Most attractions were listed in the Philadelphia Business Journal Book of Lists 2014. Those that were not are marked with an asterisk.
Historical Sites & Attractions:
While exploring the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, visitors can enjoy exhibitions that display artifacts from the ship’s past and play an interactive role as they follow the tour route. A walk down Broadway, the longest and most impressive passageway on the battleship, is available as part of a guided tour. America’s most decorated battleship also hosts special events and overnight encampments.
Historical tradition holds that Betsy Ross made the first American flag, and the Betsy Ross Housetells this story. Guests can tour the home of the America’s most famous flagmaker, an upholsterer by trade, and enjoy interactive programs and activities.
Modeled after the work of famed English church architect Christopher Wren, Christ Church once counted George Washington, Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin among its worshippers. On July 5, 1776, the signers of the Declaration of Independence came here to pray. A few blocks away at 5th and Arch Streets, Franklin and his wife are buried at Christ Church Burial Ground. Those passing by often throw pennies on the grave for good luck. Christ Church, 2nd Street above Market Street; Burial Ground, 5th & Arch Streets.
Eastern State Penitentiary introduced Americans to a new form of housing criminals: solitary confinement. Al Capone and Willie Sutton were among the 75,000 inmates who spent time here. Self-guided tours, a once-daily guided tour and a Halloween haunted house, along with exhibitions and special events, make the massive prison a favorite among those who dare to enter.
Historic Philadelphia, Inc. gives modern-day visitors the chance to experience Colonial times through immersive adventure tours that include period dinners, pub crawls and re-enactments, as well as lively tales recounted at Once Upon A Nation storytelling benches throughout the historic district. Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th & Chestnut Streets.
Part of the nation’s most historic square mile, Independence National Historical Park tells the story of how American democracy came to be. Historic landmarks and attractions such as the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, The President’s House and Franklin Court take visitors back to the time of the nation’s Founding Fathers.
It’s only four pages long, but the U.S. Constitution is among the most influential documents in the history of the world. The 160,000-square-foot National Constitution Center explores the Constitutionand other original documents of freedom like the Bill of Rights (fall 2014) through high-tech exhibitions, artifacts and displays. 525 Arch Street.
A newer attraction on Independence Mall, the National Museum of American Jewish History delves into the story and impact of Jewish people in the U.S., from early settlers to history-makers such as Albert Einstein, industry giants like Esteé Lauder and artists and entertainers such as Barbra Streisand and Steven Speilberg. Four floors of artifacts, memorabilia and artwork tell the narrative in chronological order. 101 S.
No battles were fought in Valley Forge, but the time the Continental Army spent here went down as one of their most trying periods. Exhibits and artifacts in the Visitor Center, replicated huts and the original headquarters building tell the story of the pivotal winter that George Washington and his troops endured. The 3,500-acre rolling hillsides of Valley Forge National Historical Park also include trails and picnic areas. 1400 N.
Art Everywhere:
Located on a beautifully landscaped campus on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, theBarnes Foundation* has the most important collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern art in the world with 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses and 46 Picassos, along with works by Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas, Seurat,, Modigliani, Titian, El Greco and Soutine. The captivating collection also includes American paintings and decorative arts; metalwork, African sculpture; Native American ceramics, jewelry and textiles; and antiquities from the Mediterranean region and Asia—all presented in unique arrangements that highlight their artistic relationships across 24 intimate, sun-soaked rooms.
The very settings that inspired much of the art on view in the galleries—rolling hills, snowy drifts and a flowing river—surround the Brandywine River Museum of Art*. For many, this landscape has become synonymous with Andrew Wyeth, whose work is exhibited here. Visitors can see an outstanding collection of American art, including works by N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth. Guided tours of the Andrew Wyeth Studio and the N.C. Wyeth House & Studio offer a chance to discover the connection between art and life. 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford.
The James A. Michener Art Museum pays homage to the beautiful Bucks County landscape, which has inspired countless artists, with its collection of Impressionist works and its outdoor sculpture garden. In addition to showcasing important regional artists, the museum also hosts international traveling exhibitions. Its glass-enclosed pavilion serves as the site for lectures, jazz nights and special events.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts presents special exhibitions, an outstanding permanent collection and work by some of the region’s most talented contemporary artists. The museum boasts treasures by luminaries such as Charles Willson Peale, Thomas Eakins, Nancy Spero, Elizabeth Murray and Kehinde Wiley.
The vast collections of Renaissance, American and Impressionist art make the Philadelphia Museum of Art* one of the most important art museums in the country. Its impressive holdings, acclaimed exhibitions, special programs and beautiful outdoor Sculpture Garden make it a cultural must-see. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Museums Of All Kinds:
At 202 years old, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is America’s oldest natural history museum. Visitors of all ages can wander through a tropical garden filled with live butterflies, meet live animals, see three continents of wildlife in their natural habitats and get face to face with towering dinosaurs. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The highly interactive exhibits at The Franklin Institute demonstrate the science involved in disciplines ranging from sports to space. In addition to nationally traveling shows, the museum includes 11 hands-on exhibitions; a new permanent exhibit, Your Brain, which is part of a new 53,000-square foot expansion; the Fels Planetarium; the Tuttleman IMAX Theater; and the Joel N. Bloom Observatory. The Giant Heart, a 5,000-foot walk-through human corpuscle that would belong to someone 220-feet tall, was one of its first attractions and remains one of the most popular.The Independence Seaport Museum focuses on the importance of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers to Philadelphia over the years. Along with displays that chronicle the city’s contributions to naval and commercial maritime history and several interactive activities, the museum offers visitors the rare opportunity to board and explore two historic naval ships, the cruiser Olympia and the submarine Becuna.
The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia* prides itself on its “disturbingly informative” displays. Showcasing the history of anatomy and medicine, the 20,000-item collection gives people a beneath-the-surface perspective of what physicians study. Highlights include: Albert Einstein’s brain, specimens from Chang and Eng Bunker and President Grover Cleveland and a Civil War gallery with a piece of John Wilkes Booth (literally).
At the Penn Museum, a 15-ton Egyptian sphinx is the star of the collection, which features more than one million objects. Other artifacts include Sumerian cuneiform clay tablets (some of the world’s oldest writing), Egyptian mummies, a crystal ball owned by China’s Dowager Empress, monumental stone sculptures from the ancient Maya and 4,500-year-old jewelry from the Royal Cemetery at Ur.
Created exclusively for kids up to age 7 to learn through play, Please Touch Museum® in Fairmount Park gives its young guests free reign. Eight interactive exhibitions, a 25,000-toy collection, art programs and music and dance performances keep them busy all day long. Guided tours of Memorial Hall, the National Historic Landmark that houses the museum, are available for grown-ups.
Gardens Galore:
Longwood Gardens attracts visitors from around the globe to its 1,077 acres filled with 20 outdoor gardens, 20 indoor gardens, 11,000 different types of plants, spectacular fountains and picturesque meadows and woodlands. The horticultural haven also hosts 400 events each year, including flower shows, gardening demonstrations, educational programs, children’s activities, concerts, musical theater and fireworks. 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square.
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in Chestnut Hill offers an ever-changing landscape in its 92-acre garden, complete with winding paths, open vistas and beautiful fountains. Its nationally award-winning Out on a Limb exhibition takes visitors 50 feet up into the treetops on a canopy walk that requires no climbing. A seasonal Garden Railway exhibit features model trains on a quarter-mile track outdoors in the garden in summer and during the holidays.100 E. Northwestern Avenue.
More Fun:
Started in 1924, the Elmwood Park Zoo specializes in North, Central and South American animals, such as American bison, black-tailed prairie dogs, river otters, squirrel monkeys, capybara and more.
Franklin Square delights both young and not-so-young with its old-fashioned carousel, Philadelphia-themed mini-golf course and two playgrounds. When hunger strikes, visitors turn to SquareBurger for sustenance such as burgers, French fries or a Cake Shake, made with Philadelphia’s own Tastykakes.
Housed at the University of Pennsylvania, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) has been showcasing contemporary works of art for more than 50 years. ICA has an international reputation as a preeminent venue for contemporary art and culture and helped propel Andy Warhol into stardom—among many other artists—as his first museum show was held there. Admission is always free.
Liberty 360 3D Show surrounds visitors as they take an immersive, 360° patriotic journey, led by Benjamin Franklin, to discover America’s symbols of freedom—from the bald eagle to the Statue of Liberty. Inside the Historic Philadelphia Center’s customized, wraparound PECO Theater, the 15-minute indoor show uses the most modern technology of its kind to spotlight the most treasured American value—liberty.
Through an array of imaginative and interactive exhibits, the National Liberty Museum invites visitors to see what it means to “Live Like a Hero.” Incredible stories of heroism and artwork encourage guests to find their place in the story of liberty.
With festivals for every season, stores for every type of shopper and the just-for-kids Giggleberry Fair, Buck’s County’s Peddler’s Village packs a surprising number of activities in its bucolic, Colonial-style landscape. The newly renovated Town & Country guest rooms at the Golden Plough Inn means the fun doesn’t have to end after just one day.
Situated on 42 acres of lush gardens and home to 1,300 animals, the Philadelphia Zoo offers a first-in-the world animal travel and exploration system, called Zoo360, giving the most majestic creatures—like monkeys, lemurs, lions, tigers, jaguars and others—more room to roam utilizing a campus-wide network of see-through trails and overhead walkways. The zoo also boasts award-winning exhibits such as First Niagara Big Cat Falls, McNeil Avian Center, PECO Primate Reserve and the Rare Animal Conservation Center, as well as KidZooU. America’s first zoo is a leader in conservation efforts to protect endangered species in Philadelphia and around the world.
SugarHouse Casino is one of Philadelphia’s premier entertainment destinations, serving more than two million guests annually. The casino features 1,606 slots, more than 60 table games, fun dining options and free parking. Visitors can enjoy SugarHouse’s waterfront deck, offering riverside seating and unmatched views of the Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge.
Source:- Visit Philadelphia
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