Philadelphia Attractions

The Eastern State Penitentiary was built in the 1829 with the aim of rehabilitating criminals through solitary confinement. At the time of its opening, it was considered the world's most expensive and high-tech prison. Willie Sutton and Al Capone were some of the prison's notable "guests". It closed in 1971.

AVA is one of the oldest performing/training arts institutions in Philadelphia. It holds opera productions that incorporate full costumes, sets, and Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra.

The American Swedish Historical Museum was built in 1653, on land granted to Swedish settlers. It's designed as a seventeenth-century Swedish manor house with 14 galleries exhibiting Swedish arts, culture and contributions to American society.

The Art Institute began in 1971 and offers courses such as graphic designers, commercial photographers, interior designers, videographers, fashion and culinary professionals, computer animators, and multimedia specialists.

Benjamin Franklin is buried at the southeast corner of 5th and Arch Streets. His grave is visible through an iron gate. Pennies dot his tombstone, as a local tradition claims that such a practice will bring the penny-tosser luck.

The Brandywine Workshop is housed in an historic firehouse built in 1861. Contemporary works on paper by established and emerging artists, with an emphasis on Afro-Americans, are highlighted. The permanent collection features Jacob Lawrence, Sam Gilliam and Jules Olitski.

The Cathedral was built between 1846 and 1864. The architect was Napoleon Le Brun. As the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul has stained glass and interior design of particular interest.

Chestnut Hill is a village 20 minutes from downtown Philadelphia. The cobblestone street is lined with art galleries, restaurants and antique stores. October offers the Fall Arts and Craft Festival. This registered historic district is roughly bounded by Fairmount Park and the Montgomery County line.

Located in Chinatown, on 10th between Race and Arch, the Chinese Cultural Center hosts multicourse feasts with guest chefs for Chinese New Year, Moon Festival, and other special events.

The Friendship Gate is a many-colored arch ornamented with fire-breathing dragons and Oriental lettering that was a joint project between Philadelphia and her Chinese sister city Tianjin. Chinese artisans completed the Friendship Gate in 1984 with materials brought from Tianjin.

City Tavern, also called the Merchants' Coffee House, offers authentic 18th century dining. It was considered the political, social, and business center of the new United States. It was the site of much food and drink during the preparation and debate over of The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution.

Originally built in 1773, the Tavern burned down in 1854 and was rebuilt in 1975.

The Civil War Library & Museum was founded in 1888 when post-war veteran's began compiling their papers, relics, memorabilia, souvenirs, artifacts, and awards. A variety of Civil War artifacts including weapons, uniforms, and flags are displayed as well as exhibits dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, General George G. Meade, and General Ulysses S. Grant.

Cliveden is a historic house museum on six acres of landscaped grounds in Philadelphia's Germantown section, in the northwest part of the city. It was the setting of the Battle of Germantown in October, 1777 and home to the descendants of the original owner until 1972. The museum includes original furnishings and decorative arts, including superlative examples of colonial Philadelphia craftsmanship by James Reynolds, Jonathan Gostelowe and Thomas Affleck.

The Columbus Memorial, a classical obelisk, was to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus discovering America.

Concerts are performed by the world-renown Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra.

Congregation Rodeph Shalom is the oldest Ashkenazic congregation in the Western Hemisphere. The building's design is Byzantine-Moorish and features stained glass, and 500 works of Jewish ritual and ceremonial art dating back to the 1700s.

The Paley Design Center houses collections of textiles, costumes, accessories and fabric swatches including 4th Century A.D. Coptic fragments, pre-Columbian textiles, handmade laces from the sixteenth to twentieth centuries, as well as Kashmir shawls, quilts, and coverlets.

Four galleries provide space for rotating exhibitions of fine arts and crafts, textiles, a design faculty biennial, and annual graduate exhibitions.

The Einstein Museum of World Currency exhibits a hodge-podge of anti-Communist paintings, Soviet realism paintings, political and medical memorabilia, plus chess sets and toy soldiers.

First Pennsylvania Bank is a reconstruction of the original office of the Bank of America Room in 1782 by Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The bank features eighteenth-century furnishings and artifacts.

The First Presbyterian Church congregation was first established in 1698 in Philadelphia. The church building was built in 1872 and serves as a fine example of Victorian Gothic architecture.

The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia is the oldest such church in North America. The building is a landmark and built in 1885, designed by Frank Furness and exhibits the congregation's religious philosophy and building design.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware is a Victorian estate built around 1850 and situated on an 18-acre riverfront estate. Inside, the art gallery includes works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Rembrandt. It's the last remaining historic riverfront mansion in Philadelphia. Its gardens contain blooming crocus, hyacinth, daffodil, tulip, forsythia, narcissus, andromeda, azalea, rhododendrum, tulips, Virginia cowslip, and trees such as star magnolias, weeping Japanese cherries, and black and white oaks that date back over 300 years.

At the corner of Christian Street and Delaware Avenue (I 95) is the Gloria Dei Church (1700), also known as Old Swedes, the oldest church in Pennsylvania.
The oldest church in the state was built between 1698-1700 and served as a mission of the Church of Sweden for two centuries. The church contains historic relics and artifacts. Revolutionary War patriots John Hansen, president of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation, and five of General Washington's officers rest in the churchyard burial ground.

The Bartrams, America's pioneering family of naturalists, botanists and explorers, founded America's oldest botanical garden. The 44-acre site includes the furnished 18th century Bartram House, botanical garden, meadow, parkland and a wetland.

Ninety minute narrated tours of the Delaware River are available with Holiday Boat Tours. The battleship New Jersey is featured on the tours.

The Italian Market is the world's largest outdoor market with predominantly Italian history and culture. However many other cultures are featured as well. Imported and domestic products, kitchenware, fresh pasta, cheese, spices, meats, fruits and vegetables are available.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is located on 1,200 acres with 280 species of birds and other wildlife within its boundaries. A wildlife observation boardwalk and foot trails allow for birdwatching, hiking, fishing and nature walks.

The Lights of Liberty Show is an outdoor, nighttime sound and light show about the American Revolution. it features 3-D surround sound and 5-story projections on historic buildings. The musical score is performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Man Full of Trouble is the only tavern remaining from Colonial Philadelphia. It was built about 1759 on the banks of Little Dock Creek and patronized by mariners, cordwainers and dockhands. The rooms have low ceilings and the tavern room itself, for eating and drinking, is warm and inviting while English Delft china, old pewter and a set of Windsor chairs owned by the first Chief Justice, John Jay, are on view. There are musket slots on the landings between the first and second floors for defending the tavern against attack.

This museum presents the life of opera legend, Mario Lanza, through a variety of exhibits and artifacts. Lanza was born in 1921, just two blocks from the museum. The museum displays photographs, memorabilia, paintings, gold records, and shows videos of his performances.

The Morris Arboretum and Gardens is located on the grounds of the University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1887, this 92-acre garden has a collection of trees, a rose garden, Japanese gardens, a swan pond and a glasshouse fernery as well as meadows and woodland walks.

The collections at the Mutter Museum include over 20,000 objects, such as medical instruments, anatomical models, and medical illustrations as well as memorabilia from famous scientists and physicians.

The Library focuses on one of the largest collections of medical history resources in the country.

The National Archives Mid Atlantic Region maintain American history documents from the First Continental Congress to present day.

The National Shrine of St John Neumann contains the tomb of St John Neumann, a Czech-born Redemptorist priest who became the fourth bishop of Philadelphia. He was buried under the basement floor in 1860, today his body lies beneath the main altar. St John promoted parochial education and the care of immigrants.

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The museum is dedicated to the artist, his life and works. The Museum is housed in the original Curtis Publishing Company building, where Norman Rockwell arrived regularly with his paintings, meeting deadlines for the Saturday Evening Post. The Museum houses the world's largest and most complete exhibit of the history and works of Norman Rockwell.

The Opera Company of Philadelphia is one of the fastest-growing opera companies in North America, and is the city's only grand opera company. It was established in 1975 through a merger of the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company and the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company.

The Painted Bride Art Center presents regional emerging artists as well as nationally noted artists in avant-garde alternative exhibitions.

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts School & Gallery features changing exhibits highlighting multimedia works by students, faculty and alumni.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society was founded in 1827, and is the host to the Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest indoor flower show in the world. The PHS offers events, activities and publications for novice gardeners, experienced horticulturists, and flower lovers.

Pennsylvania Hospital is the nation's first hospital founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond.

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange holds the distinction of being the first securities exchange in the United States and the first to launch a website on the World Wide Web.

The market offers period furnishings, antiques, estate jewelry, vintage clothing and other collectibles.

Please Touch Museum is a hands-on museum for children ages one to seven. The museum began in 1976 to allow children to learn through play. Exhibits include oversized settings and creatures based on the books of Maurice Sendak, "Supermarket Science" with kitchen play settings and a story garden.

The Presbyterian Historical Society preserves the national archives and historical research center of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

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The museum is dedicated to the pretzel. Exhibits include a seven-minute film detailing the pretzel's history, a hands-on demonstration on the art of pretzel twisting and an on-site pretzel bakery.

St John the Evangelist Church was founded in 1830. Bishop John Neumann was consecrated here in 1852 and his funeral was held here in 1860. Great-great grandson of William Penn, Thomas Gaskell is buried in the graveyard.

Stenton is the plantation house, a handsome brick structure, nearly square in shape, that reflects both the importance of Logan's position and the restraint imposed by his Quaker principles. Stenton was the name of the birthplace of James' father in Scotland. According to estate inventories, Logan furnished the house with Philadelphia pieces as well as the English furniture of the William and Mary and Queen Anne periods. The next two generations added fine Philadelphia Chippendale and Sheraton pieces.

Situated on the campus of Girard College, the Stephen Girard Collection exhibits the personal items of an early American house in the Greek Revival style that date from 1780 to 1830. These items include furniture, silver, paintings, ceramics and textiles, that Stephen Girard used in his townhouse at 23 North Water Street. Architectural drawings are on display while a 6,000-pipe organ is located in Girard College Chapel.

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Fifteen minute tours of downtown Philadelphia or along the Delaware are available, passengers determine the route.

Thirtieth Street Station was built during the Great Depression and served as a passenger station for many years.

The Wagner Free Institute of Science was founded in 1855 as an exhibit hall, it remains largely unchanged. The museum building, a National Historic Landmark, was completed in 1865. The Institute houses a natural history collection including fossils, shells, minerals, skeletons and mounted animals.

The Wood Turning Center exhibits international lathe-turned objects and crafts. The Center has the largest known physical archive and collection of turned objects.

The Woodmere Art Museum contains paintings and decorative art dating back to the eighteenth-century. Highlights center on the nineteenth-century American art collection featuring Thomas Anshutz, Frederic Church and Benjamin West.