Local Attractions
Please visit The Greater Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau -
www.philadelphiausa.travel.
Local Attractions:
Philadelphia, a dynamic place where big city excitement meets hometown
charm, awaits your arrival. Famous as the birthplace of life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness, the cradle of liberty offers much more than cobblestone streets and
historical landmarks. Cultural, culinary, artistic and ethnic treasures abound in
this city and its surrounding countryside. The fifth-largest city in the country,
Philadelphia is a welcoming place, a city based on freedom of expression.
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Amusements:
Experience all that Philadelphia has to offer. Hit the cobblestone streets
and awaken your inner explorer in the city that embraces past and progress. Treat
your senses to bustling open-air markets and art that inspires in the city's eclectic
galleries. Watch history come to life and soak up some of the country’s most celebrated
culinary creations and phenomenal nightlife.
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History:
Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker. 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.
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.
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South Street
For some late-night revelry, you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for
along South Street. This bastion of counterculture is seemingly always in full swing
with stores, bars, restaurants, clubs, and live music venues you certainly won’t
find anywhere else. You can grab a bite at one of the many vegetarian cafés, pizzerias,
or sushi bars, then head down the street to take in some live music. At the Theatre
of the Living Arts you can catch some of the best-known independent artists on the
scene.
Rittenhouse Square
Walnut St. between 18th and 19th Sts., Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA
You can escape from the busy city in Rittenhouse Square, the perfect place for an
afternoon picnic. The square was one of the five original open-space parks planned
by William Penn in the 17th century and today it continues to thrive, surrounded
by trendy shops, restaurants, and luxury hotels.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
26th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: (215) 763-8100
Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is America's oldest continually
operation school of fine arts and museum. A recipient of the 2005 National Medal
of Arts presented by the President of the United States of America, the Academy
is recognized leader in fine arts education. The institution's world-class collection
of American art continues to grow and includes major works by the Academy's faculty
and alumni, both current and historic.
Independence National Historical Park
Merchants Exchange Building, 143 South 3rd St.
143 South 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (215) 597-8787
Independence Hall and the related historic buildings which make up the park witnessed
an exciting time - when the 18th century delegates to the Second Continental Congress
argued over the next step in the dangerous game of rebellion and then issued the
Declaration of Independence. Eleven years later, secret deliberations and hard compromises
resulted in a new frame of government to hold the country together - the Constitution
of the United States. Millions of visitors explore the ideas and challenges of the
past - so remote in time but so important to how we think today-when they visit
Independence National Historical Park.