History

Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker. King Charles II of England granted him a parcel of land that included 1,280 acres between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Penn's chief surveyor, Captain Thomas Holmes, devised a grid pattern for the city that included five public squares, all of which remain, to realize Penn's dream of a "green countrie towne." Due to its excellent location on the Atlantic Coast and accessible port facilities, Philadelphia grew rapidly in the 18th century until it was the second largest English-speaking city in the world. It was called the Athens of the Americas as the cultural center of the New World.

Philadelphia's history from 1774 to 1800 is inextricably linked to that of the American Revolution and the young nation. In Independence National Historical Park, "America's most historic square mile," visitors can see two of the nation's most precious monuments to freedom - the Liberty Bell, symbol of the nation's freedom, and Independence Hall, the birthplace of the nation, where a group of dissatisfied colonists adopted Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. And right here in Philadelphia in 1787 was written the Constitution of the United States. Philadelphia was the nation's capital from 1791 to 1800.

During the 19th century the city grew, annexing parts of the countryside including Fairmont Park. In the huge park are a dozen 18th and 19th century mansions, the nation's first zoo, and the Victorian era Boathouse Row.

Philadelphia also has a strong maritime heritage. Along the Delaware River are the USS Olympia, Admiral Dewey's flagship from the Spanish-American War, the USS Becuna submarine, and the Gazela of Philadelphia, a fishing vessel that's more than a century old.

Today, with a population of approximately 1.6 million, Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city in the United States and the second-largest on the East Coast. The city's recent renaissance in the last decade has brought national attention.

In recent years, Philadelphia has been named the "number one restaurant city," "America's friendliest city," and "the safest large city." It is truly a great destination. Be sure to visit Philadelphia soon.