52 Weeks of Firsts

Up, up and away! Philadelphia was the launch site of America’s very first hot air balloon flight, lifting imaginations sky-high. The dream of flight took off from right here.

Strut into history with the celebration of Philadelphia’s first official folk parade or as we know it, the Mummers Parade! Discover how a rowdy neighborhood tradition became the country’s longest-running folk parade and why the New Year just isn’t the same without sequins, satire and saxophones.

Spark your curiosity about the birth of America’s first volunteer fire company, founded by Benjamin Franklin. Step into the boots of early citizen-firefighters and see how Philly set the standard for public service.

Dribble, pass and shoot into history! Philadelphia tipped off the very first professional basketball league, setting the stage for the sport we love today.

Thin Mints, Samoas, history! Philadelphia was the site of the very first public Girl Scout cookie sale featuring commercially baked cookies, launching a sweet tradition that still supports girls nationwide. Once again, Philly took the first bite.

Stand on sacred ground where history was made. Founded by Richard Allen in 1794, Mother Bethel is the birthplace of the nation’s first African Methodist Episcopal denomination, an enduring symbol of faith, resilience and self-determination.

Honor the fight for freedom and celebrate the first American abolitionist society, launched in Philadelphia in 1775. Discover how bold thinkers and brave activists laid the groundwork for a national movement to end slavery.

Step through the iconic archway that sparked a cultural renaissance. Built in 1984, Philadelphia’s Friendship Gate was the first authentic Chinese gate in the U.S., a stunning symbol of international partnership and community pride.

Long before the Civil War, Philadelphians took a stand. Commemorate the bold 1688 petition by German Quakers, the first recorded public protest against slavery in America and reflect on a legacy of conscience and courage.

Breathe in the blooms at the world’s very first flower show, right here in Philadelphia! What began as a gathering of green thumbs blossomed into a global tradition of horticultural wow. Stop and smell the history!

Paging pioneers! Celebrate the groundbreaking women who shattered glass ceilings (and dissected cadavers) at the world’s first medical school for women. This is where “Doctor” got a whole new look.

Small but mighty, the first paper match folder — the precursor to the matchbook — was struck right here in Philadelphia! Explore how this fiery little invention lit the way for advertising, science and everyday convenience.

In 1765, Philadelphia became home to the nation’s first medical school, setting the standard for training America’s earliest physicians. More than 250 years later, the Perelman School of Medicine continues to blend innovation and tradition, shaping the future of healthcare.

Rooted in curiosity, Bartram’s Garden was America’s very first botanical garden, a living laboratory where science bloomed and Philly’s green thumb took root.

April Firsts are sponsored by The Bellwether District.

Step right up! The thrills, the acrobatics, the spectacle … America’s first circus performance wowed crowds in Philly. Celebrate the art of awe at the place where center ring first stole the show.

April Firsts are sponsored by The Bellwether District.

Cheer loud for history! Franklin Field was the nation’s first stadium, home to roaring crowds, thrilling games and unforgettable moments. Philly built the stage for American sports.

April Firsts are sponsored by The Bellwether District.

Before there was email, there was Ben! Franklin became America’s first postmaster, creating a system that did more than deliver mail, it brought people together. See how one man’s mail shaped a new nation.

April Firsts are sponsored by The Bellwether District.

From ivory keys to booming brass, Philadelphia hit all the right notes with the first American-made piano and sousaphone. Music history was composed right here in the city of harmony.

Give it up for Mom … Philly-style! The nation’s very first public Mother’s Day celebration took place right here at Wanamaker’s Department Store, honoring the women who do it all. Bring the flowers, bring the love, bring the tissues.

Take a pulse on history … America’s first hospital, founded by none other than Ben Franklin, set the gold standard for care and still stands today as a monument to healing and hope.

Philadelphia welcomed the world and showed off the future at the 1876 Centennial Exposition, the first World’s Fair in the U.S. Relive the inventions, innovations and international flair that made history.

All aboard! The first American steamboat to carry both passengers and cargo set sail from Philadelphia, charting a new course for travel and trade. Smooth sailing, revolutionary style.

Stars, stripes and stitching history! Visit the birthplace of the first American flag and learn the story behind the bold woman who started it all … Betsy Ross. Red, white and brave!

Before there was even a country, there were heroes. Philly is where the U.S. Army was born, kicking off a legacy of service, courage and dedication that still stands strong today.

Before Stonewall, there was Philly. In 1965, activists gathered at Independence Hall for the first “Annual Reminder,” boldly demanding LGBTQ rights where America’s freedoms were first declared. Celebrate the city that stood for liberty — for everyone.

Long before Wi-Fi and word processors, there was paper and it all started at Rittenhouse Town. Discover the handmade beginnings of America’s paper trail and the mill that made it happen.

America’s first big investment! Founded by Alexander Hamilton (yes, that Hamilton), the First Bank built the financial foundation of the nation, and it all started right here in Philadelphia.

July Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.

Before the Phils, there were the Olympics! The Olympic Ball Club of Philadelphia was the nation’s very first organized baseball team, planting the roots of America’s favorite pastime right here in the city. Batter up for some serious sports history.

July Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.

What do you get when you mix ice cream and fizzy soda? A delicious Philadelphia invention! Cool off and sip back in time with the first-ever ice cream soda. Sweet, creamy and bubbly fun.

July Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.

Brush up on history where American artists first found their muse. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the nation’s first art school, launched a creative revolution, one masterpiece at a time.

July Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.

Mistakes were made … and fixed! Celebrate the bright idea that stuck, a pencil with its own built-in eraser, invented right here in Philly. It’s the write stuff.

Lions and tigers and history, oh my! The Philadelphia Zoo opened its gates as America’s very first, combining animal wonder with conservation. Wild from the very beginning.

Where did American money first make cents? Right here in Philadelphia! Celebrate the launch of the first U.S. Mint and the shiny beginning of coin-making in the new nation.

Say cheese, Philly! Long before camera phones and filters, local innovator Robert Cornelius snapped the world’s very first selfie right here in 1839, with a homemade camera in his own backyard, no less. One bold pose and a flash of genius changed photography forever.

It walked from Philadelphia right into America’s heart! Celebrate the wobbly, wonderful debut of the Slinky, born in a local shipyard and still bouncing strong. It’s more than a toy — it’s a cultural icon.

We the People … signed here first! The U.S. Constitution was inked in Philadelphia, setting the course for democracy. Step inside history where every signature still speaks volumes.

September Firsts are sponsored by Firstrust.

Before there was a nation, there was a meeting. The First Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia to hammer out unity and independence, setting the stage for the next Congress, where that very famous declaration was signed. Big ideas, bold voices: it all started here.

September Firsts are sponsored by Firstrust.

What’s in a name? Everything. At Independence Hall, “The United States of America” was spoken into being, giving a brand-new nation its identity. We still say it proudly, but Philadelphia said it first.

September Firsts are sponsored by Firstrust.

A first that warms the heart. The very first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia, giving families care, comfort, and community while their children heal. Home, hope and history under one roof.

September Firsts are sponsored by Firstrust.

With soaring stone walls and a radical design, Eastern State Penitentiary created the philosophy of America’s first true penitentiary. Walk the halls where history was made, and experience the human stories of early prison systems.

Honor the nation’s first inhabitants and celebrate the vibrant cultures and enduring traditions of Indigenous communities rooted in Philadelphia. Discover the Penn Museum’s new Native North America Gallery, shaped in collaboration with Indigenous curators.

Anchors aweigh! Philly also gave birth to the Navy and Marine Corps, launching fearless sailors and marines into a tradition of service and adventure that sails on to this day.

Lights, camera, Philadelphia! The flicker of the very first public motion picture lit up a local screen, launching the magic of movies. Grab the popcorn: the show started here.

It was a dark and stormy night … and another Philadelphia first! Edgar Allan Poe penned the world’s first modern detective story here, giving birth to mystery, suspense and serious shivers. Case closed.

Marching bands, giant balloons and holiday cheer … Philadelphia started it all with the nation’s very first Thanksgiving Day Parade. A tradition so big, it could only begin here.

Higher learning, Philly style. The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) claimed the title of the nation’s first university. With innovation baked into its DNA, Penn launched generations of leaders. Knowledge has a home, and it’s right here!

Philadelphia made history in 1855 by opening the nation’s first hospital devoted exclusively to children. For more than 170 years, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has combined groundbreaking research with heartfelt care both within and outside its walls — a tradition of healing that continues to inspire today.

Before smartphones and laptops, there was ENIAC. Born at Penn, the world’s first programmable, electronic computer crunched numbers and changed everything. From circuits to cyberspace, it all began in Philly.

Philly was first at forecasting the future! The very first U.S. Weather Bureau office opened in Philadelphia in 1870 as part of the Signal Service, laying the foundation for modern meteorology.

December Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.

Dinosaurs, dioramas, discoveries! The Academy of Natural Sciences became America’s first scientific society devoted to natural history. Curiosity and collections that still spark wonder.

December Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.

Check it out … no, really! Founded by Ben Franklin, the Library Company became America’s first public lending library, putting books in hands and ideas in motion. Not surprisingly, Philadelphia wrote the first chapter.

December Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.

Philly has an appetite for history! From the very first cheesesteak to the first water ice and bubble gum, the city served up iconic tastes that still satisfy today. Delicious history, Philadelphia-style.

December Firsts are sponsored by Fulton Bank.