Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States. It is full of museums, markets, and historic sites, and is absolutely worth visiting.
Within this article we will delve into more detail about the city of Philadelphia, the best things to do in the city, and some fun facts which you may not know.
Where is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is located in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. The city is approximately 153km (95 mi) southwest of New York City and 170km (105 mi) northeast of Baltimore.
How many people live in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia the sixth most populated city in the United States and the most populated city in the state of Pennsylvania, with a 2020 population of 1,603,797.
What time zone is Philadelphia in?
Philadelphia is in the Eastern Standard Time zone.
How big is Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is 367 km² (141.79 mi²).
Why is Philadelphia nicknamed the “City of Brotherly Love”
Philadelphia is nicknamed the City of Brotherly Love because of the 19th Amendment. The city changed its name in honour of the 100th anniversary of the amendment, which states, “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
What is the weather like in Philadelphia?
Summers in Philadelphia are warm and humid, whereas the winters are very cold and snowy. It is partly cloudy all year long.
The average daily high temperature in the summer is 77°F (25°C) and the average daily low temperature in the winter is 26.6°F (-3°C).
It is because of this that the best time to visit Philadelphia is from early June to early July or from early August to late September.
What professional sports teams are in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia hosts teams in the “Big Four” major sports leagues, and is one of just four cities where one team from every league plays within city limits. These teams include the: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), and Philadelphia Flyers (NHL).
What airports are in Philadelphia?
There are four airports in Philadelphia. These are: Philadelphia International, Philadelphia Trenton-Mercer, North Philadelphia, and Philadelphia SPB.
Within this, the main airport is the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). This is a large hub airport which serves over 32 million passengers annually, and offers almost 500 daily departures to more than 140 destinations worldwide. It is located nine miles away from the city center and is a great airport to travel both to and from.
What is there to do in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Whether it’s touring Independence Hall, visiting a museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, or filling up with a cheesesteak, there’s plenty of fun things to do in Philadelphia. We will talk about some of the best things to do in Philadelphia below.
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
This site was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but now, it stands in ruin. It houses a haunting world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers, mixed in with grand architecture. One of the best things to do here is go on a tour of the solitary punishment cells, Al Capone’s Cell, and Death Row.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
This museum houses one of the most remarkable art collections in the country, featuring artwork from across America, Asia, and Europe. You can visit one of the museum’s 200+ galleries, eat at the only Frank Gehry-designed restaurant on the East Coast, and view Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
Independence Hall
This is the iconic building where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. This is one of those places that you need to visit to truly understand this aspect of American history.
Barnes Foundation
The Barnes Foundation houses one of the world’s finest collections of nineteenth- and twentieth-century French paintings, including masterpieces by Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse. It is a great place to visit and learn about artwork which is unavailable anywhere else in the world.
Reading Terminal Market
This historic market features over 80 concessions and is filled with flowers and food from around the world. It is a great place to go when you’re hungry – there’s always endless food options which are sure to dazzle your tastebuds.
Museum of the American Revolution
This iconic museum explores the dramatic and surprising story of the American Resolution. It houses an unmatched collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, and works of art. Whilst here, you can spend the day visiting the galleries, watching a short documentary at the theater, and experiencing the mesmerizing interactive digital elements of the museum.
The Franklin Institute
Founded in honor of Benjamin Franklin, America’s first scientist, the Franklin Institute is one of the best places to learn about and nourish a passion for science. You can explore the exciting side of science alongside your family with twelve cutting-edge, hands-on exhibitions.
Elfreth’s Alley
This is America’s oldest residential street, built in 1702. Now, it is a National Historic Landmark, and is a wonderful place to explore and truly immerse yourself in old American life.
National Museum of American Jewish History
To learn more about the journey of Jewish immigrants and the ways in which they helped shape America into the country it is today, this history museum is the best place to start. You can easily spend the day here, learning about both the past and present of American Jewish life.
What are some fun facts about Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is the first World Heritage City in the United States.
Philadelphia is the second largest city on the East Coast.
The city is home to America’s first zoo, hospital, and medical school.
One out of six doctors in the United States is trained in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is home to the second largest Chinatown on the East Coast.
America’s first daily newspaper started in Philadelphia in 1784.
Philadelphia is often referred to as the “mural capital of the U.S.” due to having over 2,000 outdoor murals.
The Wing Bowl, a food eating contest which draws crowds as large as 20,000, was first established in Philadelphia.
In 1946, Philadelphia became home to the first general purpose computer.
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Interesting Facts about Philadelphia
