Old City, Philadelphia facts for kids
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Old City Historic District
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old city area including parts of Washington Square East Development Area and Franklin Square East Development Area, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 75 acres (30 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000093 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 5, 1972 |
Old City is a historic neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located close to the Delaware River. This area is famous for its many important landmarks. These include Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Elfreth's Alley, which is one of the oldest streets in the United States.
Old City also has several hotels. The Independence Park Hotel on Chestnut Street is special because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This neighborhood shares borders with Northern Liberties to the north and Society Hill to the south. To the east is Penn's Landing, and to the west are Chinatown and Market East.
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Exploring Old City's Borders
The special area known as Old City stretches from Front Street to Sixth Street. It is located between Walnut Street and Vine Street. Some maps show a larger area for Old City. This bigger area goes from Spring Garden Street to 4th Street, and from the Delaware River to Walnut Street.
A Look Back: Old City's History
Old City is one of Philadelphia's oldest neighborhoods. It was part of the first area where William Penn and the Quakers settled. For many years, from 1776 to 1800, it was home to the governments of Pennsylvania and the United States of America. It was also a very important financial center in North America until the 1830s.
As Philadelphia grew, the main business area moved west. Old City then became a place for warehouses and small factories. In the 1900s, many historic buildings were fixed up. This was especially true when Independence National Historical Park was created after 1943. The restorations were completed for the United States Bicentennial in 1976.
In the 1980s, the old warehouse areas became popular for art galleries and artist studios. Many fun places like bars, restaurants, and nightclubs also opened.
Amazing Architecture in Old City
Old City is home to Independence Hall, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a place of great importance to everyone in the world. The neighborhood also has hundreds of beautiful buildings. These include public buildings, churches, and houses built in the Georgian and Federal styles.
You can also see banks and exchanges built in the Greek Revival and Italianate styles. There are even old warehouses made with cast iron. Because of all these amazing buildings, Old City was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was also added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Famous Places to Visit
- Girard Fountain Park
- Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were written and signed.
- Carpenter's Hall
- Liberty Bell
- Museum of the American Revolution
- National Constitution Center
- National Museum of American Jewish History
- Penn's Landing
- Independence Park Hotel
- Betsy Ross House, where seamstress Betsy Ross is said to have sewn the first American flag.
- Elfreth's Alley
Fun and Shopping in Old City
Old City is a very popular place for fun evenings out. It has the historic Independence Park Hotel, which is a European-style hotel with 41 rooms. You can find many lounges, casual bars, and great restaurants here. Most of these are located between 3rd and Market streets, and Front and Chestnut streets.
The area along 3rd Street, between Market Street and Vine Street, is full of art galleries, unique shops, and local businesses. There are also three independent movie theaters in the neighborhood. On the first Friday of each month, many art galleries, studios, and shops stay open late. They often feature art, design, and fashion events. Since 2010, many technology companies have also moved into the area.
International Offices: Consulates
Many countries have special offices called consulates in Old City. A consulate helps citizens from that country who are visiting or living in Philadelphia. They also help with travel documents. Some of these consulates are located in the Independence Park Hotel. For example, Panama, Italy, and Mexico have consulates here.
Learning in Old City: Schools and Libraries
Children living in Old City attend schools that are part of the School District of Philadelphia. Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade go to the General George A. McCall School. After that, they attend Benjamin Franklin High School in North Philadelphia.
The Mastery Charter Schools system also has a campus in Old City called the Mastery Charter Lenfest Campus, which serves grades 7-12. It moved to Old City in 2002.
St. Mary Interparochial Grade School is a private school for younger students. It is connected to St. Augustine Church, which is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Public Libraries
The Free Library of Philadelphia has a branch in Old City called the Independence Branch. You can find it at 18 South 7th Street.
Historic Churches in Old City
- Christ Church (founded 1695)
- Arch Street Meeting (founded 1701)
- Old First Reformed Church (founded 1727)
- Congregation Mikveh Israel (founded 1740)
- Old St. George's Church (founded 1767)
- St. Augustine's Church (founded 1796)
- Seamen's Church Institute (founded 1843)
Old City in Movies
- In the movie National Treasure (2004), Nicolas Cage's character runs across the roof of Independence Hall.
- In the movie Shooter (2007), Mark Wahlberg's character is falsely accused of a shooting at Independence Mall.
- In the movie Ghostbusters (N/A), a character based on the Pillsbury Doughboy appears.
