Old City
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Inside Philadelphia Man’s Quest to Commemorate Ben Franklin’s Early Home in Old City
Richard Armandi, a devoted Benjamin Franklin aficionado, is on a quest to turn the site of Benjamin Franklin’s early home into a memorial to the founding father, writes Meir Rinde for Billy Penn at WHYY. Most Philadelphia visitors stop at the museum and printing shop on Market Street, where Franklin lived from 1763 to 1790.…
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Vacant Old City Office-Turned-Residential Building Welcomes Newest Residents
The building at 400 Market Street, a former office building that has since been converted into a residential one, has welcomed its newest tenants, writes Paul Schwedelson for the Philadelphia Business Journal. West Conshohocken-based firm Keystone and notable developer Dean Adler partnered to acquire the vacant office building for $10 million back in June 2024,…
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Michigan-Born Yemeni Coffee Chain Expanding to Philadelphia, First Location to Open in Old City
Qahwah House, the Yemeni coffee chain, is expanding to Philadelphia as it aims to make its debut in the region with a new coffee shop in Old City in May, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The new coffee shop, which will be located at 224 Market Street, is aiming to open before…
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Weitzman Museum’s Newest Exhibit Highlights Caribbean Jewish Contributions to American Revolution
The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History has unveiled its newest exhibition, The First Salute, which highlights a key piece of history regarding the American Revolution that is not often discussed. This new exhibit brings to light a small island that many may not be familiar with: Sint Eustatius in the Caribbean. The governor…
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Popular Old City Ice Cream Shop Debuts New Monthly Program to Introduce Experimental Flavors
Franklin Fountain, the popular Old City ice cream shop, has launched a new monthly program that unveils new, themed “experimental” flavors that will only be available in pints and flights, writes Kristin Hunt for PhillyVoice. The first of the many flavors is inspired by items typically found on charcuterie boards. Specifically, the six flavors for…
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Insurance Giant Chubb Sells Old City Building to Central Park Tower Developer As Move Looms
Chubb, the Zurich-based insurance giant has sold its former Old City office building to Extell Development, a New York developer known for its Central Park skyscrapers, writes Jake Blumgart for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The building at 436 Walnut Street sold for $30 million, under its current assessed value, after last being sold in 2004 for…
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Ministry of Awe, Philadelphia’s New Bank-Turned-Immersive Experience, Now Open to the Public
Philadelphia recently celebrated the opening of its newest immersive experience venue, the Ministry of Awe, in Old City. The unique new spot is housed inside the former Manufacturer’s National Bank, which had stood vacant since 1985. After more than four decades, the property has finally reopened in a new, reimagined way. “Ministry of Awe is…
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America’s Time Capsule Nears Burial at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall on July 4
After years of planning and engineering challenges, America’s Time Capsule is nearly ready to be buried at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park on July 4, 2026, where it will rest until the nation’s 500th anniversary in 2276, writes Karissa Waddick for USA TODAY. The America250 Commission has been taking careful measures to avoid a repeat…
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National Park Service Restores Slavery Exhibit at President’s House Site in Old City
Just under a month after they were taken down, the National Park Service has restored the slavery exhibit panels located at the President’s House site at Independence National Historical Park, write Mike D’Onofrio and Isaac Avilucea for AXIOS Philadelphia. The exhibition was installed to tell the story of the nine enslaved individuals who lived in…
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265-Year-Old Rowhouse in Old City to Modernize With New Solar Panel Installation
An Old City rowhouse built around 1760 has witnessed more than 250 years of energy transitions, from being heated with firewood to now having solar panels on the roof, writes Sophia Schmidt for WHYY. Built by merchant Henry Harrison, who became mayor in 1762, the three-story brick home survived the American Revolution and the construction…
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In Philadelphia’s Oldest Residential Street, 18th Century Homes Remain Occupied and Nearly Unchanged
Elfreth’s Alley, a small cobblestone street between Second and Front streets in Old City, appears nearly unchanged, still retaining the look it had when most of its houses were built in the 18th century, writes Phaedra Trethan for USA Today. The compact homes, built tightly together even by the standards of the time, were designed…
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City Breaks Ground on Commerce Connector, New Pedestrian Path for Old City Visitors
Construction recently began on Philadelphia’s new Commerce Connector, a pedestrian path that will connect the Independence Visitor Center and Carpenters Hall for visitors, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The new path in Old City will run along a brick‑lined walkway with seating and ornamental plantings, fully bypassing a congested area. The city has…
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To Honor Resident’s Legacy, Community Rallies for Dolly Ottey Park in Old City
Community groups are raising funds for a new park located near one of the most iconic streets in Philadelphia that will honor the legacy of a local resident, writes Laura Fay for CBS News Philadelphia. Dolly Ottey Park would be located at the corner of Elfreth’s Alley and North 2nd Street in Old City. The…
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Historic Old City Bank to Transform Into Immersive Arts Installation Venue in March 2026
Manufacturers National Bank, the historic Old City bank that is currently under construction, will be transformed into a six-story arts venue in March 2026, writes Rosa Cartagena in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The new 8,500-square-foot venue will be called the Ministry of Awe. It will be an immersive installation that showcases dozens of performance artists, interactive…
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Independence Hall Closing Its Doors For Final Preparations For Nation’s 250th Anniversary
Independence Hall will be closing its doors to visitors until January as preservation work is completed at the site of the Declaration of Independence ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, writes Tom Dougherty for CBS News Philadelphia. This closure will allow crews to complete their interior work in the building, which the park service says…
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Betsy Ross House Aims to Cement Seamstress’ Role in American History
The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia recently uncovered new evidence supporting the claim that a seamstress sewed the first Stars and Stripes national flag in 1776 at her upholstery shop on Arch Street, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY. The story, originally presented by her descendants in the 19th century with minimal supporting evidence, has led…
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Almanac, the Japanese-Influenced Lounge in Old City, Wants to ‘Incite Joy’ to Customers
Almanac, an intimate Japanese-inspired lounge in Old City, has earned a spot among the nation’s best bars in under a year since opening, writes Adam Erace for Philadelphia Magazine. Rob Scott, beverage director at Almanac, developed the bar’s carefully curated menu alongside Danny Childs, the James Beard Award–winning author and respected bar consultant. The entire…
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Tattered Piece of Cloth Found at Goodwill That Turned Out to Be Historic Now Displayed at Philly Museum
Richard “Dana” Moore, a digger and amateur collector, first ran into a listing for a scrap of fabric claiming to be a piece of George Washington’s Revolutionary War tent while going through Goodwill’s listing of historic documents two years ago, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY. “There was no proof,” said the Virginia man. “There was…
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