Things to Do Near the Pennsylvania Convention Center
September 26, 2022
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City neighborhood. Businesses and conventions from all around the world come to Philadelphia to share ideas and learn from one another. If you’re in town for a convention, there are iconic Philadelphia landmarks and experiences steps away from the Convention Center.
Dilworth Park
Snap a selfie in front of Robert Indiana’s famous statue in LOVE Park before heading across the street to Dilworth Park, which hosts special events including an outdoor ice-skating rink from November to March. Admire the hundreds of Alexander Milne Calder sculptures that adorn City Hall, including the 37-foot-tall statue of William Penn – the largest statue atop any building in the world. To learn more about the nation’s largest municipal building, join an interior or exterior tour of City Hall offered by Independence Visitor Center, or journey to the observation deck beneath William Penn’s feet on a tower tour.
Murals
Admire more public art nearby, including two sculptures by Claes Oldenburg, Paint Torch (128 N. Broad St.) and Clothespin (S. 15th and Market Streets). You can also learn more about prominent murals in the area, like Tree of Knowledge, Water Gives Life, or Start From Here, on a walking tour led by Mural Arts Philadelphia or on your own by using the program’s digital map as a guide.
Museums
Visit the Fabric Workshop and Museum, a cool modern art exhibition space, whose unique artist-in-residence program has resulted in an archive of one-of-a-kind collaborations with internationally renowned artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Kara Walker. Stroll through the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the first art museum and school of fine arts in the country, showcasing a vast collection of 19th- and 20th-century American paintings and sculptures. Schedule a tour of the grand Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, home to a museum space filled with rare artifacts, including many linked to Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.
The Fashion District
Shop local and national brands in the expansive new Fashion District Philadelphia, which opened in 2019 and spans three city blocks. After shopping, bowl a few frames at Round 1, or explore the immersive, interactive art installations at contemporary gallery space, Wonderspaces – both found within the Fashion District’s one million-square-foot building.
More shopping awaits at nearby Macy’s, which occupies the historic Wanamaker Building – home to one of the country’s first department stores. At the store’s center you’ll find the world’s largest pipe organ, which still performs daily and is joined by a special light show around the holidays.
Fun Fact: The Wanamaker Organ is the largest fully functioning pipe organ in the world, it was originally built for the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, it has been played daily since 1910.
Callowhill Archery
Just a short walk from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, is Philadelphia’s only indoor archery range, Callowhill Archery. Owner Yuan Jie Wen, a former mechanical engineer, fell in love with archery in 2019. He then decided to open Callowhill Archery in his parents’ former tofu factory. If you’ve never held a bow or shot an arrow before, don’t worry. All packages include safety training, basic form training, practice times, and equipment rental. Open range times are Wednesday through Sunday, 1-9 p.m. The space is also available to book for private events, including birthday parties, company outings, and corporate events.
