Walk Through Revolutionary History at Independence National Historic Park
Step onto Chestnut Street in Old City and you're standing where the Founding Fathers debated the nation's future. Independence National Historic Park puts you in the rooms where it happened: Independence Hall hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and the Second Continental Congress, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. The Liberty Bell, now encased in glass within its own pavilion, sits as a physical monument to that moment. The surrounding historic buildings—some original, some meticulously reconstructed—let you walk the actual streets where Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington walked.
- Visit Independence Hall and see the rooms where delegates signed the Declaration and where the U.S. Constitution was ratified
- View the Liberty Bell, the centerpiece of American independence symbolism
- Explore the surrounding Old City streets and adjacent historic structures within the park
Art Beyond Walls: 3,500 Murals and Public Sculptures
Philadelphia's streets themselves are a gallery. The city's Mural Arts Program has transformed buildings across the entire metropolis into a living collection of over 3,500 murals—the largest public art collection in the world, free to see from any street corner. Beyond the murals, you'll find striking public sculptures: the oversized William Penn statue stands prominently in the city, and the Lion Crushing a Serpent can be discovered in its specific location. South Street east of Broad sparkles with glass mosaics. Center City offers bronze statues throughout its blocks, and Fairmount Park's walking paths along Kelly Drive on the east side of the Schuylkill River feature sculptures by Remington and Alexander Milne Calder. You can walk the mural-mile on foot, or join a trolley or train tour to cover more ground.
- Walk or tour the murals scattered throughout neighborhoods—no admission required
- Spot public sculptures and bronze statues in Center City and Fairmount Park
- Discover glass mosaic art on South Street and throughout the city
- Join a guided mural-mile walking tour, or explore via trolley or train tours
Museums for Every Curiosity: Art, Science, Medicine, and History
The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses one of the world's largest art collections, with particular strength in Asian and medieval works, impressionist paintings, and furniture. The Barnes Foundation holds one of the world's most important collections of post-impressionist and modernist art. For science, the Franklin Institute Science Museum features a walk-through giant human heart, planetarium shows, and an immense IMAX theater with rotating special exhibits. If you're drawn to the unusual, the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia displays a singular collection of medical oddities and anatomical specimens. The Library Company and the Rosenbach offer rare books and fine art in intimate historic settings. The African American Museum and Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia History explore the city's cultural heritage. The Independence Seaport Museum, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and the Penn Museum (archaeology) round out the choices.
- Explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Asian, medieval, and impressionist collections
- See post-impressionist and modernist masterworks at the Barnes Foundation
- Walk through the giant heart at the Franklin Institute; experience planetarium and IMAX
- Visit the Mütter Museum for a cabinet of medical and anatomical wonders
- Browse rare books at the Library Company and the Rosenbach
- Discover cultural and historical museums throughout Center City and Old City
Parks, Green Spaces, and Outdoor Sculpture
William Penn's original city plan included five public squares. Four remain as parks anchoring Center City: Rittenhouse Square sits among elegant townhouses and attracts visitors seeking a quiet urban refuge; Washington Square lies near Independence Hall; Logan Square (or Logan Circle) serves as the gateway to Fairmount Park and the museum district; and Franklin Square offers a Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, miniature golf, and playgrounds. Beyond these, Fairmount Park sprawls across both sides of the Schuylkill River with walking paths, the Smith Memorial Playground, and the Japanese Tea House in its West section. Penn Treaty Park in North Philadelphia marks the site of William Penn's historic treaty with Tamanend, the Lenape Indian chief. Spruce Street Harbor Park transforms into a summer fairground with hammocks, floating gardens, colored lights, craft beers, and food trucks. For year-round culture, Clark Park in West Philadelphia hosts festivals, flea markets, theatrical performances, and a farmers' market.
- Walk Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square, Logan Square, or Franklin Square
- Explore Fairmount Park's paths along the Schuylkill River and visit its museums and gardens
- Experience Penn Treaty Park's riverfront history and green space
- Visit Spruce Street Harbor Park during summer for outdoor dining and atmosphere
- Browse Clark Park's year-round farmers' market and seasonal festivals
Neighborhoods to Wander: Old City, South Street, and West Philadelphia
Old City, centered around Independence National Historic Park, mixes colonial history with contemporary galleries and restaurants housed in converted warehouses. The neighborhood pulses on First Friday when galleries open their doors. South Street east of Broad gleams with glass mosaics and local character, drawing visitors for shopping and dining. West Philadelphia, home to several universities, contains both the Philadelphia Zoo (the first zoo in the United States) and Clark Park's cultural energy. North Philadelphia holds the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, the former home of the American master of mystery and the macabre, and Eastern State Penitentiary, billed as "America's Most Historic Prison," which also hosts an annual Bastille Day recreation. Fishtown, in North Philadelphia, marks the site where William Penn made his famous treaty with Tamanend, the Lenape Indian chief, under an elm tree at Shackamaxon.
- Explore Old City's colonial buildings and converted warehouse galleries
- Walk South Street for public art, shopping, and neighborhood character
- Visit the Philadelphia Zoo and Clark Park in West Philadelphia
- Tour the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site and Eastern State Penitentiary in North Philadelphia
- Walk through Fishtown to see the historic Shackamaxon site of Penn's treaty
Events and Seasonal Attractions
Philadelphia's calendar fills with distinctive celebrations. The Mummers Parade on New Year's Day features over 10,000 marchers in elaborate costumes traveling 3 miles up Broad Street—a tradition dating to 1901. The Philadelphia Flower Show in spring ranks among the world's largest indoor flower shows. Every July, Penns Landing hosts an All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival. The Made In America Festival fills the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during Labor Day weekend with music across genres from free-jazz to pop. The Philadelphia Marathon runs the third Sunday in November with a full marathon, half marathon, and 8K option. Visitors planning to see multiple attractions should consider Philadelphia CityPASS, which provides admission to six attractions within nine days at a reduced rate.
Philadelphia rewards the traveler who walks its streets without a plan and follows a corner where history, art, and neighborhood life intersect. Start with Independence Hall if revolution calls you, but step outside to find 3,500 murals, river parks, and the living neighborhoods where Philadelphians make the city what it is today.