COLONIAL PHILADELPHIA, WALK NO. 1
The Quaker City; Penn’s “Green country towne.”
Start at the State House, called Independence Hall in 1776; open free 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.; south side of Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth. The most interesting building historically in the United States. Architect, Andrew Hamilton, speaker in the Assembly; Georgian, brick; erected for the Province of Pennsylvania as a Colonial State House. Tower has wooden cupola built in 1828, containing clock and bell, presented to the City by Henry Seybert, in 1876.
First occupied by the Assembly in 1735. Second Continental Congress met here May 10, 1775. George Washington was chosen Commander in Chief of the Continental Army June 15, 1775. Declaration of Independence approved July 4, 1776. Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the States were adopted and signed July 9, 1778. Constitution of the United States of America, long the pride of Americans, and the model for friends of freedom throughout the world, was formed and signed September 17, 1787.
Lafayette was received here in 1824.
The body of Abraham Lincoln rested in state, April 22-24, 1865.
Second National Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic, January, 1868, when annual Memorial Day, May 30, was instituted by Major General John A. Logan. It was observed the same year by posts of the Grand Army of the Republic and the public.
The Liberty Bell was rung July 8, 1776, in celebration of the Declaration of Independence; inscription on bell, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus XXV: 10). It was hung in the tower in 1755, and it was cracked while being tolled for the death of Chief Justice John Marshall July 8, 1835; not rung since 1843.
Portraits of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, painted chiefly by Charles Willson Peale, and his portrait of Washington are here. Benjamin West’s
FOURTH OF JULY IN CENTER SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA
Painted by John D. Krimmel Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
painting, “Penn’s Treaty with the Indians”; a large collection of portraits of Pennsylvania men notable in the government of the Commonwealth; and a collection of forty-five small historic portraits in pastel by James Sharples. On Chestnut Street front is a marble statue of Washington; sculptor, J. A. Bailey; erected in 1869 by contributions of the public-school children of Philadelphia.
The building was renovated and restored in 1897 to its early appearance. Small buildings connecting west, contain colonial relics; east, Revolutionary relics. West, open porch leads to Congress Hall, corner of Sixth Street, built in 1789 for Court House of Philadelphia County; Georgian, occupied by the Federal Congress, 1790-1800, after necessary alterations by Major L’Enfant. First floor, House of Representatives; second floor, Senate Chamber; gallery added in 1795. Here Washington was inaugurated President, second term, March 4, 1793; and John Adams, second President of the United States, in 1797. National Currency was established. First National Bank founded. Army and Navy organized. Jay’s Treaty determining relations with England considered and ratified. Official announcement of Washington’s death in 1799 was made, and resolution offered by Chief Justice John Marshall, to pay honor to the man “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
Contains sculptures in wood by William Rush; statue of Washington carved in 1815; also eagle on globe, portrait of Michael Hillegas, first Treasurer of the United States until 1789, and other paintings.
Building restored 1896, through the Pennsylvania Society, Colonial Dames of America; architect, William Ziegler.
Corner of Fifth Street, Supreme Court House, or the old City Hall, built in 1789. Second floor occupied by the First Supreme Court of the United States, 1791-1800. Mayor’s Office until 1896. Later headquarters Boy Scouts and Grand Army of the Republic. Now restored to first appearance; museum, Colonial and American Indian collections, paintings.
In 1783, State House Yard was improved, elms planted, walks laid out, and seats placed. Contains statue of Commodore Barry. 104 South Fifth Street, in State House Yard, the American Philosophical Society, built 1789, brick, Georgian; originated in “The Junto,” formed by Benjamin Franklin 1727. See Historic Institutions.
Southeast corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets, site residence of William Moore Smith, son of first provost of the University of Pennsylvania. Washington’s portrait was painted here by Gilbert Stuart.
Northeast corner of Fifth and Sansom Streets, site Philadelphia Library 1790-1830.
427 Chestnut Street, site of Lawrence mansion, Howe’s headquarters, 1777-78.
421 Chestnut Street, site of United States Hotel. Charles Dickens stayed here March, 1842, first visit to America.
South side of Chestnut Street, below Fifth, United States Custom House; marble, classic; Doric portico; built 1819; architect, John Haviland.
Northwest corner of Fourth and Chestnut Streets, Provident Life and Trust Company, of Philadelphia, modern; contains oil portraits of the directors; among the artists represented are Bernard Uhle, Cecilia Beaux, and Thomas Eakins.
Southeast corner of Fourth and Chestnut Streets, site of Friends meeting-house in 1701, later site of Mathew Carey’s book store in 1800.
320 Chestnut Street, head of Carpenters’ Court. Carpenters’ Hall; open free daily 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., Saturdays to 12.30 P.M.; Georgian, brick; built, 1770 for use of the Carpenters’ Company, founded in 1724.
307 Chestnut Street, Bank of North America; founded in 1781 on the same ground; oldest and first bank, chartered by Congress, in the United States. Through Robert Morris, the first president, victory was made possible to Washington and the Continental Army. Contains portrait of Robert Morris.
Third Street above Chestnut; Post Office in 1713; later Judd’s Hotel during war of 1812.
27 South Third Street, site United States Post Office, 1792.
250 Chestnut Street, site first United States Treasury, 1798.
243 Chestnut Street, site of residence of Governor Thomas Lloyd in 1684, appointed by William Penn.
Letitia Street, west side above Chestnut, east of Second; site of Letitia House, William Penn’s residence, moved to Fairmount Park.
Southeast corner of Second and Black Horse Alley, above Chestnut Street, site Bradford House and printing office, used for colonial Post Office, 1728; Andrew Bradford, postmaster; in 1719 he published the first newspaper in Pennsylvania, The Mercury, a weekly, second in America.
Southwest corner of Front and Market Streets, site of London Coffee House, in 1754, where, in 1780, Robert Morris met with others to consider the establishment of the first bank. Horses, slaves, and cattle were sold here.
About 221-23 North Water Street, site Stephen Girard’s last residence.
111 Spring Street, west of Front, above Race, said to have been residence of Benjamin Franklin 1723-26; brick, three stories and attic; still standing.
Jones’s Alley, above Market Street, west from 14 North Front Street, site Robert Grace’s residence, where the “Junto Club” met in 1727.
110 Market Street, site Robert Aitken’s Printing Office in 1782; he printed the first English Bible in America.
Southwest corner of Second and Market Streets, site Friends’ first meeting-house, 1695-1808, on land donated by George Fox, founder of the Society.
Middle of Market Street, at Second, facing east, site of old Court House, built 1710; used as town hall and seat of the Legislature until the State House was built in 1735. Acceptance of the United States Constitution was here proclaimed to the people December 13, 1787; shown in large painting by Birch, made in 1829, now in City Hall, Broad and Market Streets.
25 North Second Street, office Peter Porcupine’s Gazette, edited by William Cobbett, a keen satirist.
Christ Church, west side of Second Street, north of Market, built 1695. (See Churches.)
JOHN MARSHALL, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES, 1808-1835
From the original in the possession of the Law Association of Philadelphia
Painted by Henry Inman
200 Arch Street, site Saint George and the Dragon Inn, built 1700, kept by Nicholas Scull, member Franklin’s “Junto,” in 1727; sheriff in 1744; he published a map of the city in 1750. Oldest Inn building standing; from 1791-93 it was kept by John Inskeep, Mayor of Philadelphia, 1800-05. Stage coaches for New York and Baltimore left here regularly.
No. 239 Arch Street, Betsy Ross House, two-story, brick, marked by tablet; now property of American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial Association. She made the first flag adopted by the United States, from pencil drawing by Washington, who with Robert Morris and George Ross, called on her to give the commission; the flag was accepted by Congress June 14, 1777, and is now one of the oldest flags in the world, older than those of France, Spain, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Austria. John Paul Jones was first to fly the new flag. Betsy Ross lived to be eighty-four, dying in 1836; she is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, where a flag continuously flies over her grave, instituted by the Sons of Veterans. Flag Day was first inaugurated in Philadelphia, 1893.
226 Race Street, site First Moravian Church, 1742-1856.
267 Race Street, site residence of Benjamin Franklin about 1749.
325 Market Street, site residence of Benjamin Franklin, where he first invented the lightning rod, about 1749-50; in 1752, first lightning rod used in the world was set up by Franklin, southeast corner of Second and Race Streets.
229 North Fourth Street, Saint George’s, oldest Methodist Church in the world, used continuously for worship; dedicated November 24, 1769.
Fourth Street above Race, St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, 1796; destroyed in the riot of 1844; rebuilt in 1846.
Old St. John’s Church, Race Street between Fifth and Sixth; first English Lutheran Church in America, built 1806.
Southeast corner of Fourth and Cherry Streets, site Zion Lutheran Church (German), built 1766; in 1790 its organ was considered the finest in America.
Northeast corner of Fourth and Arch Streets, James Russell Lowell stayed here with his bride in 1845.
Southeast corner of Fourth and Arch Streets, Friends meeting-house; oldest in Philadelphia, built in 1804; since 1811 it has been used for the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Orthodox Friends, and is said to be largest in the world. (See Historic Burial Grounds.)
Southwest corner of Fourth and Arch Streets, site of residence built for William Smith, D.D., before 1762. First provost of the University of Pennsylvania.
Fourth Street, west side, below Arch, site of the Academy in 1749; beginning of the University, marked with tablet.
Southeast corner of Fifth and Arch Streets, Christ Church burial ground. (See Burial Grounds.)
Southwest corner of Fifth and Arch Streets, Free Quaker Building; tablet, inscription “By general subscription for the Free Quakers; erected in the year of our Lord 1783, and of the Empire 8.” “Fighting Quakers,” who fought in the Revolutionary War against peace principles of the sect. The Apprentices’
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
From the collection in Independence Hall
Painted by B. T. Welch
Library, organized 1820 in Carpenters’ Hall, for many years only free library in Philadelphia, occupied the building after 1850. Later used by the Grand Lodge of Masons.
515 Cherry Street, residence of Bass Otis in 1819, who made the first American lithograph.
528 Arch Street, site, Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, first in Philadelphia, founded 1852; now absorbed by the University of Pennsylvania.
627 Arch Street, site, Woman’s Medical College, first in America to graduate women physicians, founded 1850.
Southeast corner of Seventh and Arch Streets, residence of David Rittenhouse in 1770.
Northwest corner of Seventh and Arch Streets, Fort Rittenhouse; residence of David Rittenhouse, 1787; treasurer of Pennsylvania.
117 North Seventh Street, site, Mikveh Israel Synagogue, built in 1747. Removed to Broad and York Streets.
37-39 North Seventh Street, first United States Mint, 1792. David Rittenhouse, superintendent.
Southeast corner of Sixth and Market Streets, site of Robert Morris residence; next to it, on Market Street, 530-536, site of President Washington’s mansion and John Adams, second President; originally built for Richard Penn.
700 Market Street, Penn National Bank. House where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.
801 Market Street, site, office of Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State.
About 808 Market Street, site, residence of Thomas Jefferson, in 1791.
15 South Seventh Street, Franklin Institute, founded 1824; classic architecture, marble; John Haviland, architect.