Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the fifth largest city in the country. Its name means “brotherly love” in Greek.
The urban agglomeration, the ancient part of which was founded in 1862, is characterized by the skyscrapers of the center which serve as headquarters for national and international companies. Its importance is also relevant from a cultural point of view: there are six medical faculties, numerous colleges, several universities and private companies that carry out research in the fields of science, technology, medicine, economics and architecture.. Philadelphia was in fact the first American city built according to a precise urban plan: the streets follow a “grid” structure. Philadelphia has been the subject of major restoration projects: the Philadelphia is one of the largest financial and insurance centers in the United States and the headquarters of many companies. Tourism and congress activities also contribute to its economy. It is also the center of an important industrial area.
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The city port ranks second in the United States, after New York-New Jersey. Today, Philadelphia’s major industrial products are textiles and clothing, petroleum derivatives, food, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, publishing and machinery.
The average annual rainfall reaches 1170 mm, and the average daily temperature ranges from – 4 ° C in January to 19 ° C in July.
Tourist places – what to see.
Eastern State Penitentiary – former state penitentiary that hosted illustrious prisoners between 1829 and 1971, such as bank robber Willie Sutton or the king of the mafia, Al Capone.
American Helicopter Museum & Education Center – is the helicopter museum and functions as an educational center, it is dedicated to the conservation and display of historic helicopters, among its pieces on display a V-22 Osprey.
American Swedish Historical Museum– Swedish American Historical Museum which has thirty galleries, and a research library. It is basically centered on the history of the Swedes in America from the founding of the New Sweden Colony in 1638 up to the present time.
Awbury Arboretum – this is a unique historical cultural center, offers educational programs for children and families, and adult education in horticulture.
Barnes foundation – foundation dedicated to promoting education and appreciation of the fine arts. It houses an unrivaled collection of post-impressionist art and early modern French art.
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Chanticleer Gardens – Gardens of about 30 hectares, located on the outskirts of the city, where you can admire evergreen, tropical, and other trees, as well as a great variety of wild flowers that bloom between April and October.
Museum of the civil war – is a civil war museum, with a specialized library, which also includes information on the collections on display.
Elmwood Park Zoo – Montgomery County Zoological Park, home to over 175 North American animals.
Philadelphia’s First Presbyterian Church – Founded in 1698, it has inherited a rich history that embraces the principles of American Presbyterianism and the founding of the country.
The Franklin Institute Science Museum – is an experience for adults and children on science
Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation – the mission of this foundation is to maintain, preserve and restore the heritage of Glen Foerd. It is also a cultural and educational center which includes historical archives.
National Constitution Center – is a center where the constitution of the United States is presented. This center offers visitors the opportunity to explore the political identity of Americans in two ways, on the one hand “the American nation” which shows how the Constitution shapes the political community; on the other hand, it is “the American country”, which explores the implications of the Constitution in all individuals.
Independence Hall– This brick building is the most important structure in Independence Hall National Park. It was here that the Declaration of Independence was drafted, the document that declared America’s freedom from the British Empire. Today park staff revive history by pointing to the Windsor-style chairs from which colonial leaders discussed the contents of the Declaration.
Please Touch Museum – literally means Museum ‘Please Touch’ please, opposite to the famous, do not touch. ‘ It is the children’s museum, dedicated to promoting cultural and educational experiences for children.
The Walt Whitman art center– offers a multicultural calendar that includes poetry, music, children’s programs and art exhibitions.
Academy of natural sciences – Everything from dinosaurs to butterflies, birds, minerals or precious stones can be found here.
Rodin Museum – opened to the public in 1929 houses 124 sculptures, including some bronze works, copies of Rodin’s best works, such as The Thinker.
Historic museum & rare book library – History museum, with a rare book library.
Philadelphia Museum of Art– is the first museum in the city, and is recognized as one of the best art museums in the world. This museum has a superlative permanent collection ranging from 15th century illuminated manuscripts to sculptures by Constantin Brancusi. Computerized stations give information on the works. There is also a collection of Pennsylvania Dutch and American decorative arts and galleries of paintings by American artists.
University City Historical Society – the Historical Society of the university city. It is dedicated to researching, preserving and celebrating the historic heritage of West Philadelphia.
University City Science Center– the campus science center. It is also the home of the Esther M. Klein art gallery.
University Of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology – the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology. It is an educational center and a well-known research institute dedicated to understanding and learning about cultural diversity and analyzing the history of mankind.
The Book and The Cook Festival – A food festival that is celebrated annually and lasts for ten days.
History of Philadelphia
Its founder, William Penn, named the city the ‘city of brotherly love’; this utopian name has its own history. It is inevitable to talk about its founding father to understand the history of this place. The founding of Philadelphia is linked to the establishment of its state, Pennsylvania. In the year 1661, King Charles II of England granted powers over the region to William Penn as payment for the colossal sums that the Crown owed to his father and which he had inherited. Those colonies had a total area of 120,000 km2 and were good lands, with large forests, fertile soil and a mild, pleasant climate. When William Penn wanted to name his lands, he thought of Sylvania (‘wood’), but King Charles, in order to honor William’s father, he proposed Penn-Sylvania, which means ‘Penn’s Woods.’ William made up his mind and undertook to transform his domains into a promised land, where those who wanted to be free and live in peace could stay, a desire that he fully succeeded.
Pennsylvania had from that time on a new form of government that was based on freedom of conscience, popular sovereignty, universal suffrage and tolerance, and these maxims extended to all its inhabitants without exception, be they Indians, white or black.. Penn died in 1718 and with his death things began to change, although his philosophy remained in part, because Philadelphia is currently one of the three most liveable cities in North America.
Between 1766 and 1774 the British laws that imposed heavy fiscal measures on the settlers, created an intense malaise among its inhabitants. It was in Philadelphia where the rebels gathered to decree the breakdown of trade relations with Great Britain and where he began to foment the revolt. Between 1774 and 1776, anti-British actions intensified and resulted in the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and proclaimed on July 4, 1776, the date that marks the birth of the United States as an independent country.
