Known as the "Birthplace of America," Philadelphia is home to some of the most important American landmarks. In addition to landmarks, this quaint cultural, artistic, and historical "City of Brotherly Love" is known for its colorful murals, row houses, cobblestone streets, art museums, green parks, and the ever-popular cheese steak. holds a treasure chest of historical landmarks; perhaps the most famous of these are Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. A world heritage site, Independence National Historical Park mirrors the nation’s past with American Revolution-era landmarks. The first place to visit in Independence National Historical Park is Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution were signed. Although the Independence Hall steeple houses the Centennial Bell, it once held the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell, with its distinctive crack, is currently open for viewing at Liberty-Bell-Center. This area is also home to some other must-see landmarks including: Philosophical Hall, Old City Hall, Congress Hall, the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, and the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site. The National Constitution Center, another nearby landmark, tells the story of the United States Constitution and displays the original documents.
Downtown Philadelphia, or Center City, is a hub of classy shopping, dining, entertainment, and site-seeing. Center City has been made popular by places such as Penn’s Landing, Washington Square West, Market East, Chinatown, the Museum District, the Avenue of the Arts, and Rittenhouse Square. Waterfront on the Delaware River, Penn’s Landing (named after William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia) is known for its lively events and celebrations, including free movies, fireworks, the Festival Pier Concert Series, and multicultural festivals. Penn’s Landing also lodges several historic ships, restaurants, and entertainment venues. For upscale shopping and dining in Center City, RittenHouse Row on Walnut Street is first-class. Shopping can also be done at the Gallery at Market East.
On the opposite side of mainstream, Center City’s South Street offers an eclectic taste of Philadelphia. The eight-block stretch of bohemian shops, music venues, bars, and restaurants provide for exciting nightlife in Philadelphia. On South Street residents and visitors indulge in some of Philadelphia’s most famous foods: hoagies, water ice, and, of course, the Philly cheesesteak. Geno’s and Pat’s are two of the most popular places to eat a cheesesteak in South Philadelphia.
Home to some of the most prominent works of art in the world, Philadelphia’s Museum District runs the length of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. At one end of the parkway lies one of the largest art museums in the United States, the prominent Philadelphia Museum of Art. Built with Greek-Revival columns adorned with Greek gods and goddesses and griffins, this monumental museum looks as though it belongs in Ancient Greece. The top of the museum’s steps (made famous by the movie Rocky) offer a breathtaking view of the city. Housing over 225,000 pieces of artwork, some of the most famous artists on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art include: Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Edouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Salvador Dali. The Rodin Museum, another popular Philadelphia art museum, houses the largest Auguste Rodin collection outside of France. What makes Philadelphia such a culturally artistic city is not only the art housed in its museums, but also the art that is alive on its streets. Philadelphia is given culturally rich distinction with over 2,500 murals painted on its streets. Science museums are also popular in Philadelphia, such as the Franklin Institute, where you can walk through the larger-than life, pulsating Giant Heart exhibit. Another interesting museum to visit is Eastern State Penitentiary, one of America’s most historic prisons. Thought to be haunted, the penitentiary once jailed Al Capone. It is open for year-round tours and is the spot for one of the East Coast’s top-rated Halloween attractions, "Terror Behind the Walls."
Philadelphia is famous for many attractions. While in the city, children and adults can enjoy visiting the Philadelphia Zoo, the first zoo in the United States. Sports’ fans can watch the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field or the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Schuylkill River River’s Boathouse Row is a famous place to observe rowers in the fall. In the evening, the row houses come alive with charming white lights, creating a trademark Philadelphia sight. Philadelphia is also home to several parks. LOVE Park is a popular meeting spot for friends and is most famous for its love sculpture fountain. One of the largest urban parks in the United States is Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, located on both sides of the Schuylkill River, northwest of Center City. The park showcases public artwork and sculptures, playgrounds, concerts, the Please Touch Museum for children, and Japanese Tea House. Another park in Philadelphia, Bartram’s Garden, is America’s oldest living botanical garden. The performing arts are also well-celebrated in the city of Philadelphia. Center City’s Avenue of the Arts is home to many theaters and performance venues, including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Philadelphia Theatre Company, the Merriam Theatre, the Academy of Music, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.
With over eighty colleges, universities, trade and specialty schools in the Philadelphia-area, including Temple University, Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania (One Big Campus), Philadelphia is a city of intellectual and cultural prominence. Travel in Philadelphia is provided by SEPTA trains and buses, Route 95 (that travels north and south on the outskirts of the city along the Delaware River), and the Philadelphia International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country.
