Old City, Philadelphia
Old City Historic District | |
Location | Old city area including parts of Washington Square East Development Area and Franklin Square East Development Area, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39°57′9.2″N 75°8′33.7″W / 39.952556°N 75.142694°W |
Area | 75 acres (30 ha) |
Architect | Multiple |
Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
NRHP reference No. | 72000093[1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | May 5, 1972 |
Designated PRHP | December 12, 2003[2] |
Old City is a neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, near the Delaware River waterfront. It is home to Independence National Historical Park, a dense section of historic landmarks including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the First Bank of the United States, the Second Bank of the United States, and Carpenters' Hall. It also includes historic streets such as Elfreth's Alley, dating back to 1703.
Old City is also home to several hotels, with the Independence Park Hotel on Chestnut Street the only hotel listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Old City borders
Boundaries
The Old City special services district stretches from Front to Sixth Streets between Walnut and Vine.[3] The Philadelphia Almanac and Citizens' Manual gives a larger set of boundaries to the Old City area, defined as the area within Spring Garden Street, 4th Street, the Delaware River, and Walnut Street. The Old City Redevelopment Area is bounded by Vine Street, the Delaware River, Lombard Street and 7th Street.[4]
History
Along with the northern part of
Architecture
In addition to Independence Hall, a
Places of note
- Girard Fountain Park
- Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were drafted and signed
- Carpenter's Hall
- Liberty Bell
- Museum of the American Revolution
- National Constitution Center
- National Museum of American Jewish History
- Penn's Landing
- Independence Park Hotel
- Betsy Ross House, residence of seamstress Betsy Ross when she sewed the first American flag
- Elfreth's Alley
Business and commerce
Old City is one of Philadelphia's popular nightlife destinations, with the historic Independence Park Hotel, a 41 room European style boutique hotel at 235 Chestnut Street. Old City is also home to many lounges, dive bars, and quality restaurants, mostly along the three blocks from 3rd and Market streets to Front and Chestnut streets. The 3rd Street Corridor, between Market Street and Vine Street, is home to galleries, boutiques, and other locally owned businesses. There are three independent movie theaters in the neighborhood, two operated by the Philadelphia Film Society and one by Landmark Theatres. During the popular monthly First Friday event, art galleries, studios and shops hold evening-hours open houses featuring art, design, and fashion.[6] Since 2010, tech firms have moved to the area as well.
Government and infrastructure
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Northeast Region Office is in the U.S. Custom House, a part of the Independence National Historical Park, in Old City, directly across the street from the historic Independence Park Hotel, a favorite hotel for Government travelers.[7]
Consulates
Many foreign governments have consulates that use the Independence Park Hotel located in Old City, including
Education
Old City children are assigned to schools in the School District of Philadelphia.
Residents are zoned to the
The
St. Mary Interparochial Grade School is the designated grade school of St. Augustine Church, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.[18]
Public libraries
The Free Library of Philadelphia operates its Independence Branch at 18 South 7th Street.[19]
Historic congregations in Old City
- Christ Church (1695)
- Arch Street Meeting (1701)
- Old First Reformed Church (1727)[20]
- Congregation Mikveh Israel (1740)
- Old St. George's Church (1767)
- St. Augustine's Church (1796)
- Seamen's Church Institute (1843)
In film
- In National Treasure (2004), Nicolas Cage's character runs across the roof of Independence Hall.
- In Shooter (2007), Mark Wahlberg's character is set up for the shooting of the Ethiopian archbishop at Independence Mall.
- In Ghostbusters (N/A), pills-berry doughboy's character
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b "PRHP: List of historic districts". Philadelphia Historical Commission. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
- ^ Old City District (PDF) (Map). Old City District. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
- City of Philadelphia. Accessed November 9, 2008.
- ^ Wright, Robert E (2005). The First Wall Street: Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, and the Birth of American Finance. University of Chicago press.
- ^ "Old City District". www.oldcitydistrict.org. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- ^ "Northeast Regional Office." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on June 9, 2015. "U.S. CUSTOM HOUSE, 7TH FLOOR PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106"
- Embassy of Panama in Washington D.C.Retrieved on February 2, 2009.
- Consulate-General of Italy in Philadelphia. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.
- Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.
- Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Washington, DC. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.
- ^ "DR to close four consulates in the USA Archived 2009-06-20 at the Wayback Machine." Dominican Today. November 8, 2005. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.
- ^ McCall map Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Center City Schools, More info
- ^ "High School Directory Fall 2017 Admissions" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. p. 30/70. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.
- ^ Where the Graduates Go." McCall School. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
- ^ "Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on October 4, 2011.
- Mastery Charter Schools. Retrieved on September 10, 2012. "35 South 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 19106"
- ^ "St. AUGUSTINE". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. March 27, 1997. Archived from the original on March 27, 1997. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
Students attend St. Mary's Interparochial Grade School, 5th and Locust
- Also in the page current as of 2020/04/22 the address "5th and Locust Sts. 19106" is given for the school, which matches the address on the official website - ^ "Independence Branch." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.
- ^ "History of Old First (Historical tours offered Wed., Thurs., Fri., 10 am to 1 pm) | Old First United Church of Christ". January 13, 2017.
External links
- Old City District
- "A Glimpse into the History of the 401 Block of Arch Street, Philadelphia", retrieved October 22, 2007