Philadelphia Attractions

The historic Independence Hall was built between 1732 and 1756 as the State House of the province of Pennsylvania. In this building the US constitution was drafted in 1787.

Philadelphia's City Hall is the largest, tallest and most expensive of all city halls in the United States. The immense building was completed in 1901 after 30 years of construction.

The Liberty Bell is one of the most famous symbols of the American struggle for independence. The bell hung originally in the steeple of the Independence Hall, but it is now located in a separate pavilion.

30th Street Station is Philadelphia's main Railway Station. The monumental neo-classical train station was built between 1929 and 1934, during the Great Depression.

Society Hill is a historic district east of the Independence Hall. It contains the largest concentration of original 18th and early 19th century architecture of any place in the United States.

The green plaza in the heart of historic Philadelphia was planned in 1945 to create an appropriate setting for the Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell and National Constitution Center can also be found here.

The PSFS building represents a milestone in American architecture. Constructed between 1930 and 1932, this 36 story skyscraper was the first to be built in the nascent International Style.

Betsy Ross reportedly owned this house when she made the first American flag. The historic Georgian style house was saved from demolition thanks to a group of local Philadelphians.

Philadelphia's Museum of Art is one of the largest museums in the country with a collection of more than 300,000 works of art. It is housed in an impressive neoclassical building.

Logan circle is a plaza on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, surrounded by several important institutions. The beautiful Swann Memorial Fountain is installed at the center of the plaza.

In 1987 this modern skyscraper was the first to eclipse the city hall in height. The following years several more tall skyscrapers would rise above the top of the city hall.

Philadelphia's most famous street is bordered by cultural and educational institutions. It connects the city center with the expansive Fairmount Park.

The Masonic Temple is one of the most interesting architectural structures in Philadephia. Built in 1873 by the freemasons, it contains seven grand halls, all lavishly decorated in a different architectural style.

This charming street is one of the oldest continually occupied streets in the United States. Concerned citizens saved this historic street from being replaced by new roadways.

Carpenters' Hall is one of many historic buildings in Philadelphia related to the birth of the nation; this Georgian building hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774.

Of William Penn’s five open squares around which he organized Philadelphia in the 17th century, Rittenhouse Square has always been the most prestigious.

This group of neo-classical buildings housed the first American municipal water treatment system, built to supply Philadelphia with clean drinking water.

Created in 1719 as an expansion of Christ Church's original graveyard, this historic burial ground is now best known as the site of Benjamin Franklin's grave.

This museum boasts a large collection of sculptures by the famous French artist Auguste Rodin. The collection includes his most famous works like the Thinker and Eternal Springtime.

One of Philadelphia's most beautiful buildings was constructed for the city's Centennial Exposition in 1876. It is home to the child-oriented Please Touch Museum.

One of the most photographed sights in Philadelphia, these picturesque Victorian rowhouses were built at the end of the 19th century by local rowing clubs.

Plans for a bridge connecting Philadelphia with New Jersey were first made in 1818; it took until 1926 before it was finally a reality with the construction of this large suspension bridge.

Created in 1965 on top of an underground garage, this plaza - dubbed Love Park - is best known for its Love Statue, added in 1976 for the country's Bicentennial.

Completed in 1797, this classical building housed the first Federal bank of the United States. The building was later used as a private bank before finally being converted into a museum.

Now a residential building, this magnificent Art Deco skyscraper was built in 1929 as the Drake Hotel. Its brick facade is decorated with terra cotta reliefs depicting nautical scenes.

Philadelphia's centrally located covered market was built in 1892, when it was lauded for the variety of foods offered. Although it suffered during the 60s and 70s, it is still vibrant food market.

This large domed cathedral was built between 1846 and 1864 as the main church for the Philadelphia archdiocese. In 1976, the church became a basilica.

Inaugurated in 2003, this memorial remembers those who died in the Irish famine of the 19th century. It is located at Penn's Landing, an area where many immigrants arrived.

Philadelphia's 19th century Merchants' Exchange is the oldest stock exchange building in the country. Today it houses offices of the National Park Service.