Historic
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Vietnam War Veteran Was Key in Construction of Vietnam War Veterans Memorial at Penn’s Landing
Dennis Best, a Vietnam War veteran from Philadelphia, played a key role in the construction of the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial at Penn’s Landing, writes Rachel Moore for PHL17. “We had so many lost from this city, we felt it would be great to have a place to come to celebrate their service and the…
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Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park Subject to Administration’s DEI Crackdown
As the Trump administration continues efforts to reshape cultural institutions and crack down on DEI, the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia is now being targeted, write Mike D’Onofrio and Sareen Habeshian for AXIOS Philadelphia. The president has called out the institution for being a site with “corrosive ideology.” He recently signed an executive order…
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Philadelphia is Home to the Oldest Photo Still in Existence
Philadelphia is notable for being a city of firsts, but one “first” distinction it has that may not be known by many is being the first city where someone took a photo, writes Avi Wolfman-Arent for Billy Penn at WHYY. The photo was taken in 1839 by Joseph Saxton, an engineer and watchmaker with an…
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Unexpected Federal Grant Aids Chadds Ford Joseph Davis House Preservation
Amidst a freezing of federal funds, one grant from the National Park Service came through for the Joseph Davis House, a historic property in Chadds Ford where artist N.C. Wyeth once lived and worked. On Tuesday, the National Park Service announced a $1.8 million grant for the 16-acre site where part of the 1777 Battle…
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Chester County Black Cemetery to Get Historic Marker
Founded in 1817, the Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church in Westtown served as a center for the local Black community. But by the 1960s, the decaying building was demolished. The adjacent cemetery had the grave markers stolen (only one monument survives) and is now overgrown. Among the many buried here are 14 Black Civil War…
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Closing of Center City Macy’s Raises Questions About Fate of Wanamaker Organ
The Macy’s store at 1300 Market Street in Center City is slated to close, raising questions about the future of the Wanamaker Organ that is currently housed inside, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine. The prestigious instrument is the largest fully operational pipe organ in the world. It features 28,750 pipes, which makes it a…
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North Philly Residents, Neighbors Are Fighting to Preserve Joe Frazier’s Gym
Joe Frazier’s Gym in North Philadelphia is a historic landmark and residents of the neighborhood are pulling off all the stops to preserve it, writes Shara Dae Howard for KYW Newsradio. The landmark is where Philadelphia native and legendary heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Frazier, trained to fight Muhammad Ali in 1971. It was also his…
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Like Ellis Island, Washington Avenue Immigration Station in Philadelphia Once Welcomed Immigrants to the U.S.
While not as famous as Ellis Island, Washington Avenue Immigration Station in Philadelphia used to be a place where immigrants were welcomed into the country, writes Michelle Myers for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The local immigration station opened 19 years before its New York counterpart, but it never achieved the same fame. It operated from 1873…
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Buried History Uncovered in Rosemont—But It’s Going Back Underground
vistaA contractor renovating Ashbridge House in Rosemont recently uncovered a 200-year-old underground cistern while working on the $5 million project, writes Richard Ilgenfritz for Main Line Times & Suburban. The discovery, made beneath a garden patio’s bluestone pavers, prompted immediate consultation with Lower Merion’s historic preservation planner and the township’s Historical Commission. The cistern is…
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How Malvern’s Eerie History Makes for an Intriguing Tourist Destination
Malvern’s history makes it one of the most unconventional towns in Pennsylvania, writes Aunindita Bhatia for World Atlas. The borough’s history of wartime violence has resulted in frequent reports of hauntings and ghost sightings. Many sightings are related to the Paoli Massacre of 1777, where over fifty American soldiers were ambushed by British troops. Although…
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Renovation of Burk-Bergman Boathouse Preserves Historic Exterior, Modernizes the Interior
Burk-Bergman Boathouse, a treasured part of Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row and home to the University of Pennsylvania’s three varsity rowing programs, recently underwent a major renovation that preserved its historic exterior while completely modernizing the interior, according to a staff report from Architizer. One of the oldest boathouses in the country, the building has been…
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Located in Philadelphia, the Nation’s Oldest Theater Has Delighted Audiences for Over Two Centuries
Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, the oldest continuously operating theater in America, has been delighting audiences of all ages for more than two centuries, writes Jonathan Houston for the Islands. Since 1809, it has welcomed presidents, celebrities, and numerous luminaries as patrons. The venue started with equestrian shows, before an 80-foot dome was added in…
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The Montgomery County Prison in Norristown is a Monument to Architectural History
Norristown is home to the castle-like Montgomery County Prison. Pamela W. Reilly reflects on the historic structure in Pennsylvania Heritage. The prison was built in 1851 and stood as a symbol of historical significance on Airy Street. Prominent Philadelphia architect Napoleon LeBrun designed the Gothic Revival structure. LeBrun is also known for the Schuylkill County…
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Chester’s Robert Ferguson Worshipped With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Custodian Robert Ferguson, now 91, recalls a time when he worshipped at the historic Calvary Baptist Church in Chester alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., writes Wakisha Bailey for CBS News Philadelphia. The congregants were led for 41 years by the late Rev. J. Pius Barbour. In that time, Rev. Barbour mentored several young pastors,…
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Wanamaker Building’s Grand Court Organ Will Be Preserved Under TF Cornerstone’s Ownership
The Wanamaker Building, under the ownership of TF Cornerstone, will ensure that an iconic instrument will remain in place, writes Peter Dobrin for The Philadelphia Inquirer. That instrument is the Grand Court Organ. “TF Cornerstone recognizes the historical and cultural significance of the organ in the Wanamaker Building,” the New York-based real estate firm wrote…
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A 1965 Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech Outside Girard College Resonates With This Philadelphia Family
Learley and Curtis McAllister were 12 and 9 years old, respectively, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech outside of Girard College in August 1965, writes Tom Kretschmer for 6ABC. At the time, Girard College was segregated and Dr. King joined Cecil B. Moore and other prominent Philadelphia civil rights leaders in their…
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Explore the Former Home of Edgar Allan Poe, a Historic Site Nestled in the Heart of Philadelphia
While born in Boston and most often linked with Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia, legendary author Edgar Allan Poe actually lived in Philadelphia for six years, and published some of his most iconic works in the city, writes Leah Gillis for the Islands. Poe also published some of his most famous and iconic works in the…
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West Philly’s Calvary United Methodist Church Gains Historic Status Amid Owner’s Fight to Stop It
Calvary United Methodist Church in West Philadelphia recently received historic protections despite the protestations of the building’s owner, write Zoe Greenberg and Jake Blumgart for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Historic designation restricts an owner from demolishing or significantly altering a building’s exterior. Church leadership opposed the nomination, citing concerns that increased regulation would impose additional financial…
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