Philadelphia Area Attractions

Philadelphia today is an inseparable mix of old and new. Scratch the surface of William Penn's "green countrie towne" and you'll find both a wealth of history and plenty of modern distractions.

Philadelphia has the largest surviving district of original colonial homes and shops in the country, with dozens of treasures in and around Independence National Historical Park. It boasts the most historic square mile in America, the place where the United States was conceived, declared, and ratified, and the city and federal governments are investing heavily to show this area off and teach its lessons. Philadelphia offers some of the best dining values and several of the finest restaurants in America.

The Liberty Bell
Market Street & 6th • Philadelphia, PA • 215.597.8974
You can't leave Philadelphia without seeing the Liberty Bell. As of March 2003, the Bell is housed in a brand-new $12.4 million glass pavilion, angled so you can see it against the backdrop of Independence Hall, but avoiding the brutal modern Penn Mutual skyscraper flanking the Hall.

Independence Hall
143 South Third Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106 • 215.597.8787
Independence National Historical Park, located in downtown (called "Center City"), Philadelphia, is often referred to as the birthplace of our nation. At the park, visitors can see the Liberty Bell, an international symbol of freedom, and Independence Hall, a World Heritage Site where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were created. In addition, the park interprets events and the lives of the diverse population during the years when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. A section of the park where Benjamin Franklin's home once stood is dedicated to teaching about Franklin's life and accomplishments. Spanning approximately 45 acres, the park has about 20 buildings open to the public.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
143 Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 26th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19130 • 215.763.8100
America's third-largest art museum from City Hall, a resplendent, huge, beautifully proportioned Greco-Roman temple on a hill. The museum is designed simply, with L-shaped wings off the central court on two stories. A major rearrangement of the collections was recently completed. The front entrance (facing City Hall) admits you to the first floor. Special exhibition galleries and American art are to the left; the collection emphasizes that Americans came from diverse cultures, which combined to create a new, distinctly national esthetic. French- and English-inspired domestic objects, such as silver, predominate in the Colonial and Federal galleries, but don't neglect the fine rooms of Amish and sturdy Shaker crafts. The 19th-century gallery has many works by Philadelphia's Thomas Eakins, which evoke the spirit of the city in watercolors and oils.

Franklin Institute Science Museum
143 222 North 20th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106 • 215.448.1200
The Franklin Institute Science Museum isn't just kid stuff. All ages love it because it's a thoroughly imaginative trip through the worlds of science that demonstrates the influence of science in our lives. The complex has four parts. The first is the home of the Franklin National Memorial, with a 30-ton statue of its namesake and a collection of authentic Franklin artifacts and possessions.

The Barnes Foundation
300 North Latch's Lane • Philadelphia, PA • 610.667.0290
If you're interested in art, the magnificent Barnes Foundation will stun you. Albert Barnes crammed his French provincial mansion with more than 1,000 masterpieces. The Barnes Foundation was established in 1922 by Dr. Albert C. Barnes, to "promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts.

Home > Philadelphia Attractions