Philadelphia boasts a 340-year history, featuring notable landmarks like the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, and the Flyers’ mascot, Gritty. However, there are also interesting facts that may not be discovered in class or during a hockey game. These interesting facts will help you appreciate Philadelphia’s grandeur even more. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags, reserve DTW flights to Philadelphia, and spend the weekend with your loved ones.

David Guinn’s Garden of Delight mural in Center City.

Mural Arts Philadelphia, initially an anti-graffiti initiative, now hosts over 100 new works of art annually, making it the largest public art program in the country. The Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a popular tourist attraction, along with lesser-known Rocky and Creed locations like Laurel Hill Cemetery. Philadelphia is also known for its roast pork sandwich, which combines oven-roasted pork shoulder, melted provolone cheese, and garlicky broccoli rabe on sesame seed bread, produced by John’s Roast Pork since 1930.

Pennsylvania Hospital, established by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond in 1751, is one of the nation’s greatest hospitals. It features the oldest functioning theatre in the US, serving from 1804 to 1868. The hospital’s lovely garden remains a testament to its history.

Independence Hall

Benjamin Franklin established the University of Pennsylvania in 1740, which is now recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Independence Hall, once a municipal dog pound, was later transformed into the Pennsylvania State House. Dick Clark introduced American Bandstand’s rock and roll music to the national audience in 1957, which continued until 1989. The Mutter Museum houses over 100 skulls and Einstein’s brain fragments.

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Wissahickon Valley Park’s Thomas Mill Covered Bridge

Pat Olivieri, founder of Pat’s Famous Steaks, created the cheesesteak sandwich on the Thomas Mill Covered Bridge in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. The city is renowned for its cheesesteak sandwich, and the founders of Laurel Hill Cemetery in 1836 intended it to be a prominent place of remembrance. Famous people, including David Rittenhouse, were moved to the cemetery to boost its recognition.
Veterans Stadium, located at Cliveden, accommodated boisterous supporters during the Revolutionary War battle of Germantown. The stadium’s basement courtroom was designed to handle the crowd.

Elfreth’s Alley’s ancient doors and flags

Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest residential street in Philadelphia, was the birthplace of the United States Navy. The Naval Act was signed in 1794, and ships sailed from a shipyard in May 1797. The William Penn monument, standing at 37 feet, is the highest statue ever to top a building in Philadelphia.
Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, owned the Walnut Street Theatre in Germantown, America’s oldest theater. George Washington resided in Germantown during Philadelphia’s yellow fever quarantine in 1793. The National Parks Service owns the Deshler-Morris House, also known as the Germantown White House.

John Bartram’s garden and home.

Bartram’s Garden, the oldest botanical garden in North America, spans 45 acres and is a National Historic Landmark. The Historic Fair Hill cemetery houses Lucretia Mott, a prominent abolitionist, and champion for women’s rights. The Eastern State Penitentiary, a creepy location, had indoor plumbing and running water before the White House. The Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is the smallest National Park Service location in America. The Curtis Centre houses the largest Tiffany Studios mosaic, The Dream Garden, featuring over 100,000 glass pieces.

More than 3,000 years have passed since the Penn Museum Sphinx was built.

The Penn Museum houses the largest Egyptian Sphinx in the western hemisphere, weighing 13 tons. Old City features the First Bank of the United States and the Second Bank of the United States, both with portrait galleries. William Penn’s municipal plans included Rittenhouse Square, Logan Square, Washington Square, and Franklin Square. Centre Square houses City Hall and Dilworth Park. Washington Square Park, a haunted location, houses the remains of Patriots and Revolutionary War soldiers. If you want to know more about Philadelphia then book a flight from Detroit to Philadelphia.

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