Must-see attractions in Philadelphia

  • Franklin Court Printing Museum

    Philadelphia

    These rooms are set up as a recreation of an 18th-century printing press operation similar to that used by Ben Franklin. A costumed park ranger will take…

  • National Museum of American Jewish History

    Philadelphia

    Covering four floors, with lots of multimedia displays and intriguing items such as Iriving Berlin's piano and a Yiddish typewriter, this excellent museum…

  • Historic Rittenhouse Town

    Philadelphia

    For over 200 years eight generations of the Rittenhouse family lived and worked in this historic village along the Monoshone and Wissahickon Creeks. Tours…

  • Fireman's Hall Museum

    Philadelphia

    Learn about everything from fire safety and old fire engines to firefighting techniques and tools at this beautiful museum, housed in a restored 1876…

  • Cliveden

    Philadelphia

    Home to the prominent Chew family for over 200 years, this 1767 Georgian house and estate was a key location in the Battle of Germantown in 1777. Every…

  • Dream Garden

    Philadelphia

    In the east lobby of the Curtis Center is a masterpiece of American craft: a luminous, wall-size Tiffany mosaic of more than 100,000 pieces of glass…

  • Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion

    Philadelphia

    This stone Victorian Gothic mansion sits in a neighborhood that still looks pretty much as it did in the last half of the 19th century. Inside, the 17…

  • Science History Institute

    Philadelphia

    A must-stop for scientists and young explorers, this museum offers not just a look back at the history of chemicals and the materials made from them, but…

  • Second Bank of the US

    Philadelphia

    Modeled after the Greek Parthenon, this 1824 marble-faced Greek Revival masterpiece now houses a Portrait Gallery. Many of the paintings are by Charles…

  • Stamp of Incarceration: James Anderson

    Philadelphia

    This is one of two murals Shepard Fairey created as part of the Mural Arts Restorative Justice program in 2015 on the impact and issues around mass…

  • Schmidt's Commons

    Philadelphia

    Built around an old historic brewery, the Schmidt’s Commons is a mixed-use and residential community development with a central 80,000-sq-ft piazza that…

  • Betsy Ross House

    Philadelphia

    Legend has it that this is where America's first flag was made, although most historians doubt it – and it's pretty certain that the actual house Ross…

  • Tamanend

    Philadelphia

    Rare are the public artworks dedicated to Native Americans in US cities. This majestic 20ft sculpture by Raymond Sandoval commemorates the chief of the…

  • President's House Site

    Philadelphia

    This free outdoor exhibition is constructed on the former location of the presidential offices of George Washington and John Adams. Displays focus on the…

  • Historic Germantown

    Philadelphia

    Pick up leaflets, maps and an admissions passport (individual/family $25/45) covering 16 of Germantown's historic attractions at this information center…

  • Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation

    Philadelphia

    While her husband was tending his art collection Laura Leggett Barnes concentrated on their home's garden, founding a horticultural school here in 1940…

  • Crane Arts

    Philadelphia

    As well as the several art galleries and artist studios that occupy this former plumbing supplies warehouse, you'll find the Icebox Project Space …

  • Painted Bride Art Center

    Philadelphia

    Famous for its facade covered with the mosaics of Isaiah Zagar, this alternative arts space was founded in 1969 by a group of visual artists and developed…

  • Martin Luther King Mural & Monument

    Philadelphia

    At the intersection of three roads, this memorial – consisting of a giant mural by Cliff Eubanks, a bronze bust of MLK by artist Rebecca Rose, and a…

  • Johnson House

    Philadelphia

    This stone 1768 house, which sports scars from the Battle of Germantown, was built by the Johnsons, a Quaker family who were supporters of abolishing…

  • Carpenters' Hall

    Philadelphia

    Erected as a calling card for the skillful work of the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia in 1774, this is where the First Continental Congress met.

  • Simeone Automotive Foundation Museum

    Philadelphia

    The best time to visit this museum that pays homage to historic racing sports cars is when they take some of their 65-plus motors out for a spin on their…

  • JFK Plaza

    Philadelphia

    Taking its nickname from Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture, this public space was revamped in 2018 during which the iconic sculpture, a city landmark, also…

  • Cherry St Pier

    Philadelphia

    A 2018 revamp has seen the 1919 Municipal Pier 9 building, unoccupied since the 1980s, reopen as a mixed-use public space with pop-up market, gardens,…

  • Rittenhouse Sq

    Philadelphia

    One of five original squares planned by city founder William Penn in the late 17th century, and the most prestigious, this square was named after David…

  • Comcast Innovation & Technology Center

    Philadelphia

    This $1.5-billion, 60-story, 1121ft tower designed by Lord Norman Foster is already Philadelphia's tallest building. Though not open at the time of…

  • Arthur Ross Gallery

    Philadelphia

    This small visual-arts gallery presents between four and six different shows a year covering a variety of media. On the first Wednesday of each month at…

  • Clothespin

    Philadelphia

    Pay attention and you'll soon see that Claes Oldenburg's oversized Corten steel sculpture is substantially more stylised than a run-of-the-mill peg you…

  • LoLa 38

    Philadelphia

    This creative arts project operates out of the old bank building on the small triangle of land at the intersection of Lancaster Ave, Powelton Ave and 38th…

  • Center for Art in Wood

    Philadelphia

    All things to do with wood – from lathe-turned bowls and marquetry to nature photography and timber sculptures – are on display here. Their bright gallery…

  • One Liberty Observation Deck

    Philadelphia

    One way to get a bird's-eye view of the city, especially pretty after dark, is to ride the ear-popping elevator up to this 883ft-high observation deck on…

  • Dilworth Park

    Philadelphia

    On the west side of City Hall this compact public area includes the Rothman Ice Rink in winter, which is replaced by a fountain with dancing water spouts…

  • Settlement Roots

    Philadelphia

    On the exterior of the community non-profit Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) is this lovely mosaic by Eric Okdeh and Michael Reali. It shows some of the…

  • Spruce St Harbor Park

    Philadelphia

    This summer-season park is a great place to hang out by the river during the warmer months. Relax in one of the two-person hammocks, take part in free…

  • United States Mint

    Philadelphia

    Take the 45-minute self-guided tour to see coins being made (they can churn out 50 million of them per day), and to admire the Tiffany mosaics inside this…

  • Common Threads

    Philadelphia

    This giant 2016 work by Meg Saligman features Tameka Jones, a student at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, at the center…

  • Cira Green

    Philadelphia

    Hidden in plain sight is this grassy 1.25-acre park that's atop the parking garage of the Cira Centre South complex. It's a pleasant spot to relax and…

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