Philadelphia

The sixth largest city in the United States is Philadelphia., named after a Biblical city in Asia Minor, Philadelphia means in Greek “City of the brotherly love”, it has been a leading commercial and cultural center since the 18th century. It lies in southern -eastern Pennsylvania at the junction of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, about 90 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.

It is a leading seaport and manufacturing area and a great education center. It maintains a diversified industrial base; chemicals, foods, textiles, machinery, scientific instruments, apparel, transportation equipments, and health care. There are major oil refineries and its printing and publising industry is very important. Philadelphia is also a banking center.

In 1623 Dutch settlers occupied the lands above and below present day Philadelphia. Fifteen years later the New Sweden Company established trading posts nearby. In 1664 the English acquired the site of what was to become Philadelphia, and William Penn, a rich Quaker, founded the city in 1682.

Philadelphia was the capital of Pennsylvania from 1685 to 1799. It served as the nation’s capital from 1790 to 1800.

Despite an ambitious program of urban redevelopment initiated in the 1950s, the city experienced the decay of its economic base and saw a decline in population the following decades. Tensions erupted in race riots in the 1960s. In the 1970s, Frank Rizzo, a former police commissioner with a political base among the city's working-class whites, was elected mayor. Wilson Goode became Philadelphia's first black mayor in 1983. His administration was shaken by the controversial firebombing of a city block containing the home of an armed organization of black radicals.

The University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1740, occupies a 120 acres campus in West Philadelphia. Temple University, has one of the largest enrollments in the country. Girard Collage was oponed in 1848 as a school for fatherless boys. Other notable institutions include the Drexel Institute of Technology, Hahnemann Medical Collage, and Thomas Jefferson University. Franklin Institute, is one of the country’s oldest institutions for the study of the mechanic arts and applied science.

Philadelphia is known for being the seat of many philosophical, dramatic, musical, scientific, and artistic societies. Among these are the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 1805, is the oldest institution in the country; the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is one of the nation’s leading art museums; the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania is devoted to the study of man. The Academy of Music, opened in 1857, is home of the world famous Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Plays in Kimmel Center for the performing arts.

Faimont Park: Is one of the largest municipal park in the world. (9,200 acres.)

Franklin Institute Science Museum: A 175 year old insitute dedicated to provide a better understanding of science and technology.

Philadelphia Museum of Art: Neoclassic Building with an impressive collection of European art.

Independence Hall: The declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution were signed here.

Liberty Bell: American Symbol of freedom.

Philadelphia Zoo: Is one of the oldest zoo’s in North America.

Betsy Ross House: The credit of making the first American flag was given to a woman called Betsy Ross. You can visit her house, which gives tourists a look into Colonial living conditions.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: This is the only monument dedicated in honor of the memories of unknown Revolutionary War soldiers.

Christ Church: This church’s congregation has George Washington, Benjamín Franklin, and Betsy Ross.

City Hall: Seat of the City government is topped by the statue of William Penn.

Edgar Allan Poe’s House: Where he lived and wrote.

Independence Seaport Museum: A state of the art learning facility featuring more than 20 permanent exhibitions.

National Constitution Center: Is a reminder of the important role that Philadelphia played in the birth and development of the United Status.

Independence National Historic Park: Is often referred as the birth place of the United Status.

Fairmount: Is in the north Philadelphia, where William Penn wanted to build his own manor house.

Old City: Best known as the home of Elfreth’s Alley. Today the neighborhood is a popular bohemian hangout. Known as America’s older residential street.

Rittenhouse Square: Open space park planned by William Penn during the 17th century. Today this park is surrounded by shops, restaurants, apartments and hotels.

Society Hill: It contains the largest concentration of 18th and early 19th century architecture in the United States. It is a charming district with cobblestone bordered by bricks rowhouses in Geogian and Federal style.

Chinatown: Asian neigborhood located in the city center with a distinctly philadelpean architecture.

If you have 1 day
Start at the Liberty Bell Pavillion which is next to the Independence Visitor Center, in Independece National Historical Park, then go to the National Constitution Center. Next walk through Independece Hall and on to residential Society Hill, a treasure of a red brick neigborhood.
In the evening you can see what’s on the Academy of Music, the Kimmel Center for performing Arts, or the Annenberg Center.

If you have 2 days
Start at City Hall, then walk to Logan Circle and spend time at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, or the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Later you can go this bustling park called the Rittenhouse Square, and the Liberty Complex.

If you have 3 days
Start in Old City seeing Elfreth’s Alley, known as America’s oldest residential street, and Christ Church. Then you can spend some time and explore Delaware River waterfront attractions and then go to the Independece Seaport Museum. Finally you can walk along the eclectic South Street, known as Philadelphia’s liveliest strip.

If you have 4 days
Visit the Pennsylvania Academy of Arts and explore the Rittenhouse Square area. Then you can walk through Chinatown and the Reading Terminal Market.

Edmund Bacon: City planner

Benjamín Franklin: Inventor and statesman

Betsy Ross: Flag maker

Edgar Allan Poe: Autor

Grace Kelly: Actress and princess of Monaco

Mary Cassatt: Painter

Kevin Bacon: Actor

Marian Anderson: contralto

George Kelly: Pullitzer Prize winning playwright

Frankie Avalon: Singer and actor

Stuart Davis: Painter

Margaret Mead: Anthropologist

The most beautiful time to visit the city is from April through October, when the skies are blue and the weather is warm. April and May are full of flowers, and in october there are dry days. For the sunniest days, you can visit Philadelphia in August, although is humid during this time. Temperatures range from 66 degrees to 84 degrees during this time of year.

The rainfall pattern is spread through out the year. Winters are cold, but rarely drops below freezing.

Mayor: John F. Street (to Jan. 2008)

2000 census population (rank) : 1,517,550 (5); % change: –4.3; Male: 705,107 (46.5%); Female: 812,443 (53.5%); White: 683,267 (45.0%); Black: 655,824 (43.2%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 4,073 (0.3%); Asian: 67,654 (4.5%); Other race: 72,429 (4.8%); Two or more races: 33,574 (2.2%); Hispanic/Latino: 128,928 (8.5%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.7%; 65 and over: 14.1%; Median age: 34.2.

2004 population estimate (rank) : 1,470,151

Land area: 135 sq mi.;

Alt. : Highest, 440 ft.; lowest, sea level

Avg. daily temp. : Jan., 30.4° F; July, 76.7° F