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Philadelphia History - Philadelphia Facts - Philadelphia Firsts - Philadelphia in the Movies

Philadelphia History

In 1681, King Charles II granted 45,000 square miles of land, on the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, to William Penn, as payment for a debt owed to Penn's father. Here, this Quaker gentlemen founded Philadelphia - "City of Brotherly Love," translated from Greek - as part of his "Holy Experiment" of religious freedom in the New World. His fellow Quakers settled here, as well as people of many other religious backgrounds, giving Philadelphia the diverse ethnic flavor residents still savor today.

Penn's chief surveyor, Captain Thomas Holmes, used a grid pattern for the city that included five public squares -- all of which remain today -- to realize Penn's vision of a "greene countrie towne."

Primarily due to its excellent location on the Atlantic Coast and accessible port facilities, Philadelphia grew rapidly in the 18th century until it was the largest English-speaking city in the world outside of London. It was appropriately named the "Athens of the Americas" and was the cultural center of the New World.

Philadelphia was also a governmental center, serving as the nation's temporary capital from 1790 to 1800. The City's history from 1774 to 1800 is closely linked to that of the American Revolution and the newborn nation. Thus, it is often referred to as "America's birthplace." Visitors to Philadelphia can learn more about that fight for freedom by visiting "America's Most Historic Square Mile," Independence National Historical Park. Two of the nation's most precious monuments to freedom -- the Liberty Bell, an international symbol of freedom, and Independence Hall -- are focal points of the Park.

The First Continental Congress met at Carpenter's Hall in 1774. In 1776, Independence Hall served as the site where the colonists adopted the Declaration of Independence. In 1787, 55 delegates to a federal convention envisioned a strong government for our new nation with the creation of the Constitution of the United States.

A few blocks away is Old City, the first commercial area of Philadelphia and one of America's oldest business districts. Although most of the buildings now date from the latter part of the 19th century, the area still features Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continually occupied residential street in the country; the Betsy Ross House, where legend has it the seamstress sewed the first American Flag; and Christ Church, where services are still held today as they were when George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and other colonial leaders worshipped there.

During the 19th century, the city grew, annexing parts of the countryside and consolidating with the country in 1854. The annexation included Fairmount Park, now the world's largest municipal park, spanning nearly 9,000 acres. In the park, history is preserved with a dozen 18th- and 19th-century mansions, the Philadelphia Zoo (the nation's first), the Victorian-era Boathouse Row, and even an authentic reconstruction of a 17th-century Japanese scholar's house and garden. Also in the Park, Memorial Hall stands as is a reminder of America's Centennial, celebrated at the United States first World's Fair in 1876.

As America went to war, so did Philadelphia. At Penn's Landing, along the Delaware River, are the Independence Seaport Museum; the USS Becuna, a World War II submarine vessel; and the Gazela of Philadelphia, a fishing vessel that is more than a century old. Also nearby is the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 1987, One Liberty Place was the first building to break the early 20th-century gentlemen's agreement that no building be taller than William Penn's statue atop City Hall (about 41 stories). Now, the Liberty Place complex is one of many buildings that rise above the City's founder, including the Mellon Bank Building and Bell Atlantic Tower and the new Comcast Center. The tallest building between New York City and Chicago. A progressive spirit continues as new skyscrapers light up the skyline of the second largest city on the East Coast, increasing the popularity of evening illumination tours.

Philadelphia Facts

Philadelphia, the sixth largest city in the United States, was the first major city in America. The second largest city on the East Coast, Philadelphia still retains its original Colonial design.

Greater Philadelphia, with more than 4 million people in a 12-country area, extends from Wilmington, Delaware (south) to Trenton, New Jersey (east) to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (west). Most of the 7 million people live in the 9-county metropolitan area that includes Philadelphia. The city of Philadelphia - 129 square miles - has 1.5 million residents. Twenty-six percent of the U.S. population lives within a one-day drive from the City of Brotherly Love.

Philadelphia's growing economy is one of the most diverse in the United States. Health care, education, law, technology, and service industries such as banking and insurance are its main industries. Philadelphia is the largest freshwater port in the USA.

The Philadelphia area is a leading center for education with more than 88 colleges and universities, more than any other city except New York City. In health care, Philadelphia ranks second with 22% of doctors in the United States graduating from a Philadelphia medical school or teaching hospital.

Philadelphia is the home of Pennsylvania's largest building, the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The center opened in June 1993 with 1.3 million square feet of total space, equivalent to the length of 6 football fields. The Convention Center is also home of the world-famous Philadelphia Flower Show, held every spring. Connected to the Convention Center is Pennsylvania's largest hotel, the Philadelphia Marriott, with 1,410 rooms.

Philadelphia Firsts

  • Oldest continuously occupied street in the U.S.: Elfreth's Alley, since 1713.
  • First art school and art museum: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, founded 1805.
  • Oldest theater in continuous use in the English-speaking world: Walnut Street Theater, since 1809.
  • First orchestra to appear in a motion picture (1937), on television (1948) and to tour China (1973): Philadelphia Orchestra.
  • First city to guarantee religious freedom, beginning in 1682.
  • First African-American church: Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, established 1794.
  • First zoo in America: Philadelphia Zoo, chartered in 1859 and opened in 1874.
  • First July 4th event: 1776. Still a big celebration every year with the 10-day Sunoco Welcome America! festival.
  • First Thanksgiving Day Parade: 1919.
  • First botanical garden: Bartram's Garden, opened 1728.
  • First stock exchange: Philadelphia Stock Exchange, 1790.
  • First international-style skyscraper: Loews Philadelphia Hotel (12th & Market Streets), formerly the PSFS (bank) Building, 1932. This was also the first totally air-conditioned building in America.
  • First and oldest hospital in America: Pennsylvania Hospital, opened 1751.
  • First World's Fair in America: the Centennial International Exhibition, 1876. Memorial Hall, built especially for the World's Fair, will house the Please Touch Museum in fall 2008.
  • First American convention: the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the Constitution of the United States was written and adopted by representatives of the 13 original colonies.
  • First American university: The University of Pennsylvania assumed university status in 1779.
  • First library: The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731; its current location, 1314 Locust Street, is open to the public.
  • First U. S. Mint: established in 1792 on Seventh Street, near Arch Street, it was the first property acquired by the federal government.

Philadelphia in the Movies

"Rocky," "Rocky II," "Rocky III," "Rocky V", and "Rocky Balboa" you may recall the famous scenes where Rocky runs through the Italian Market in South Philadelphia and up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where a plaque now marks the site. A statue of Rocky can be found at the bottom of the museum steps. ("Rocky IV" was not filmed in Philadelphia)

"Philadelphia" starring Academy Award winners Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, was directed by Academy Award-winner Jonathan Demme. It was shot in many locations throughout Philadelphia, notably City Hall.

"Twelve Monkeys" starring Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis, features the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Eastern State Penitentiary and the High School for Creative and Performing Arts.

"Up Close and Personal"with Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer, features Philadelphia and its local television scene. A setting for this movie was the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

"Witness" starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis and Danny Glover, is the story of a Philadelphia cop who tries to solve a murder witnessed by a young Amish boy. The most memorable scene is set in Philadelphia's 30th Street Train Station.

"Trading Places" starring Eddie Murphy,Dan Akroyd and the late Don Ameche, has memorable scenes in and around Rittenhouse Square and on the steps of the Curtis Institute of Music.

"Taps"with Timothy Hutton, George C. Scott, Tom Cruise and Sean Penn, was shot at the Valley Forge Military Academy.

"Blow Out" starring John Travolta, featured a Mummers Parade, the Fourth of July at Penn's Landing, and a chase scene inside 30th Street Train Station.

"Mannequin" starring Andrew McCarthy, and "Mannequin II," were filmed inside the Lord and Taylor Department Store (formally John Wannamaker's) at 13th and Market Streets.

"Stealing Home" with Jodie Foster and Mark Harmon, was shot in Chestnut Hill, a neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia.

"Clean and Sober" with Michael Keaton, was filmed at the Rohm and Haas Building at Sixth and Market Streets (adjacent to the Liberty Bell) and throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

"Beloved" starring Oprah Winfrey, features scenes shot in the Old City section of Philadelphia.

"Sixth Sense" starring Bruce Willis, was filmed throughout Philadelphia including Boathouse Row and the streets of Center City.