Philadelphia – Birthplace of USA History

The city where the U.S. got its start is rich in history, for sure. Over the past few hundred years, Philadelphia has served as a Quaker colony & a meeting place for the Founding Fathers. It was the long-ago capital of the newly formed United States and, more recently, the birthplace of the very beloved cheese-drenched steak sandwiches!

If I had to describe Philadelphia in 1 word, I would say that it is unexpected. On one hand, this is a city that is as beautiful and austere as you would imagine. It is full of historic landmarks, museums and lovingly-preserved buildings.

But amidst all of the austerity is an underlying hipness and modernity.

This is a city that values creativity, art and taking chances. It has 3600+ murals and pop-up beer gardens hosted by the Philadelphia Horticultural Society in underutilized public spaces. It has a notable restaurant scene that has turned vegan food into fine dining. The city is full of unexpected gems for tourists looking for a diverse getaway.

The incredible 30th Street Station is the main railroad station in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia cityscape as seen from 30th Street Station.

The Independence Hall is the building where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. It is now the centerpiece of the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American independence. The bell first cracked when rung after its arrival in Philadelphia, and was twice recast by local workmen John Pass and John Stow, whose last names appear on the bell. In its early years, the bell was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens about public meetings and proclamations.

Colorful horse carriages outside Independence Hall.

Independence Hall’s Assembly Room, in which both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted and signed.

Independence Hall.

The 72 stone steps before the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have become known as the “Rocky Steps” as a result of their appearance in the triple-Oscar-winning film Rocky and five of its sequels, Rocky II, III, V, Rocky Balboa and Creed, in which the eponymous character runs up the steps to the song “Gonna Fly Now”.

The top of the steps offers a commanding view of Eakins Oval, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and Philadelphia City Hall.

The museum is also one of the largest art museums in the world based on gallery space.

Philadelphia Museum of Art.

A bronze Rocky statue was briefly situated at the top of the steps for the filming of Rocky III. This statue, now located at the bottom right of the steps, is a popular photo opportunity for visitors.

Eakins Oval is a traffic circle in Philadelphia. It forms the northwest end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway just in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with a central array of fountains and monuments, and a network of pedestrian walkways.

The oval is named for Thomas Eakins, Philadelphian, world-famous realist painter, and fine arts educator.

Eakins Oval.

Incredible skyscrapers!

Love Park, officially known as John F. Kennedy Plaza, is a plaza located in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The park is nicknamed Love Park for its reproduction of Robert Indiana’s Love sculpture which overlooks the plaza.

LOVE is an iconic pop art image by American artist Robert Indiana. It consists of the letters LO over the letters VE; the O is canted sideways so that its oblong negative space creates a line leading to the V. The original image, with green and blue spaces backing red lettering, served as a print image for a Museum of Modern Art Christmas card in 1964. In much this same form the design soon graced a popular US postage stamp.

Philadelphia City Hall.

The Masonic Temple is a historic Masonic building in Philadelphia. Located at 1 North Broad Street, directly across from Philadelphia City Hall, it serves as the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Free and Accepted Masons.