years ago, and boxing paraphernalia that was used during the height of Jewish boxing. The museum shares its space with the first Jewish congregation of America, the Synagogue of the American Revolution. More »

National Shrine of St. John Neumann

Due to an overpopulation of priests, Saint John Neumann was denied the ability to become a priest in his own country, the Czech Republic, and also in all of Europe. He put his rich knowledge of eight languages to use and connected with bishops in America before ending up as the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. He became a saint in 1977 and is buried in St. Peter the Apostle church, which was built in 1843. You can see him today, as he is interred above ground, just under the alter. The saint is known for being the first male in America to be ordained a saint and also for founding the first Catholic school in the United States. More »

National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia

Philadelphia experienced a large influx of Italian immigration in the early 1990s. To offer a place for the newcomers to feel at home and also have a safe place to worship, Augustinian Friars from a neighboring town of Philadelphia built a shrine and church that honored Italian born, Saint Rita of Cascia. Saint Rita was born in Cascia Italy in 1381, married at the age of 12 to an adulterous and violent man, and had two sons that unfortunately took after their father. Although Rita wanted to enter a convent before marrying, she accepted that it was God's will to have her marry. After her husband and two sons repented from their sins and died from various causes, Rita pursued her dream of being a nun. She was miraculously allowed to enter a monastery in her home town at the age of 36, where she lived the remainder of her life. She became a saint in 1900, during the time of the massive Italians immigration to the States. The church building was designed and built by George Lovatt in the style of 14th century Renaissance architecture. It includes marble ceilings, stained glass windows, and several artistic depictions of Saint Rita. More »

New Hall Military Museum

The New Hall Military Museum is housed in a replica of the War Department's building, which was originally built in 1790. The two story museum offers an historical background on the beginnings of the Marine Corp, Navy, and Army. The exhibits on the first floor include the "Marines in the Revolution." Here, you can view old grenades, uniforms, swords, and military paraphernalia that dates back to 1775--the year the first soldier, Samuel Nicholas, enlisted into the Marines. The second floor of the museum features a ship that needs your guidance through the storm. This interactive exhibit is a favorite among everyone, so don't forget to bring the kids. More »

Old City Hall

Before the nation's capitol moved to Washington DC, the U.S. Supreme Court met here. The building, a Georgian masterpiece by David Evans, was completed in 1791 and was immediately used until 1800 as a judicial building. During this time it was also the headquarters for volunteers to report to while giving aid and supplies to the public during the Yellow Fever epidemic. More »

Old First Reformed Church

The congregation that meets in this church was founded in 1727, by immigrants from Germany. Their first church building was built in 1747 and was used as a gathering place until 1837, when a second building was built on the property. The congregation met here until 1882, before relocating to 10th and Wallace Streets to accommodate growth within the congregation. The church moved again during the early 1900s before returning to its original location on 4th street in 1967. More »

Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church

As the only remaining Presbyterian structure in Philadelphia that was built before the revolutionary war, the Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church is truly a one-of-kind historical building that is worth visiting. The Greek revival structure was built 1768 and includes the Historic Colonial Churchyard, a graveyard with the earliest burial dating back to 1764. Since being built, the building has been used as a hospital, a horse stable, and now back to its original purpose, a church. You can visit the church, by attending a service, or you can stroll through the graveyard and look for famous Americans who are buried here. More »

Old St. George's Church

Old St. George's Church is the oldest Methodist church building in the entire Methodist denomination that is still in use today. The congregation started with 100 members in their new building in 1769. It then grew to a whopping 3,200 members in 1835, and after the Civil War, dramatically shrunk to 25 members in 1900. The church has stood strong against change and even forced plans for the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to be moved so that the historical church could remain. Along with touring the building and learning its history, you can visit the museum, which houses artifacts and books that date back to the early 1700s.
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Old St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

As the oldest Catholic church in Philadelphia, the Old St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church has a rich history and reputation of giving back the community which it has been a part of since 1733. It was founded by Jesuits before Philly became the large city it is today, and many ancestors of the Jesuits still attend the church. You can tour the church, while visiting the city, and learn about its history and its involvement with the poor, the homeless, the sick, and everyone else who is in need of help. More »

Old St. Mary's Church

Though this church cannot claim being the first Roman Catholic church to settle in Philadelphia, it can claim being one of the more well known, historical churches in the city. The congregation started holding meetings in this building in 1763 and throughout its history, famous Americans have knelt on the pews to pray, including members of the Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The graveyard on the property also has several famous people buried among the commoners, including John Barry (1745-1805), who is commonly referred to as the "Father of the American Navy." More »

Penn's Landing

If the weather is nice and you are looking to take a stroll, head down to Penn's Landing, on the west bank of the Delaware River. This area was named for William Penn, one of Philadelphia's founding fathers, who was believed to have landed here on the ship, Welcome, in 1682. Over the years Penn's Landing Corporation, a local non-profit, has built the area into a popular public gathering place. In the winter months, you can take a lap or two, or three, or four around the outdoor ice skating rink. During the summer months, bring a lawn chair and some ice tea to sip while listening to live music. If you're looking for some romance time with your significant other, head down here for dinner and a coffee before dancing to the beats of the live bands. More »

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

As the oldest art museum and school in the nation, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is well-known around the world for its exceptional education program and for its extensive collection of 19th and 20th century art. The Academy was established in 1805 by local artists, Charles Willson Peale and William Rush. The museum was built in 1876 and is now included on the list of National Historic Places, so if you are interested in art and history, you should certainly plan time to visit. Alumni of the Academy include John Sloan, Mary Cassatt, and George Luks and famous artists that have had had their work on the walls or taught classes here include Jacob Lawrence, Bo Bartlett, and Guy Pène du Bois. If you feel inspired to be creative after your visit, sign up for one of the day and evening art classes offered by teachers, students, and artists in residence. More »

Pennsylvania Hospital

Originally founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond as a place for the sick, poor, and insane, this was the nation's first public hospital. Pennsylvania Hospital has led the way in psychiatric healthcare innovations since Dr. Benjamin Rush, considered the founder of American Psychiatry, began to work here in the 1780's. More »

Philadelphia Doll Museum

This doll museum is a one-of-a kind museum, specializing in the history of dolls and doll collecting. The collections on display include African, European, and American Folk Art dolls. If you are an avid collector, consider attending a workshop on doll collecting, or on paper doll and cloth doll making, which are held here on a regular basis. More »

Philadelphia Insectarium

Did you know that bees have five eyes? Or that cockroaches can go a month without eating food? At the Philadelphia Insectarium, you and your kids can learn all about the fascinating world of crawling, flying, and busy buzzing critters. The Insectarium is the only museum in the United States to feature only arthropods and its interactive exhibits, live insects, and mounted bugs will entertain and intrigue everyone in your family. Your kids will understand why they should help clean the house after venturing through Cockroach Kitchen, a model kitchen that is completely covered with live cockroaches. After that, they can explore the complex world of spider webs while crawling through a man-made spider web. With three levels of space to explore, and a collection of bugs from all over the world, the Philadelphia Insectarium is both an educational and fun experience for all. More »

Philadelphia Merchant's Exchange

Designed by early American architect William Strickland in Greek-Revival style, this impressive structure is the nation's oldest stock exchange building and one of the city's architectural marvels. It now houses the offices of the National Park Service and is part of Independence National Historical Park. It's closed to the public, except for a small lobby exhibit highlighting the building's architecture and history. More »

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the largest museums in the United States and was established in 1876. The collections in the museum continuously rotate, but there are over 225,000 pieces of art in the museum's permanent collection. At any given time you can see works by famous contemporary artists and works by historical artists who lived centuries ago. Its relationship to the community is rich and very involved, as they strive to make the museum accessible to everyone. If you are hoping to have a romantic evening with the one you love, consider visiting after five on Fridays, for Art After Five, where you can sip on a glass of wine and leisurely peruse through the galleries while live music plays in the background. More »

Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial

To honor and pay tribute to the brave men and women, over 58,000 of them, who died in the Vietnam War, a memorial was built and is used as a place to gather and reflect. In the 1980s, a group of Vietnam War Veterans helped establish the memorial near Penn's Landing. The two curved walls face and mirror each other, while one wall has names of the deceased inscribed in it and the other has etched photos from the war on it. The design was decided on by the Veterans, after establishing a design contest and receiving over 100 entries by local Pennsylvanians. More »

Philadelphia Zoo

Since opening its gates to the public in 1874, the Philadelphia zoo has become known around the world for being able to breed endangered species in captivity, while other zoos have continuously had trouble doing so. Because of their success with breeding, this zoo has a large collection of endangered species from all over the world. The zoo's focus on conservation and education of animals is evident in their programs and lectures that cater to children and adults alike. In 2006, the zoo opened Big Cat Falls, which allows visitors to get closer than ever to big cats like the snow leopard, cougar, and black jaguar. Your kids will love exploring the different areas of the zoo, like the Amphibian House and Carnivore Kingdom, so pack a picnic and head to the zoo. More »

Philosophical Hall

Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, Philosophical Hall was where the most learned minds gathered to encourage knowledge and study science, nature, government, and more. Members included prominent politicians, scientists, doctors, and clergy. Today, the hall showcases different exhibits that promote science, art, and history. More »

Physick House

Built in 1786 by Madeira wine importer, Henry Hill, the Physick House is one of the most well-preserved Federal Style homes in Philadelphia. From 1815 to 1837 it was the home of Dr. Philip Syng Physick, who most people refer to as, "The Father of American Surgery." Physick was one of the first doctors in the country to explore using a stomach pump, carbonated water, autopsies, and cataract surgery as means to help people. He also helped start the first hospital in America, the Pennsylvania Hospital. The third floor in this historical brick house is used as a medical museum, where you can see what kind of medical equipment was used in the 1800s. The rest of the house includes original, period style furniture and art. More »

Please Touch Museum

This museum is truly a place where kids can be kids, while also learning valuable fundamental life skills. They will learn about cooperation, negotiating, building positive relationships, and more while exploring life sized, themed "museum exhibits." They can become the main character in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, where they dine with the Madhatter, or play chess in the Queen's courtyard. Other hands-on areas in the museum include the Supermarket, where kids learn about shopping, stocking, and purchasing. More »

Polish American Cultural Center

This museum was started in the 1980s to foster appreciation and knowledge of Polish history. Exhibits include paintings of famous and politically important Polish people, folk art, and costumes created and used in Polish celebrations and traditions. The museum also offers an enlightening history lesson on Poland and Polish people in America. If you plan your trip accordingly, you can attend one of the Polish language classes that the museum offers to the public for a small fee. More »

Powel House

The Powel House was built in 1765 by Charles Stedman, a successful businessman and merchant, and it is considered to be one of the best examples of a Georgian Colonial townhouse still standing today in the United States. The brick mansion was sold to Samuel Powel in 1769. Powel was the last mayor of Philadelphia to be in office under Crown rule and he was the first mayor of the city to be in office when the United States was formed. Decorative arts, portraits of Samuel Powel and his family, and a traditional Colonial walled garden make this historical home a popular attraction. More »

Quaker Information Center

The Quaker religion was founded in the mid 1600s and is based on friendship, social equality, pacifism, and simplicity, among other things. You can visit the information center and learn about these people and their beliefs, including the fact that they are not affiliated in anyway with the Amish, Puritans, or Shakers. They are a friendly group of people who welcome curiosity and questions, so feel free to stop by at any time. More »

Reading Terminal Market

This farmers market in the heart of central Philadelphia has been in operation for more than a century. It houses wide-ranging food stands, including produce, pastries, meats and poultry, pasta, and baked goods, to name a few. There are also Amish specialties from the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The market was started underneath a train station when the new terminal was built in 1892. Train tracks were rerouted in the 1980s, turning the old train station into the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and at the same time, enlarging the Farmer's Market. More »

Rittenhouse Square

Since the late 1700s, locals have enjoyed strolling through this area. It has always been an area that offered a glimpse into the everyday lives of the wealthier community who lived here. Although many of the historical homes have been turned into apartments and boutique stores, you can still appreciate the impressive architecture while being transported back in time. This square was one of William Penn's five squares he had established as a public gathering place. It's name changed from the southwest square to the Rittenhouse Square in 1825. David Rittenhouse was a famous astronomer, mathematician, and clock maker who lived in the 1700s. More »

Rodin Museum

Auguste Rodin was a famous French sculptor in the early 1900s. He is known for being able to capture the beauty and intensity of human expression and often used the same figures, but posed differently, so the viewer would get to know his subjects more intimately. Jules Mastbaum wanted to give something back to the city he loved, so he created the Rodin Museum and donated his personal collection of Rodin sculptures to the museum in 1929. The largest collection of Rodin's art outside of Paris includes famous pieces like The Thinker and Eternal Springtime. It is an excellent place to retreat to if you need some quiet time on your trip. More »

Romanian Folk Art Museum

This is the best place in Philadelphia to learn about Romania--its culture, people, economics and reasons for immigration. It is a non-profit museum with exhibits that include authentic Romanian costumes, furniture, pottery, rugs, and more. While visiting, ask the staff about community events that are often held here. More »

Rose Garden and Magnolia Garden

The Rose Garden, which stretches through a scenic Society Hill courtyard, is a tribute to the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The smaller Magnolia Garden features different types of magnolia trees. This garden was created to as a tribute to George Washington, who was fond of magnolias. Both gardens are across the street from each other. More »

Rosenbach Museum & Library

The Rosenbach Museum and Library is located in the home of brothers, Philip and Dr. A.S.W Rosenbach, who started the Rosenbach Company in the early 1900s. A.S.W collected rare, one-of-a-kind books and manuscripts, including the original and only surviving first print of Yankee Doodle Dandy and parts of James Joyce's manuscripts of Ulysses. Philip Rosenbach was an avid collector of decorative arts and together, the two of them established a historical museum full of rarities in art, books, and furniture. Along with showing the brothers personal collections, the museum continuously rotates certain exhibits, so there is always something new and exciting to see. More »

Second Bank of the United States

After the War of 1812, our nation's currency was on the verge of collapsing. To help combat this the fourth President of the United States, James Madison, founded the Second Bank of the United States. The building was modeled after the First Bank of the United States, which closed in 1811, and was built by William Strickland. The Second Bank is associated with much scandal and controversy and it eventually closed in 1832 by Andrew Jackson, America's seventh President, because he believed it was too corrupt. Today, the building has been turned into an art gallery and is on the list of National Register of Historic Places. More »

Shoe Museum

Put on your walking shoes and venture off the beaten path to this one-of-a-kind museum in the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. The Shoe Museum fist opened in 1976 to commemorate the Nation's 100th birthday and it quickly grew into a funky museum that walks visitors through the history of shoes. The museum aims to educate you on how shoes were used in different cultures over the centuries. You will be able to see shoes from ancient China to bind women's feet and you can see the furry boots that kept the feet of Eskimos warm through the winter. Other shoes on display include the shoes of famous politicians, sports starts, and actors. More »

Shofuso (Pine Breeze Villa)

To escape the ever bustling city, head to Fairmount Park, where a replica of a 16th century Japanese home and a formal garden provide a moment of peace and serenity. The original home was built 1876, for a Japanese Bazaar and Garden show taking place in the city. It burned to the ground in 1955 and a new home was designed and built by Yoshimura Junzoo in Nagoya, Japan, before being shipped to the States in 1953. The formal gardens were designed by Sano Tansai and are now maintained by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. It is an excellent place to visit if you are looking for a place to retreat and reflect on your visit to the city. More »

Society Hill Synagogue

The Society Hill Synagogue was originally built in 1829 for the Spruce Street Baptist Congregation, who occupied the building until 1912. It was built by one of Philadelphia's own, Thomas U. Walter, who was a mere 25 years old when he undertook the project. You may recognize Walter's works as he also designed the dome on the the White House in DC. Just a little over 20 years later, Walter was commissioned by the church once more to add on to and restore certain parts of the building. Society Hill, the area where the synagogue is located, has recently undergone a restoration overhaul and is once more a neighborhood that is safe to visit and live in. It is considered one of the most historic neighborhoods in all of the United States, as it has the largest number of historic buildings in a small radius. More »

South Street and Walkway

South Street is perhaps the hippest street in Philadelphia, but with a heavy emphasis on youth with its pop culture and counterculture. The street is lined with a variety of alternative lifestyle shops, as well as an eclectic blend of cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. The walkway is just that, a walkway over Interstate 95 that provides easy access to Penn's Landing. More »

St. Mark's Church

St. Mark's Church was built in 1848 and is a popular stop for tourists and locals alike. John Notman designed the Gothic Revival church and it was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Some of the treasures in the church are the stained glass masterpieces that were designed and created by Charles Eamer Kempe and the historic Aeolian-Skinner organ that was made by G. Donald Harrison. More »

St. Peters Church

When the historical Christ Church on North Street became overcrowded, members started to make plans for a new church, St. Peters Church, just down the road on Pine street. It was built in 1761 and has been open to the public every Sunday since then. It is most famous for having several of our country's founding fathers worship here, including George Washington, who even had a pew installed for his family at one time. The graveyard on the property has several famous historical figures buried in it, including American painter and soldier, Charles Willson Peale, the 11th Vice President of the country, George Mifflin Dallas, and eight Indian Chiefs who were stricken with and died from smallpox while visiting the city. More »

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

This memorial for Thaddeus Kosciuszko has recently been restored and pays tribute to a man who fought for the freedom of the United States and for his native country, Poland. It is where Kosciuszko slept while planning and building fortifications to protect Philadelphia against the British army. While staying here, friends like Thomas Jefferson and Chief Little Turtle visited him. Kosciuszko was summoned to the States from Poland by Benjamin Franklin in 1776 and was made Brigadier General shortly after arriving. After fighting in the American Revolution, Kosciuszko returned to Poland to help lead soldiers in the Polish–Russian War of 1792 and also in the Kościuszko Uprising against Imperial Russia in 1794. Today, the memorial is on the list of National Register of Historic Places and is one of over a hundred places in the world that pay tribute to a war hero and true patriot. More »

The Shops at Liberty Place

This complex anchors the city's two largest skyscrapers--the 61-story One Liberty Place tower, which stretches almost 100 feet higher than its 58-story companion tower Two Liberty Place. At the base of the towers is a shopping mall, with wide-ranging boutiques and shops, as well as a large food court mostly frequented by Center City office workers. One Liberty Place was the first building in Philadelphia to be built taller than the William Penn statue atop City Hall, thus breaking an 86-year gentlemen's agreement not to do so. More »

Thomas Eakins House

This modest brick row house is where renowned Philadelphia artist Thomas Eakins lived. Eakins often painted scenes of 19th and early 20th century life in his beloved city, including the popular sport of sculling on the Schuylkill River. Today, the house is where the city's Mural Arts Program is based and features artworks painted by some of the city's young artists. The Mural Arts Program is responsible for the massive outdoor murals that cover walls throughout the city. The program was established to direct the talent of young artists and youth-at-risk toward art that enlightens and away from graffiti. More »

Thomas Mill Bridge

If you want to take a moment to pause and snap a few photos of history, then the Thomas Mill Bridge, on the north side of Fairmount Park, is the perfect place for you. It was built in the late 1800s/early 1900s and is the sole remaining historic covered bridge within the city limits of Philadelphia. Only your feet can take you across, so expect the pace of life to slow as you enjoy walking across this little red covered bridge. More »

Todd House

The Georgian style home where John Todd Jr. and wife Dolly Madison lived was built in 1775. Todd was a prominent lawyer and had an office in the home, which you can still see today, before succumbing to the Yellow Fever epidemic in 1793. Dolly and her two children were told to leave the city, but her youngest child, William Temple Todd, also died from the fever the same year he was born. Dolly returned to the city a year later and married what one day be the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. More »

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Washington Square, part of William Penn's original city layout, was by the time of the Revolutionary War, known to Philadelphians as a "potter's field," a place where unknown visitors, those whose deaths had outcast them from church burial, and other people of disrepute were buried in a mass grave. And so, as the deaths mounted from the war that was raging around the city, they were taken here for permanent storage, so to speak. John Adams wrote of encounter with the "potter's field" that "I never in my whole life was affected with so much melancholy. The graves of the soldiers, who have been buried, in this ground, from the hospital and bettering-house, during the course of last summer, fall and winter, dead of the small pox and camp diseases, are enough to make the heart of stone to melt away!" Indeed, thousands of soldiers are buried here, and in 1954, the city moved to construct a memorial for those who fought and died in the cause of American independence. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier includes phrasings and a quotation from Washington's Farewell Address, as well as a statue of George Washington looking at Independence Hall. It's certainly worth a little time and reflection for all Americans, who the plaque on the reminds, "Beneath this stone rests a soldier of Washington's army who died to give you liberty." More »

Transit Museum

The Transit Museum, located in the SEPTA's headquarters, is more or less an exhibit that traces the history of Philadelphia's public transit system. There's an old trolley car that has been restored in the lobby, which is a great piece of interactive history. The exhibit also includes photographs and other items for viewing. If you are especially smitten by public transportation, or your kids love big machinery, this is a quick and easy stop.

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Tyler Arboretum

The Tyler Arboretum has its roots in late-17th century Pennsylvania, when the state's namesake, William Penn, signed an agreement of "lease and release" with Thomas Pinchall, a Briton. During the 1800s, the Painter brothers planted hundreds and hundreds of trees and plant species, some of which have become award-winning varieties and well known in the world of botany. It would stay within the Pinchall family tree until 1944, when Laura Tyler, of direct lineage to Thomas Pinchall, dedicated the land to a board of trustees to create a non-profit arboretum, in honor of her husband, John J. Tyler. Today, the arboretum has 650 acres and over 20 miles of hiking trails, and of course innumerable plants and tree species. It's a gorgeous place and perfect if you want to explore some natural surroundings for an afternoon or so. The arboretum also offers guided tours and walks through the grounds on a seasonal basis. More »

United States Mint

The United States Mint, in Philadelphia, has been producing coins since 1792, when Congress established the Coinage Act to create a stable currency for trade and commerce. Since then, three other Mint facilities have opened all over the United States, Denver, Colorado, San Fransisco, California, and West Point, New York. Along with making the coins that end up being our lose change, the U.S. Mint also makes uncirculated and commemorative coins. If you enjoy collecting coins, you should definitely stop by and see what kind of rare novelties you can pick up after the tour. More »

University of Pennsylvania and University City

The University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1749 by Benjamin Franklin, and was the country's very first such institution of higher learning. An Ivy League university, Penn as it's called still has many 19th century buildings along its central, shaded pedestrian street known as Locust Walk. The university is within the neighborhood known as University City, a diverse area with a host of ethnic restaurants, galleries and cafes. University City is also home to Drexel University. More »

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Over the last 115 years, the University of Pennsylvania has worked hard to maintain its reputation for having one of the world's best archeology and anthropology museums. The museum funded and led some of the first expeditions to Egypt, Africa, Mesopotamia, the Bible Lands, and more. Their rewards for leading over 400 scientific expeditions allows you the ability to see rare artifacts including mummies, ruins from the Royal Tombs of Ur, a sphinx, and several reliefs. You can also see a large variety of objects and artifacts from all over the world that were once used in religious ceremonies, cultural practices, and as everyday tools. More »

Valley Forge National Historical Park

This is a famous American Revolution War site used as a campground by the struggling Continental Army during the harsh winter of 1777-1778. George Washington and his men retreated here after losing to the British at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Today, the park has a visitor center, which houses artifacts and offers educational exhibits. On the grounds are the original stone farmhouse that General Washington used as his headquarters, the National Memorial Arch monument, and reconstructed log cabins. More »

Wagner Free Institute of Science

This natural history museum first opened free of charge to the public by scientist and philanthropist, William Wagner, in 1855. Wagner was passionate about offering a free education in science to the public, regardless of gender. Today, the museum is most known for Wagner's personal collection of fossils and minerals, but it is also a unique museum to visit. Along with learning about the past, you step into the past once you enter the museum. Much of the mounted animals, insects, and birds are in the same place they were when Wagner put them there. Fossils of dinosaurs, shells, and the first Sabretooth Tiger to be found in America are still shown in the specially made cabinets from the 1880s. More »

Walt Whitman House

The famous American poet Walt Whitman lived in this house during the last years of his life. Located just a couple of blocks from the Camden Waterfront, this is where Whitman finished his most famous poetry works, "Leaves of Grass." The home includes some of his letters and photographs. More »

Washington Square

What was once known as Southeast Square, when William Penn's lay of the land included five city squares, is now called Washington Square and is an area for artists to thrive in. The square, like some of the other town squares, were once used as pastoral land and as a burial ground. At times, huge trenches up to 30 feet deep were dug and filled with the dead bodies of strangers who died while visiting the city. Today, this area is alive and vibrant and is a popular place to visit if you are interested in the arts. Camac Street, often called, "Avenue of the Artists", is well-known for its historical artists societies, which still meet and produce masterpieces today. More »

Welcome Park

Welcome Park was created to remember and honor William Penn, Pennsylvania's founding father who first stepped foot here in 1682. Penn came by sea, on the ship Welcome, which is what the park was named after 300 years later, in 1982. At one time you would have been able to see the Slate Roof House, where Penn rented a room for 80 pounds a year while establishing the laws of the land. The house was torn down and replaced by several buildings which have also been destroyed, but you can see a miniature replica of the house in the middle of the park. More »

Woodlands Cemetery

The Woodlands Cemetery is located on what used to be the property of Andrew Hamilton and his descendants in the 1700s. The land was eventually parcelled and sold to the cemetery in 1840. Among the famous buried here are William Williams Keen, the first American brain surgeon, and the founder of Drexel University, Anthony Joseph Drexel. Along with meandering through the historic gravestones and burial grounds, you can visit the Federal Style mansion built by Andrew Hamilton in 1789. It is full of secret passageways and unique oval shaped rooms. More »

Woodmere Art Museum

From the exterior of the building, the Woodmere Art Museum looks like the palatial home of Philadelphia's elite. Opened in the magnificent looking nineteenth century stone Victorian mansion in Chestnut Hill in 1940, the museum features many artists that come from the Philadelphia. The idea for the museum came largely at the bequest of Charles Knox Smith, who aimed to create “a very lively art center...to awaken the spirit of, the appreciation of, and the knowledge of art . . . in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding territory.” His wish was certainly fulfilled as the six-acre site of the former home has assumed itself as a leader of Philadelphia artists and its 2,500 plus works of art over nine galleries and salons. Come see the works of various artists such as Edward Willis Redfield, NC Wyeth, and George Krause, or continue the learning experience through the George D. Widener Studio for special programs and classes are available to children and adults. More »

Wyck House

This National Historic Landmark dates back to the 1600s, when Hans Millan made the journey from Germany to Pennsylvania. He built himself a strong home that would remain in his family for eight generations to come. The hall was one of the favorite places for the family to linger. In the summer months, the oversized doors were swung open so the breeze could cool the house down and in the winter, all the plants were brought inside and the hall became a conservatory and was a harmonious place to sit and relax in the evenings. Every member of the family that lived here tended the garden, as each had an interest in horticulture. Today, the garden still thrives and produces seasonal flowers and fresh produce. The garden is most known for its roses--there are over 30 different varieties. If you time your visit right, be sure to take time to smell the roses at this historical home and grounds. More »