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Philadelphia is one of the premier welcoming, inclusive and respectful destinations for U.S. travel.
That’s why, in June 2023, we created the In Pursuit of A More Perfect Union series, which offers a fresh take on how the birthplace of the nation commemorates heritage and history months.
The goal: Honor the nation’s history — while also acknowledging that the Founding Fathers’ vision of America does not reflect many of the societal values held today.
Read on for our latest efforts for In Pursuit of A More Perfect Union — and stay tuned for more.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
June 2025
Debuting during Pride Month and on display throughout June at Cherry Street Pier, In Plain Sight is a bold new installation honoring transgender, queer, intersex and asexual members of the community.
The installation serves as an unabashed celebration of the TQ+ community — a group facing increased scrutiny as LGBTQ+ rights remain at the center of national debate.
It sends a loud, clear (and proud) message that all LGBTQ+ visitors are wanted and welcomed warmly in the birthplace of liberty.
May 2025
The story of Philadelphia’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is not a single narrative. It’s a diverse, ever-evolving mosaic of cultures, languages, histories and traditions.
From long-established neighborhoods to newly arrived voices, Philly’s AAPI community reflects an incredible range of perspectives that too often go unheard.
Within Us celebrates the depth and diversity of Philly’s AAPI communities — centering underrepresented voices, celebrating community strength and making room for every story.
February 2025
Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love. But love in Philly runs so much deeper than brotherhood.
This is a city built and sustained by mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles, cousins and grandparents.
For Black History Month and beyond, we’re proud to celebrate the creativity and contributions of our city’s Black-owned businesses — and the families that power them.
Legacy & Love highlights four businesses that stand as shining examples of the hundreds of Black-owned shops, boutiques and restaurants that anchor communities throughout Philadelphia, from Mt. Airy to South Street to West Philly — and everywhere in between.
June 2024
Every June, Pride Month offers an opportunity to reflect on the struggles and accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia and beyond — and a chance to celebrate in a big way.
This year, Philadelphia set a Guinness World Records™ title for the largest attendance at a drag queen story time reading at the National Constitution Center. The event — from Philadelphia Gay News and sponsored by Visit Philadelphia — drew a crowd of 263 attendees, kicking off Pride Month in record-setting fashion.
May 2024
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Visit Philadelphia celebrates Philly’s vibrant and diverse AAPI community through the ”Common Threads” video series.
This eight-part video series highlights individuals who identify as members of the largest-represented AAPI cultural backgrounds in Philadelphia, according to census data. Participants include members of Philadelphia’s Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Hawaiian and Japanese communities.
In each of the videos, participants speak to their own experiences, as well as the “common threads” — family, traditions and finding a home in Philadelphia — that unite these diverse groups into a rich tapestry.
The videos were filmed in neighborhoods and locations that are significant to Philadelphia’s AAPI community, with each participant choosing the setting for their video. New videos will be released each week through the remainder of AAPI Heritage Month in May 2024.
February 2024
Reading is a right! The Little Free(dom) Library initiative encourages residents and visitors in Philadelphia to pick up a free banned book at one of 14 locations throughout the city.
Initially launched in February 2024 to highlight banned books by Black authors for Black History Month, the initiative has expanded with new banned titles added during heritage months and observances throughout the year, including Women’s History Month, Arab American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Month.
The Little Free(dom) Library project is presented in partnership with Little Free Library and the Free Library of Philadelphia, which provides resources on their site to help protect everyone’s right to read.
Among the locations where you can find a Little Free(dom) Library: the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Betsy Ross House, Franklin Square, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Johnson House Historic Site and Queen & Rook Game Cafe.
September 2023
People often think of Hispanic and Latino people as the same — one great big singular group. But they’re not. In fact, they’re far from it.
The “Hispanic Voices,” series debuted just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, aiming to showcase the tapestry of different races and cultures that make up this misunderstood group. Four supplemental videos give Philadelphians a voice to help untangle the untruths perpetuated about the community.
The bold, bright and celebratory TV spot focuses on a group of Americans bound by language, proud of their differences and confident in their voices. In total, 35 Philadelphians appear, representing 10 Hispanic and Latino cultures and hailing from diverse fields spanning the arts, culinary, media, tourism, entrepreneurship and more.
June 2023
A drag queen storytime in the birthplace of the nation.
That’s the idea behind this Pride Month spot featuring famed Philadelphia drag queens Brittany Lynn and Morgan Wells taking turns reading the children’s book Giraffes Can’t Dance by author Giles Andreae and illustrator Guy Parker-Rees.
The audience includes a group of children and their parents in front of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed — and the site of the country’s earliest organized recurring gay rights demonstrations known collectively as the Annual Reminders.
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