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Interesting Facts
- "The city of brotherly love" was founded in 1682 by a Quaker named William Penn. Today Penn's original city, nestled between the Delaware and Schuykill Rivers, can be found in the compact 2-square-mile downtown area of Philadelphia.
- Among the many attractions of Philadelphia, city hall stands head and shoulders above the rest. Literally. Topped by a 37-foot bronze structure of William Penn, the 642-room building is the largest city hall in the country and the tallest masonry bearing building in the world no steel structure supports it. Surprisingly enough it can still successfully support the 27-ton cast iron statue of Penn the largest single piece of sculpture on any building in the world!
- Want to shop till you drop? Well grab that plastic and head on out! Philadelphia offers shopping venues to meet everyone's taste from the upscale shopping district centered on 17th and Walnut Streets to factory outlets and street vendors. Plus, the city of brotherly love shows its kindness by not charging tax on clothing, medicine and food purchased in stores.
- Home to musical greats Dizzy Gillespie, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell, Teddy Pendergrass, The O'Jays and Patti LaBelle, Philadelphia has the roots to provide the very best in musical entertainment. North and South Broad Street has been dubbed The Avenue of the Arts, with a plethora of top-notch theaters and cultural venues.
- When Philadelphia comes to mind, so does food. Good food. Known as the "junk food capital of the world" Philadelphia boasts favorites such as cheesesteaks, Tastykakes, peanut chews, and America's first bubble gum Double Bubble. However, Philadelphia has expanded its culinary scene and offers an abundance of choices to suit everyone's taste. A booming convention city, Philadelphia can get pretty crowded with out-of-towners, so be sure to make reservations ahead and confirm once you get into town.
- Philadelphia is a sports fan's paradise. With several professional teams, you're sure to find a game to attend or at least watch while you're in town. For football fans, it's the Eagles; baseball is the Phillies; if basketball is your game, check out the 76ers; soccer enthusiasts will enjoy the Kixx. Philly is a huge hockey town, and they have two teams to cheer on the Flyers and the Phantoms. Tickets for home games are often sold out way in advance, so get them early. If you can't get tickets but still want to cheer for the home team, belly up to one of the local bars. It's not quite the same, but Philadelphians are very enthusiastic supporters of their teams, so you can be sure of a fun time.
- Looking for some shade? There's plenty to be found in Philadelphia. Envisioned by William Penn as a "greene countrie towne," Philadelphia is home to more than 2 million maples, elms, oaks, beeches and poplars. One great place to enjoy the relaxation a tree affords is Fairmount Park, the largest municipal park in the world.
- History buffs, a must see attraction is Independence National Historical Park America's most historic square mile. Within this area are several key places in America's history. It was here that the Liberty Bell rang to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," summoning Philadelphians to the State House yard to hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence.
- Be sure to make plans well in advance of your arrival in Philadelphia. Even with more than 17,000 rooms, finding a vacant room can occasionally be quite difficult.
- Philadelphia is a city of firsts. In addition to being the birthplace of the American flag, stitched by Betsy Ross in 1776, the city was the site of the first presidential mansion. It's also home to the first public zoological gardens, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1874, and the first daily newspaper, which rolled off the presses in September 1784. Johann Behrent constructed the first American piano here in 1775, and Philadelphia was home to the first computer, which booted up in 1946.
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