Visiting Philadelphia

Philadelphia is one of America’s most historic cities, filled with landmarks connected to the founding of the United States. But there’s much more to Philly than its Revolutionary War history. The city has beautiful architecture, world-class museums, distinctive neighborhoods, famous food, and enough attractions that I’ve returned several times over the years. The photo above shows the George Washington Monument at Eakins Oval, with the Philadelphia skyline rising in the distance.

If you’re visiting Philadelphia for the first time, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are two places that shouldn’t be missed. Independence Hall was where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted, making this small area of Philadelphia one of the most historically significant places in the country. The building originally served as the Pennsylvania State House and today forms the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park.

Nearby is the Liberty Bell, one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States. The bell was originally commissioned in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House and was used for public announcements and important occasions. Contrary to a popular story, historians don’t have evidence that the bell rang on July 4, 1776, or to announce the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Its famous crack also developed over time rather than from a single dramatic accident. The bell later became particularly associated with the abolitionist movement, which helped transform it from an old statehouse bell into an enduring symbol of American liberty.

Philadelphia’s historic district is full of reminders of the people who played a role in the American Revolution and the creation of the new country. Walking through this part of the city is almost like exploring an outdoor history museum, with colonial buildings, churches, monuments, and historic markers scattered throughout the surrounding streets.

Above is the Walnut Street Theatre, another piece of Philadelphia history. Founded in 1809, it is recognized as the oldest continuously operating theater in the United States. It’s a good example of how Philadelphia’s history extends well beyond the Revolutionary period, with historic buildings and institutions from different eras scattered throughout the city.

Of course, you can’t talk about Philadelphia without mentioning cheesesteaks. They’ve become famous throughout the United States, and you’ll find restaurants selling their own versions all over the country. I wanted to try a real one during one of my earlier visits, but the friend I was traveling with insisted that we eat somewhere else. Nearly five years later I returned to Philadelphia and finally got my cheesesteak.

Above is my sandwich along with my coworker, a Pennsylvania native who led me to the restaurant. After waiting years to finally try one in Philadelphia itself, I could officially check a real Philly cheesesteak off my list.

Exploring beyond Philadelphia’s major tourist attractions gives you a much better look at the character of the city. Philly is especially known for its long blocks of row houses, some beautifully restored and others showing their age. Murals are another common sight. Huge works of art cover the sides of buildings throughout the city, turning otherwise ordinary streets and walls into something worth stopping to photograph.

Philadelphia is also famous for its museums, particularly the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Thanks to the Rocky movies, however, the museum’s front steps became almost as famous as the artwork inside. The Rocky statue nearby has become a Philadelphia landmark of its own, and you’ll almost always find visitors posing beside it before running—or at least walking—up the famous steps.

Philadelphia also has a special connection to the United States Marine Corps. Tun Tavern once stood in the city and is traditionally recognized as the birthplace of the Marines, where the first recruits were enlisted after the Continental Marines were established on November 10, 1775. The original tavern disappeared long ago, but the site remains an important piece of Marine Corps history and was naturally something I wanted to see while exploring Philadelphia.

One of my favorite things about Philadelphia is how easily the city’s history blends into the modern city around it. You can walk away from the major attractions and suddenly find yourself on a narrow street or alley that looks completely different from the modern downtown only a short distance away. These older streets help give Philadelphia a character that is difficult to find in newer American cities.

Philadelphia’s location along the Delaware River adds another side to the city. The waterfront has played an important role throughout Philadelphia’s history, from the colonial port to the modern city that surrounds it today. Walking along the river gives you a different perspective from the historic streets farther inland, with bridges, boats, and views across the Delaware toward New Jersey.

Another important historic landmark is Christ Church, founded in 1695. The church was attended by several prominent figures from the Revolutionary era, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Buildings like this are one reason Philadelphia is such an interesting city to explore on foot; important pieces of early American history are scattered throughout the same neighborhoods people still live and work in today.

Of course, Philadelphia isn’t frozen in the 18th century. Downtown Philly is a major modern city with skyscrapers, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and busy streets surrounding its historic core. I like the contrast here because you can spend part of the day exploring buildings from the founding of the United States and then walk a short distance and find yourself surrounded by a completely modern skyline.

Philadelphia also knows how to put on a celebration. With its connection to American independence, the city hosts major public events throughout the year, and seeing fireworks over Philadelphia adds another experience completely different from touring its museums and historic landmarks during the day.

The architecture throughout Philadelphia reflects the many different periods the city has lived through. Colonial buildings, 19th-century row houses, early skyscrapers, and modern towers can all be found within the same city. Even when I wasn’t visiting a particular attraction, simply walking around and photographing the streets gave me plenty to see.

One of the more unusual Philadelphia traditions I got to experience was the Mummers Parade. Held on New Year’s Day, the parade fills the streets with elaborate costumes, music, performances, and groups competing with one another as they make their way through the city. It’s a Philadelphia tradition stretching back generations and shows a completely different side of the city from the historic landmarks most visitors come here to see.

After several visits, Philadelphia is a city where I still feel like there’s more left to explore. Its importance to American history alone could fill several days, but the museums, neighborhoods, waterfront, architecture, food, festivals, and local traditions make it much more than a collection of Revolutionary War sites. It’s one of those American cities where simply walking around can turn up something interesting, whether it’s a centuries-old building, a huge mural, a neighborhood restaurant, or another piece of history I didn’t know was there.