Map all locationsAll History in Philadelphia

Centennial Bank

Frank Furness (1876)

Centennial Bank, restored by Drexel University, includes such typical Furness devices as squat columns, pointed windows, and decorative brick patterns.

Chester County Historical Society

Focusing a spotlight on local history and handicrafts

This gem of a small museum displays its permanent collections as regally and thoughtfully as any major museum. Exhibits afford a glimpse into the life of the early residents, the local iron industry and the artistry of the Welsh settlers who decorated furniture with a unique line and berry inlay design. The History Lab, a large room full of hands-on activities for tots through teens, is especially inviting, with its Chippendale-style chair to construct and a Civil War officer’s coat to don.

Christ Church

Where Colonial America made its break with the Church of England

Where Colonial America made its break with the Church of England.

Christ Church Burial Ground

Visit the graves of Benjamin Franklin and other early American leaders

City Hall

The largest municipal building in the country and the finest example of the Second Empire style

City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States, containing over 14.5 acres of floor space. It is an architectural treasure inside and out.

Cliveden

The suburban scene of a bloody revolutionary battle

Now a six-acre oasis in the middle of a bustling Philadelphia neighborhood, Cliveden was an estate in the suburb of Germantown built just before the Revolutionary War by the Chew family. One of the most lavish mansions of its era, Cliveden is stocked with furniture and artifacts designed to evoke Colonial times.

Congress Hall

Home of the U.S. Congress from 1790-1800

Like the democratic ideals it once served, Congress Hall is simple, but powerful. The nation’s fledgling legislature occupied the former County Court House, a two-story brick Georgian structure that characterized Congress’ roles.

Declaration (Graff) House

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence here

The all-important words that created a new nation were written by Thomas Jefferson at the home of Jacob Graff. Jr. Visitors can view first-floor exhibits and a short film regarding Jefferson’s endeavors at the home where he rented two second-floor rooms from Graff, a well-known bricklayer.

Dolley Todd (Madison) House

Home of the woman who would become First Lady