Philadelphia is a city rich in history and full of “firsts.”
First city to guarantee religious freedom, beginning in 1682.
First botanical garden in the U.S. – Bartram’s Garden, opened 1728.
First library in the U.S. – The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731. Its current location, 1314 Locust Street, is open to the public.
First convention in the U.S. – the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the Constitution of the United States was written and adopted by representatives of the 13 original colonies.
First stock exchange in the U.S. – Philadelphia Stock Exchange, 1790.
First mint in the U.S. – U.S. Mint established in 1792 on Seventh Street, near Arch Street, it was the first property acquired by the federal government.
First zoo in the U.S. – Philadelphia Zoo, chartered in 1859 and opened in 1874.
First World’s Fair in the U.S. – the Centennial International Exhibition, 1876. Memorial Hall, built especially for the World’s Fair, houses the Please Touch Museum.
First Thanksgiving Day Parade in the U.S. in 1919.
First international-style skyscraper in the U.S. – Loews Philadelphia Hotel (12th & Market Streets), formerly the PSFS (bank) Building, 1932. This was also the first totally air-conditioned building in America.
First orchestra to appear in a motion picture (1937), on television (1948) and to tour China (1973) – Philadelphia Orchestra.
Oldest continuously occupied street in the U.S. – Elfreth’s Alley, since 1713.
Oldest theater in continuous use in the English-speaking world – Walnut Street Theater, founded in 1808.
An email has been sent to , with a new password to access your account.
Please be patient as the delivery of email can be delayed. Remember to check your junk folder if you do not receive the email directly into your inbox.