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National Register of Historic Places listings in West Philadelphia facts for kids

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West Philadelphia is a vibrant part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's a place rich in history, filled with many buildings and areas that are super important to the past of the United States!

This list is all about the special places in West Philadelphia that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of this Register as a hall of fame for buildings, neighborhoods, and other spots that have a big story to tell.

Across all of Philadelphia, there are 579 places on this list. Out of those, 67 are even more special and are called National Historic Landmarks. West Philadelphia is home to 65 of these amazing places, including 5 National Historic Landmarks! Some places are so big they even stretch into other parts of the city.

What are Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worth saving. These places are important because they tell us about American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its special value and efforts are made to protect it.

Famous Buildings and Landmarks

West Philadelphia has many incredible buildings that have stood for a long time and seen a lot of history.

The Grand 30th Street Station

30th Street Station Philly
The impressive 30th Street Station.

One of the most famous spots is the Thirtieth Street Station. This huge train station was built between 1929 and 1934. It's a fantastic example of grand architecture from that time. Thousands of people pass through it every day, connecting West Philadelphia to the rest of the country. It's located near the Schuylkill River and Market Street.

University of Pennsylvania's Historic Buildings

The University of Pennsylvania campus in West Philadelphia is home to several historic gems.

  • College Hall was built in 1870-72 and designed by Thomas W. Richards. It's a beautiful, old building that's a central part of the university.
  • The Fisher Fine Arts Library, also known as Furness Library, is a National Historic Landmark. Designed by the famous architect Frank Furness, it was built between 1888 and 1891. It's known for its unique and striking design.
  • The Richards and Goddard Buildings are also National Historic Landmarks. Designed by Louis Kahn, these buildings were completed between 1957 and 1961 and are famous for their modern design.
  • The St. Anthony Hall House and the overall University of Pennsylvania Campus Historic District are also recognized for their historical importance.

Memorial Hall: A World's Fair Legacy

Memorial Hall, Phila new
Memorial Hall, a grand building from the 1876 Centennial Exposition.

Memorial Hall is a National Historic Landmark located in Fairmount Park. It was built for the 1876 Centennial Exposition, which was like a huge world's fair held in Philadelphia. Designed by Herman J. Schwarzmann, it's a grand building that reminds us of that big event.

The Woodlands: A Historic Estate

Woodlands Mansion NHL Philly
The historic Woodlands Mansion.

The Woodlands is a National Historic Landmark District. It includes a beautiful mansion built around 1742 and expanded later. It's a wonderful example of early American architecture and is surrounded by a historic cemetery and green space. It's located at 40th Street and Woodland Avenue.

Paul Robeson House: A Special Home

Robesonhouse.Philadelphia
The Paul Robeson House.

The Paul Robeson House is a National Historic Landmark. This was the home of Paul Robeson, a very important singer, actor, and civil rights activist. It's a place that honors his legacy and contributions to American history. It's located on Walnut Street.

Historic Neighborhoods and Parks

It's not just single buildings that are historic; sometimes whole areas or neighborhoods are recognized!

Fairmount Park: A Green Oasis

Ohio House Fairmount Philly
A view of Ohio House in Fairmount Park.

Fairmount Park is a huge and beautiful park that stretches across West Philadelphia and other parts of the city. It's a National Historic District because of its long history as a public park and its many historic buildings and landscapes within it. It's a great place for outdoor activities and learning about nature and history.

Charming Historic Districts

Several neighborhoods in West Philadelphia are recognized as historic districts, meaning many buildings within them are important. These include:

  • Cobbs Creek Automobile Suburb Historic District: An area known for its early 20th-century homes.
  • Drexel Development Historic District: Features homes built as part of an early development project.
  • Garden Court Historic District: Known for its lovely homes and green spaces.
  • Haddington Historic District: Includes historic blocks of Market, Ludlow, and Chestnut Streets.
  • Overbrook Farms: A historic neighborhood with unique architecture.
  • Parkside Historic District: An area with a rich history, bounded by railroad tracks and avenues.
  • Powelton Historic District: Known for its beautiful Victorian-era homes.
  • Sansom Row: A historic row of buildings on Sansom Street.
  • West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District: Shows how neighborhoods grew around streetcar lines.
  • Woodland Terrace: Features homes designed by architect Samuel Sloan.

Old Schools and Other Buildings

Many schools in West Philadelphia are also on the National Register, showing how important education has been to the community. Some of these include:

  • Dimner Beeber Junior High School
  • Belmont School
  • Rudolph Blankenburg School
  • George L. Brooks School
  • Lewis C. Cassidy School
  • Thomas Dunlap School
  • William B. Hanna School
  • Holmes Junior High School
  • Henry C. Lea School of Practice
  • William Mann School
  • Overbrook High School
  • Overbrook Elementary School
  • William Shoemaker Junior High School
  • Mayer Sulzberger Junior High School
  • West Philadelphia High School

Other interesting historic buildings include:

  • The 32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia Armory, an old military building.
  • The Bell Telephone Exchange Building, an early telephone switching station.
  • The Centennial National Bank, another building designed by Frank Furness.
  • The Hajoca Corporation Headquarters and Showroom, a historic business building.
  • The Hotel Pennsylvania, also known as Chestnut Hall.
  • The La Blanche Apartments and Pinehurst Apartments, historic apartment buildings.
  • The Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Building and Pennsylvania Railroad Office Building, important for the city's transportation history.
  • The Protestant Episcopal Church of the Saviour, a beautiful church.
  • The United States Post Office-Main Branch, a significant government building.
  • The Walnut Park Plaza Hotel, a historic hotel.
  • The WFIL Studio, important for broadcasting history.
  • The Wharton Street Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday School, a historic church.
  • Wynnestay, a very old house built in 1689!

These are just some of the many amazing historic places in West Philadelphia. Each one has a unique story that helps us understand the past and appreciate the rich heritage of this part of the city.

Images for kids

  • Lancaster 32nd Armory

    32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia Armory

  • Beeber Jr HS

    Dimner Beeber Junior High School

  • Telephone Building Philly

    Bell Telephone Exchange Building

  • Better Belmont Bridge

    Belmont Avenue Bridge

  • Belmont School Philly A

    Belmont School

  • Blankenburg School 4600

    Rudolph Blankenburg School

  • Breslyn apts Philly

    Breslyn Apartments

  • Brooks School Philly

    George L. Brooks School

  • Cassidy School Philly

    Lewis C. Cassidy School

  • WTP A03 dthomsen8 1

    Centennial National Bank

  • Chamounix

    Chamounix

  • City Line Bridge Philly

    City Line Avenue Bridge

  • Cobbs Creek Auto burb

    Cobbs Creek Automobile Suburb Historic District

  • Drexel Development HD Philly

    Drexel Development Historic District

  • Dunlap School Philly

    Thomas Dunlap School

  • Garden Court HD Philly

    Garden Court Historic District

  • Haddington HD 61st St Philly

    Haddington Historic District

  • Haines W Philly 1

    Hanson Haines House

  • Hamilton Family Estate W Philly

    Hamilton Family Estate

  • Hanna School former

    William B. Hanna School

  • Holmes School Philly

    Holmes Junior High School

  • Pennsylvania Hotel 01

    Hotel Pennsylvania

  • Kirkbride's Insane Asylum, play ground, from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views

    Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital

  • La Blanche Philly A

    La Blanche Apartments

  • Lea School Philly

    Henry C. Lea School of Practice

  • Mann School Philly

    William Mann School

  • Montevista apts

    Monte Vista Apartments

  • Overbrook Farms 1

    Overbrook Farms Historic District

  • Overbrook High School

    Overbrook High School

  • Overbrook School 1913

    Overbrook Elementary School

  • Parkside HD Philly a

    Parkside Historic District

  • PENN WYNN HOUSE, WEST PHILADELPHIA, PHILADELPHIA CO. PA

    Penn Wynn House

  • PRR Freight Building Philly

    Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Building

  • Pennsylvania Railroad Office Building, Philadelphia (May 2010)

    Pennsylvania Railroad Office Building

  • Pinehurst apts W Philly

    Pinehurst Apartments

  • Poth and Schmidt

    Poth and Schmidt Development Houses

  • Frederick A Poth Houses

    Frederick A. Poth Houses

  • Houses in Powelton Village, Philadelphia

    Powelton Historic District

  • Powellton Philly

    The Powelton

  • PROVIDENT MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, WEST PHILADELPHIA PA

    Provident Mutual Insurance Company

  • St Anthony House U Penn

    St. Anthony Hall House

  • WTP A05 youcanlookitup 2

    Sansom Row

  • Shedwick Philly

    John Shedwick Development Houses

  • Shoemaker Jr HS Philly

    William Shoemaker Junior High School

  • Sulzberger Jr HS Philly

    Mayer Sulzberger Junior High School

  • UniAveBridgePhillyHAER

    University Avenue Bridge

  • Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall

    University of Pennsylvania Campus Historic District

  • Walnut Park Plaza A

    Walnut Park Plaza Hotel

  • WTP A17 youcanlookitup 3

    West Philadelphia High School

  • University of Pennsylvania College Hall

    West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District

  • WTP A06 youcanlookitup 1

    WFIL Studio

  • WHARTON STREET MEMORIAL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WEST PHILADELPHIA,PA

    Wharton Street Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday School

  • WoodlandTerrace

    Woodland Terrace

  • Wynnestay (cropped)

    Wynnestay

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National Register of Historic Places listings in West Philadelphia Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.